Comic Relief to support Techies in Residence Programme in 2018
The Trust is delighted to announce that Comic Relief will be funding the Techies in Residence programme for the 2018 cycle.
In addition to the funding already committed by Building Change Trust, Comic Relief will be contributing £50,000 meaning the Techies in Residence programme will be able to expand the number of innovations it can support in 2018 from six to nine.
Since 2016 Comic Relief has been supporting non-profit organisations to use digital technology products and services to create social change under its ‘Tech for Good’ programme.
Billy Dann, Comic Relief’s Digital Innovation Manager said:
“Comic Relief is delighted to be able to assist with funding the third iteration of the Techies in Residence programme. We are looking forward to working with Building Change Trust to promote the programme as well as support the charities chosen to be part of it. Digital is important to charities because it is now a normal part of people’s everyday lives as well as providing the opportunity for us to deliver bigger and better services. Techies in Residence is a great example of how local charities and private sector tech developers can work together to create a better society”
Building Change Trust created Techies in Residence in 2015 to support innovative collaborations between local VCSE organisations and the digital technology sector. The programme has been part of the Social Innovation NI collaboration since 2016 and is delivered by Innovate NI. To date Techies in Residence has supported 12 projects in total. Video case studies of each of last year's projects can be accessed here.
Paul Braithwaite who leads the Trust’s social innovation work said:
“We’re delighted that Comic Relief are able to support the Techies in Residence programme for the 2018 cycle. As well as the valuable funding that allows us to support more projects than ever before, we have a great opportunity to share and learn from our respective models and connect Tech for Good ventures across the UK and Ireland.”
As part of the Comic Relief funding, Social Innovation NI will also be organising a cross-border Tech for Good exchange event in collaboration with the Social Innovation Ireland Fund’s ThinkTech Programme.
Techies in Residence is currently open for applications until Friday 1st December. More information on the programme, including how to apply, can be found here: https://socialinnovationni.org/techies-in-residence/