The digital capacity of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations is central to their ability to deliver services, meet the needs of beneficiaries, and achieve long-term sustainability.
Yet ongoing challenges remain. Reports such as Wired Up and the Digital Hub Scoping Study have laid bare the structural challenges VCSE organisations face: a lack of resources, persistent skills gaps, and barriers to accessing appropriate technologies.
Despite these challenges, many organisations are adapting. From fundraising and communications to service delivery and information management, digital is shaping nearly every aspect of VCSE work—and bringing new opportunities for impact.
NICVA’s Role: Building Skills, Tools and Partnerships
We're committed to supporting organisations across the sector to embrace and embed digital tools and thinking into their day-to-day operations.
We do this by integrating digital into all of our training and support programmes — including leadership development, digital fundraising (such as online donations and cashless giving), and communications training that explores platforms like social media and podcasting.
We also work in partnership to expand what's possible. In recent years, we've collaborated with partners including: NI Cyber Security Centre, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Data Orchard, CiviCode, SCVO, Catalyst, and Bytes.
Together, we’ve developed and delivered tailored support, resources and training to help organisations navigate and grow in the digital landscape. These collaborations are part of our wider strategy to build partnerships across public, private and community sectors, expanding development opportunities for digital empowerment.
Spotlight on our Digital Empowerment Programme
Between April and June 2025, we launched our inaugural Digital Empowerment Programme in partnership with CiviCode, equipping organisations with practical tools for digital transformation. Topics covered included:
- Developing and implementing a sustainable digital strategy
- Managing service providers and organisational administration
- Enhancing delivery and reporting with digital tools
- Embracing workflow automation and AI
One of the most powerful takeaways from the programme was the need to move beyond tools that serve systems, to technology that supports people. This human-centred approach to tech - backed by leadership that embeds digital into organisational culture - was a recurring theme.
We’re now building a community of practice that fosters peer learning and amplifies best practice. Participants from the programme are now acting as digital champions, applying their learning, sharing knowledge, and using digital as an enabler within their organisations.
What's next: Autumn 2025 Digital Series
In response to continued demand from the sector, we're launching a new Digital Series this autumn, designed to offer focused, practical sessions on core digital topics.
- 18 September Data protection essentials with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
- 8 October Practical Steps to delivering a Digital Strategy
- 9 October Securing your organisation with The Cyber Security Centre and The Cyber Crime Centre
- 16 October Developing Value through Innovation - Workflow, Automation and AI
- 21 October Podcast Accelerator
We're also planning a series of networking events to support collaboration and strengthen our digital community of practice - so stay tuned for updates.
Resources to support your digital journey
Explore the following tools, insights and frameworks that can help guide your organisation’s digital development:
Digital-Hub-Scoping-Study-Final-PRINT.pdf
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The digital maturity matrix | NCVO
