Technology can empower communities, bring them together and help them thrive.  The problem is that hard-pressed local and community organisations often struggle to harness its power.  

For many, it’s difficult to know where to start – what’s out there and how it could help.  For others, it’s a matter of time.  If you’re running round trying to get things done and make ends meet, then researching and experimenting with digital tools is simply not top of your to-do list.  But digital tools can actually help community workers save time, manage their projects and even raise important funds.  And there are people out there who are making work – and work hard – for their projects and clients.    

At OCF we want to capture some of that experience, and make it easier for community organisations to use technology to do more of what they do best.  

With that in mind we’re running a new Conference next month, which aims to inspire community organisations to adopt new digital tools.  Digital evolution, local action is a one day Conference taking place on 27 November at the BT Centre in London.

The conference will be chaired by former Labour Schools Minister and Employment Minister, Lord Jim Knight (also our Chair at OCF). Delegates will get to take part in interactive workshops and hear from the experts about how technology can be used to deliver projects, improve services, build communities and organise local action.  Speakers will include Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP , Marcelle Speller founder of Localgiving.com, Dan Thompson – the creator of #riotcleanup and #WeWillGather, and Ken Banks, founder of kiwanja.net, which helps non-profit organisations in Africa and around the world make better use of technology.  

I’m really excited about the conference and the opportunity to give local social innovators new tools to do their day-to-day work – and hopefully more confidence in their personal ability to make a difference.  These are the people who are in the driving seat for social justice in Britain.  If you’re one of them and feel you could make more of technology to make more of an impact, it would be great to have you join this conversation.

Find out more the Conference here or follow the latest news on #dela2012.