The best open data sets available to charities now

Ahead of Microsoft’s AI envisoning workshops for charities, we take a look at how charities can make use of open data to advance their machine learning and AI projects.

https://www.charitydigitalnews.co.uk/2018/07/11/the-top-open-data-sets-available-to-charities-now/?utm_source=Technology%20Trust&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9683020_CDN%20Newsletter%2023rd%20July&dm_i=O,5RJGS,RKIZZP,MH1SG,1

JERSEY AND AI ENVISONING WORKSHOPS FOR CHARITIES

Following my appointment to the Committee of Association of Jersey Charities I will be looking to see what more we can do to help members and the Charity Community as a whole.
We can be better at keeping data private, safe and secure and I am keen to work with key partners (like government) to adopt standard policies, procedures, tools and technologies that means we can work together better and safer.

In the next week weeks I will be looking to set-up an advisory panel of people from all sectors and of all talents to see what we can do to help the Charity eco-system of 500+ organisations which collectively turns-over 80 million.

If you feel you can add value, please get in contact.


SOME DATA ABOUT CHARITY ECO-SYSTEM
There are 535+ Charities and NPO
Donations in 2016 were £80 million
Lottery funding adds to this figure
11,000 people volunteer or act as trustees
80% use unpaid volunteers
48 million is raised by just 15 organisations

ICO’s annual report shows most fines ever

Data governance regulator hits UK charities with £138,000 in fines – and that’s before penalties for GDPR non-compliance have started to bite the Third Sector…

https://www.charitydigitalnews.co.uk/2018/07/20/charities-pay-138k-in-fines-for-unlawful-data-ico-reports/?utm_source=Technology%20Trust&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9683020_CDN%20Newsletter%2023rd%20July&dm_i=O,5RJGS,RKIZZP,MH1SG,1

Following my appointment to the Committee of Association of Jersey Charities I will be looking to see what more we can do to help members and the Charity Community as a whole.

We can be better at keeping data private, safe and secure and I am keen to work with key partners (like government) to adopt standard policies, procedures, tools and technologies that means we can work together better and safer.

In the next week weeks I will be looking to set-up an advisory panel of people from all sectors and of all talents to see what we can do to help the Charity eco-system of 500+ organisations which collectively turns-over 80 million.

If you feel you can add value, please get in contact.





SOME DATA ABOUT CHARITY ECO-SYSTEM

There are 535+ Charities and NPO
Donations in 2016 were £80 million
Lottery funding adds to this figure
11,000 people volunteer or act as trustees
80% use unpaid volunteers
48 million is raised by just 15 organisations

The Association of Jersey Charities great grant give-away – just apply!

The AJC through good management has strong reserves, but there is only so much that you need for a rainy day, so the Association has amended its grant process to encourage more Charities to take advantage of the funding available.

Big Charities

Any charity can make a single application for a grant of up to £30,000 p.a. for three consecutive years. There is a lot you can do with £90,000. There are conditions to verify need, ensure good value and charitable outcomes, but the funding is available for those that satisfy the application criteria.

http://www.jerseycharities.org/grants/how-to-apply

Small Charities

It is recognised that very small charities looking for smaller sums (up to £3000) need a simplified application process. So, the Association has creation of a “small grants” fund exclusively for small charities.

http://www.jerseycharities.org/grants/how-to-apply

Non Members

You don’t even have to be a member of the Association of Jersey Charities (which only costs £15!) The Association has £125,000 set aside for non-members charitable needs.

http://www.jerseycharities.org/grants/grant-applications/grants-to-non-members

In summary, if you have a great idea and can demonstrate a well thought out plan with good value and charitable outcomes the Association of Jersey Charities is there to help everyone.


CONTACT

Association of Jersey Charities
http://www.jerseycharities.org/
01534 840138
lyn@jerseycharities.org

Does your Charity need help with the States approach to Cyber Essentials, Data Sharing and Encryption.

The States of Jersey have taken a stance on Cyber Essentials and Data Sharing and Encryption.

In an effort to improve data security across the Island organisations are being encouraged to meet the Cyber Essentials. Indeed, it has been indicated that from 2019 it will be a requirement for any organisation doing business with of receiving funding from the States of Jersey.

Also, because of GDPR and the new Data Protection Law, and frankly because it is just common sense to keep personal data data private, safe and secure the States of Jersey have toughed up on Data Sharing and Encryption.

