Did you miss us? We are excited to announce that we are reviving our volunteer-centric newsletter, per your feedback requesting more regular updates and greater communication on all things BCS Community. Your insights have guided us, and we're pleased to announce that the refreshed BCS Volunteer Newsletter will now be a quarterly occurrence.
Expect content that shines a spotlight on the fantastic work of our member groups and volunteers in the tech world.
We'll also share policy and process updates, provide resources to enhance your volunteer experience, and keep you informed about exciting opportunities and upcoming events.
We're genuinely excited about what 2024 holds for our community and look forward to making a positive impact together.
The BCS Community team
Community spotlight series
Introducing the community spotlight series: share your achievements!
Reflecting on the extraordinary impact of our volunteers and member groups, we're excited to launch the Community Spotlight series. We want to create a platform for sharing triumphs and inspiring others. Submit your story here to join the celebration and make some noise within the community. Your testimonials are the heart of this series, showcasing the amazing contributions you've made. Shine in the spotlight.
The 2024/2025 Member Group budget process is now in full swing! Each member group that requires a budget for the upcoming financial year needs to complete their submission no later than Wednesday 27 March 2024.
Volunteer satisfaction survey (VSS) training feedback
In September 2023, the Community Support Committee (CSC) launched their annual Volunteer Satisfaction Survey (VSS). As part of the VSS, volunteers were asked to identify areas in which they’d like more training to be made available. Utilising this feedback, we have identified some areas in which we aim to develop our training offering (watch this space!).
That said, there were a number of training needs identified in the responses that already exist and are accessible through your BCS membership. Our BCS Discover platform has a plethora of CPD content, covering development areas including Leadership & Management and Soft Skills. BCS Discover also hosts content designed to help you keep your finger on the pulse, from AI, to Cyber Security and Green IT & Net Zero.
There are also a variety of learning modules available for you to explore via Springboard and BCS Discover (see below).
To find out more about the outcomes of the 2023 VSS, reserve your spot at out playback event on Tuesday 27 February.
We’ve recently produced a piece to help our Member Groups explore their options to raise additional funding. Our Increasing your Member Group’s budget page covers all things sponsorships, providing guidance on our expectations, the types of sponsorship options you can explore, as well as a number of tips to help member groups procure that sponsorship!
Event calendar and opportunities
Event Calendar
Mark your calendars! Join your fellow community members for a plethora of events, both online and in person. Curious about what's coming up? Check out the community events calendar here!
Fellows of the future
As passionate contributors within the BCS community, we're confident that many of you are at the forefront of shaping, influencing, and leaving a lasting mark in the dynamic world of technology! If this resonates with you, it's a strong indicator that you might be ready for the prestigious BCS Fellowship. We're thrilled to introduce our Fellows of the Future program, specially crafted to guide and assist you through the application journey. Eager to learn more? Dive into the details on our website.
Are you interested in volunteering and supporting the next generation and their career goals?
Become a coach on the My Digital Future programme, part of the BCS foundation. The programme supports 16-24 year olds no matter their background or circumstance on their path through education and first steps into their career in the IT industry. We are working to support the expansion of a more diverse and inclusive talent pipeline.
The 1-1 coaching aims to provide students with:
Gaining insight into the industry
Having a role model to help raise their aspirations and goals post education
Guidance and support through new experiences and learning
Dedicating just one hour a month of your time can be a deeply rewarding experience as you contribute to guiding and supporting the next generation of IT professionals. For more information visit My Digital Future. If you are interested in becoming a coach and want to find out more information, please contact hannah.reayjones@bcs.uk.
Providing a Professional home for everyone in tech through building an inclusivecommunity
BCS member groups are pivotal in fostering member value and attracting new participants through dynamic events, activities, and partnerships. We're dedicated to creating an inclusive tech community aligned with best practices, believing that inclusion is fundamental to advancing computing education and practice. Launching a review and consultation on inclusion within our community, in collaboration with Anne-Marie of Cloverhill Solutions, we will be reviewing data, rules, processes, as well as volunteer experiences to enhance our community and establish clear improvement priorities.
Part 1 - Inclusion survey
The first part of the survey aims to understand your views on exclusion experiences, attitudes towards inclusion, and the priority given towards inclusion. We recognise that some questions may be challenging, but are valuable for BCS to address inclusivity effectively. Take the survey.
Part 2 – Demographic survey
In part two of this consultation and research, we invite you to anonymously participate in a demographic questionnaire. We need your help so BCS can understand the demographics of our member group volunteer community and how representative it is of society and the profession. Using this information BCS will be able to measure its performance in delivering an inclusive community. Take the survey.
Want to nominate yourself or a fellow volunteer for one of our BCS awards or recognitions?
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