Over 100 charities contribute to first Charity Digital Code of Practice

Over 100 charities have contributed to the UK’s first Charity Digital Code of Practice, which is due to launch in November this year.

The Code, which is funded by Lloyds Banking Group and the Co-op Foundation, will be both voluntary and free to access.

During the Code’s consultation period, which ran from July to September, there were 171 responses from organisations of all sizes providing feedback and helping the last stages of the Code’s development.

The consultation revealed issues around wider adoption, funding and risk stand out as barriers to progress. However, it also found that just over a quarter (26 per cent) of charities feel their boards need to get behind digital, with 16 per cent wanting more support from their leadership team.

There was also strong enthusiasm for the Code, with 79 per cent of respondents saying they will ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ use it.

Many were keen for resources to help them with implementation such as how-to guides, case studies, opportunities to learn from peers and assessment tools.

In light of this feedback, the steering group is discussing ongoing plans to develop resources to accompany the Code, some of which will be available from November.

Age UK chief digital and technology officer, Lara Burns said: “As a sector, there is much more we can do to fully embrace the opportunities that digital technology offers and the Charity Digital Code of Practice will provide a welcome structure for this.

"It will give a helpful direction for leadership and governance, and a potential framework for collaborating across the sector and sharing learnings, whilst the resources will provide practical help for delivering programmes.”

The Charity Digital Code of Practice will launch on 15 November 2018.

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