The UK ICT Hub has lost its funding and will not be continuing. I've been following this for several years and it was a great program of events, support, and services for not-for-profit organisations in the UK. The hub supported organisations and programs that built capacity in the not-for-profit sector in the UK.
Many of the programs and services will continue to be offered by thier supporting organisations, however it is the big picture that is being lost. The idea of a'hub' for non-profit IT gives a sense of strategy to what is otherwise a disconnected and diverse set of programs. It creates some order in the randomness of organisations trying to get on with IT on their own.
A Hub, even when focused on programs and individual ideas, by its nature, coordinates, streamlines and creates efficiencies.
The final report notes that the program was a success and was well recieved in the sector, and actually made a difference to the use of ICT by voluntary organisations in the UK.
For me one notable phrase sprung from the page
"The ICT Hub demonstrated a commendable willingness to take risks."
An organisation that takes risks can achieve great things, but they won't always get it right. One of the great tools of a social innovator is taking risks, being prepared do fail. Funders generally don't take kindly to failure.
The loss of the ICT hub in the UK may mean anything like it here is less likely. There is currently nothing, inspite of the best efforts of many who have lobbied hard for it. And there is a glaring need.
I've worked in ICT in the non-profit sector since 1989. There is nothing coordinated around capacity building for IT in the sector. The result is generally a poor understanding, underuse, inefficiencies, bad technoloyg and low skills. These things improve, but the improvement barely keeps pace with technology.
Thanks to Doug Jacquier for the heads-up on this.