SCIP News
Why I love the SCIP list
There are about 1,000 people currently subscribed to our email discussion forum, but who are they and what do they get out of it? Every month we ask one of its members why they love the SCIP list… This month we hear from Nicky Cambridge, People and Places Coordinator, Communities and Equalities Team, Brighton and Hove City Council.
SCIP explore new green computing options
SCIP has agreed a deal with IT supplier NComputing to offer innovative green computing products to local charities and businesses. Read on to find out the latest.
SCIP's Cunning Tip: Word 2007 file compatibility
Do you have difficulty opening Word 2007 files in Word 2003? David Guthrie runs through some useful advice in the first instalment of SCIP’s cunning tips.
SCIP Seminars
SCIP seminars offer you an opportunity to find out about IT topics of particular use and interest to the community and charity sector. They are open to all community and voluntary sector organisations, businesses and individuals and offer an outline of a topic rather than an in-depth training session. Knowledgeable and experienced trainers offer an overview to WordPress and an introduction to social media, with ample opportunity to ask questions.
New SCIP Training Courses
As the hard times start to bite for us all, we’ve decided to go back to what established SCIP as pioneers of IT support and training for the community all those years ago. Good old Information Technology training or, as it is now, totally fabulous IT training. Read on for information on the Back to Basics courses and Cunning Tips programme that can help you get the most from your IT.
Don't wait for disaster to strike. Three ways you can backup now!
Is it time you thought about having a more secure and reliable backing-up system in place? If you find your organisation is incurring more data than you can manage to back-up, either on an external hard drive or online, it’s probably time you thought of implementing a disaster recovery system.
SCIP train up community reporters
We catch up with the latest batch of students to have finished SCIP’s innovative Community Reporting training programme with flying colours. Cast into a world of reporting opportunities, the graduates feel positive and equipped with the skills to grab a story by the neck using an array of mediums and outlets. Read on to find out what they learned, from interview techniques to setting up an online news blog.
Windows 7: Is it time to upgrade?
We catch up with Doly Garcia, Technical Support Officer at SCIP to get the low-down on the latest version of the Windows operating system and how SCIP can help you upgrade. Read on to find out more.
A day in the life of Andy Fairhall, SCIP Technical Support Coordinator
He’s the familiar voice at the other end of the line helping you with your IT problems and issues, but what does Andy get up to once the telephone receiver goes down? This month we put a face to the voice and follow Andy, SCIP Technical Support Coordinator. Read on to find out how he copes with his hectic workload.
"But I just want to send an email!"
A word from SCIP CEO Rob Gentles over a spot of email bother and how SCIP can equip you for your journey on the ‘information superhighway.’
New SCIP training courses from September
SCIP delivers a wide range of training courses to help people use IT to do good in their community. Two new training programmes, with over 20 SCIP courses, will run in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex later in the year. Full details are being finalised with Working Together Project and other community partners and will appear in SCIP’s Newsletter in July.
A day in the life of Peter Mason, Web Designer at SCIP
Apart from sitting around playing on their iPad and drinking Italian coffee, what exactly does a Web Designer do all day? We dragged Peter Mason away from watching the World Cup for long enough to provide video evidence of what happens on an average day. Read on for a glimpse of the glamour.
5 Don’ts for Anti-virus Protection
Here at SCIP we have come up with the most important tips to prevent you and your computer from deadly viruses.
Green Computing: SCIP signs up with Very PC
SCIP are now resellers for the environmentally conscious award-winning PC manufacturer, Very PC. Current estimates are that ICT waste contributes at least 39% of the 1 million tonnes of electronic waste generated in the UK each year. This new deal means SCIP can help local organisations switch to a more environmentally friendly IT set-up.
Why I love the SCIP list
There are about 1,000 people currently subscribed to our email discussion forum, but who are they and what do they get out of it? Every month we ask one of its members why they love the SCIP list… This month we hear from Ellie Talebian, Training Administrator at Safety Net and Youth Group Leader at Woodcraft Folk.

Local community news running on ‘Churnalism’
At SCIP’s last Community Reporters’ meet-up, we were treated to an insight into BrightonandHoveNews.org, a local news site set up by journalist Frank Le Duc. It showed the power of a so-called ‘churnalism’ approach to sharing community news and rang bells for others involved in running local community newsletters and websites, including SCIP’s Training Manager David Guthrie.
Technical Support Changes
We hope you have noticed significant improvements to our technical support service over the last few years.
How the internet can help you be undemocratic
SCIP Chairperson Dan Jellinek has posted a great piece that demonstrates how easy it is to use the internet to deliver highly undemocratic decision-making processes.