However, whilst it makes sense (and is a legal requirement) to have Data Sharing Agreements for the exchange of personal data between organisations it is clear that the first wave of Data Sharing Agreements coming from the States of Jersey are not very well written, have some significant implications and are poorly understood.

• There is ambiguity over whether these are joint-controller or controller-processor agreements
• There is uncertainty about risk, responsibility and indemnification
• There is little explanation or support on how to implement the conditions of the contract

It makes sense that some special category personal data is protected by encryption for the exchange of personal data between organisations and the States of Jersey. But is it not helpful when each of the 20+ States of Jersey are free to choose a different and costly encryption tool and there is no funding or support for organisations are now expected to go out and buy and use these tools.

If Charities are to be used either as an extension of public service, or a replacement for services that can no longer be provided by government it seems both logical and fair that government should extend its funding, infrastructure and expertise to help them.

If you would like help with Cyber Essentials, Data Sharing and Encryption or would like to support the idea of a common approach (for 520 charities to use the same tools, templates and techniques to save time, money and confusion) please get in contact.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Rogers is a keen supporter of the Association of Jersey Charities and Jersey Community Partnership. He has provided presentations, workshops, free advice and guidance amounting to £20,000 to various charities and runs a FREE GDPR Question and Answer service to local Jersey Charities Jersey https://gdprjersey.blogspot.com/ You can contact TimHJRogers@gmail.com

Privacy
Blogger is a standard application provided by Google. Tim Rogers does not capture any personal data from the site, unless of course you choose to leave you personal details in a comment. However Google does track data: it is for example how we know if this page has been read by 10 people or 10,000 people.

What is the future like for Charities? And should government be helping?

As government will inevitably seek to outsource more and fund less, what is the future like for the 500+ organisations in Jersey’s third-sector who are increasingly bridging the gap between social need and public service?

Without doubt the new Charities Law will have an affect where smaller organisations cannot satisfy the demands of governance.

It seems predictable that, for example, with 30+ Charities all competing to serve and support those affected by Cancer we are bound to see some rationalisation and consolidation as organisations with similar objectives merge.

It seems logical that there will be an increased drive to share back-office resources like HR, Training and Technology.

This is not an issue unique to Jersey.

The UK Small Charities Coalition help small charities access the skills, tools & information they need to get going and do what they do best, but this is becoming more difficult.

GDPR and Cyber Security will demand increasing attention on policies and process. The Times wrote Smaller charities have been “left in the dark and confused” about how they can comply with strict new data laws.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/small-charities-struggling-with-general-data-protection-regulation-7582x9z26

In parallel with the planned government reform it seems timely to also consider a review of the relationship between the public and the third sector, perhaps with a view to leveraging the central admin functions of the public sector to support Charities.

For example, why not standardise and streamline the data-sharing agreements between government and the Charities that provide public services under a Service Level Agreement.
Why doesn’t government, perhaps, offer every Charity that operates under a Service Level Agreement free Cyber Essentials and free Secure and Encrypted email – just as it would any Public Sector Department.

If Charities are to be used either as an extension of public service, or a replacement for services that can no longer be provided by government it seems both logical and fair that government should extend its infrastructure and expertise to help them.

A more honest and useful survey

 The States have asked if Respect, Honesty, Independence, Diversity, Citizen Empowerment, and Volunteering is important. If you want to say YES please click on the survey

https://survey.gov.je/s/DraftPrinciplesCVSandSoJYourViews/

However I am curious: Do the States really need a survey to know if Respect and Honesty are important? Are the States really unsure about Independence, Diversity, Citizen Empowerment? Do they really need your guidance on whether Volunteering is important to the voluntary and community sector?

Here is my suggestion for a more honest and useful survey

1.     What are the areas (or which are the services) where Voluntary and Community Sector can work together more effectively?

2.     What are the key barriers to Voluntary and Community Sector working together more effectively (and how can they be overcome) ?

3.     Should the States put public funding into voluntary and community sector where these organisations can provide services faster, better or cheaper than the public-sector?

4.     Which public-services should the States to tender to see can best provide the service: [a] public-sector [b] private-sector [c] voluntary and community sector?

5.     Should the States offer their expertise (HR, Accounting, and Compliance etc.) and infrastructure (Technology, Security etc.) into helping voluntary and community sector be more efficient at supporting Jersey’s social and economic wellbeing.

I’d be much more interested in your answers to these questions!

And just in case someone from the States is reading this – YES Respect and Honesty is important (just in case you genuinely didn’t know!)