Techies in Residence


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TiR supports VCSE organisations to explore and create innovative digital solutions to social challenges.

Aligned to the Foundation’s strategic priority of Building Sustainable Communities, our Techies in Residence programme (TiR) enables the development of new technology products to enhance the impact of community organisations on specific societal challenges.

TiR is focused on creating powerful change within communities through matching VCSE organisations with digital technology experts and by utilising a person-centred ‘design thinking’ approach.

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The Techies in Residence Programme

Match the social and community knowledge of the VCSE sector with the digital skills of tech experts and you have a powerful combination! Techies in Residence (TiR) was born in 2015 under Building Change Trust’s Social Innovation work , with the purpose of sparking ‘Tech for Good’ innovation in Northern Ireland. Since the completion of the Trust’s work in 2018, the Community Foundation has integrated the programme into its own work. The the fifth cycle was completed in May 2021 bringing the total number of projects supported to date to 32.

The Techies in Residence programme supports both VCSE organisations and Techies to adopt a ‘design thinking‘ approach to explore a social challenge, putting the service user at the centre of the experience. Together, they design, develop and test a technological solution to the challenge. They build, as a minimum, a prototype technological solution to the challenge, as well as helping to bring different ways of creative thinking to the organisations they work with. Following participation in the TiR programme, VCSE organisations have the opportunity to apply for a Seed Fund award for the further testing, development and/or public launch of their platforms.

Funding for the most recent cycle of TiR was provided by Comic Relief. Previous funders have included Building Change Trust, Comic Relief, Bank of Ireland and the Community Foundation.

TiR is supported by delivery partners Innovate-NI with additional learning support provided by CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology), as part of the Catalyst Network.

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How the programme works

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Information icon Our story so far...

Interested in Digital Innovation?

Check out our useful links, resources and reports below!

TiR Evaluation report

A recent evaluation of the TiR programme by Gauge NI.

Download Evaluation Word doc: 1.77 MB

CAST

Uk wide charity helping organisations use digital for social good.

Go to CAST website

Catalyst

A network of experts and funders helping UK charities improve their digital skills

Go to Catalyst website

NICVA

NICVA Community Resources - Help with Digital

Go to NICVA website

SVCO

View a range of how to guides and resources

Go to SVCO website
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Project Teams

Find out about the Project Teams involved in the current Techies in Residence Programme

Are you a Techies in Residence Project Team? Click below to access Community Space for Project Teams for training, resources and information on upcominghttps://communityfoundationni.org/?page_id=5001&preview=true workshops.


Project Teams

Find out about the Project Teams involved in the current Techies in Residence Programme

Are you a Techies in Residence Project Team? Click below to access Community Space for Project Teams for training, resources and information on upcominghttps://communityfoundationni.org/?page_id=5001&preview=true workshops.


Who to speak to

Community Foundation Logo

Gemma McCaughley

Programme Officer

Community Foundation Logo

Gemma McCaughley

Programme Officer

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