Socitm Third Sector

Following a merger with the Charity IT Resource Alliance (CITRA) in 2009, Socitm's membership broadened to include IT professionals in the Third Sector. The merger reflected the growing need for collaboration between the Third Sector and local and national government. In addition, Socitm's role in supporting professional development for members enables IT professionals from the third sector to take advantage of the Government IT Profession agenda, in which Socitm is heavily engaged.

Socitm Third Sector is effectively a rebranding of CITRA. CITRA members who joined Socitm through the merger, in the subsequent period and third sector IT professionals who join Socitm in the future, will be welcomed into the network. Other Socitm members with an interest in third sector activities can also join. Benefits of membership accrue on a number of different levels:

Nationally: Socitm's ability to influence government-wide initiatives and strategically important developments is enhanced by speaking with a single, united voice.

Organisationally: access to a wide range of research, best practice advice and public service consultancy expertise offers capability and capacity to organisations of all sizes

Personally: regional networking, mentoring, continual professional development and regular events and learning courses all provide opportunities for ongoing development

Individuals from the third sector play an active role across Socitm with members participating in all the main governance and operational groups helping to shape Socitm and ensuring it meets the needs of all of its members.

Governance

Socitm Third Sector has a steering group responsible to the main board of Socitm for all management and operational aspects of the community. Members of the steering group are:

• William Hoyle (Chair) - www.ctt.org
• Mary Foley - www.ciot.org.uk
• Stuart McSkimming - www.vso.org.uk
• David Membrey - www.cfdg.org.uk
• David Clayden - Advisor and member of Socitm main board
• Bonny Young - Advisor
• Adrian Hancock - MD Socitm
• Martin Croft - www2.salvationarmy.org.uk
• Iain Pritchard - www.sayervincent.co.uk

The Socitm Third Sector community will draw many of its members from the traditional CITRA constituency of smaller charities although we have increasingly close relationships with the Charity Consortium IT Directors Group (CCITDG) that represents the largest organisations in this sector. (http://www.ccitdg.org.uk/)

If you work in management or delivery of ICT in the third sector and would like to join Socitm, please go to http://www.socitm.net/info/161/membership

As a non-member you can also register at this website to keep in touch with what Socitm Third Sector is doing.