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How can I use my IT skills to work in the voluntary sector? I have spent the last five years working in the private sector as a computer developer but want to use my IT skills to get into the mental health and HIV/AIDS field. Any suggestions? Phil Williamson, Corporate Head of IT and Logistics, Terrence Higgins Trust, answers: When it comes to IT, charities are like any other business. They need IT support, systems management and websites. If you’re really interested in working specifically in mental health or HIV, first do some research to see how many organisations are out there in these fields. Contact them directly to see if they have any vacancies which fit the bill. The smaller organisations may only have one member of staff working in IT and the larger ones, like Terrence Higgins Trust, might have teams of around eight or 10. Roles in the smaller charities might be more varied – you’ll be on call to do everything from helping staff with excel spreadsheets to managing the network. In a larger charity you’re more likely to be able to specialise. Voluntary work is definitely a good way in. Even if you can only spare a few hours a week you could offer your skills to an organisation that might need assistance but couldn’t afford to pay for it. You could help with setting up management information systems or volunteer for a really small charity that hasn’t got any IT specialists at all. Volunteering will put you in a great position to find out about any jobs coming up and it will show to other charities that you’re keen to work in the voluntary sector. Working in a charity can be really rewarding. However, keep an eye on changes from the private sector. You may find the budgets more restrictive and it’s likely you might have to be more creative with the resources available.
Terrence Higgins Trust
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