Charities’ prefer to learn about digital through self directed methods and guidance from peers.
- Continuing a trend that we saw last year, charities’ preferred method of learning is self service, with almost 4 out of 10 (38%) seeking out online information or guidance.
- Peer advice remains as the second most popular option, with the same number (31%) as last year relying on this.
- There is a growing need for expert advice. This year, 31% said this has proved the most helpful support, increasing from 23% last year.
- 28% use webinars and just over 1 in 4 (26%) find online training helpful, the latter being a similar number to last year.
- A quarter (25%) find digital agency/consultancy support helpful.
- Charities also rely on a number of informal learning methods, including online communities such as Slack groups (24%), newsletters (23%) and YouTube (15%).
- Some charities find peer learning valuable, with over 1 in 5 (23%) learning from colleagues and 15% benefiting from learning sessions with other organisations.
- For those at an early stage with digital (curious or starting out), the most helpful sources of information have been information and guidance online, newsletters and blog posts and expert advice or mentoring.
- For those advancing and advanced with digital, the most helpful sources are asking peers directly, information and guidance online and expert advice or mentoring.
It’s encouraging that more charities are seeking out guidance themselves, or asking their peers, indicating that their confidence with finding answers is growing.
“What we need is someone to mentor us and help us to identify the training we need, where to get it and help at a basic level initially. Doing things on the website for example is really daunting and having someone there to go through the simple things the first couple of times will ensure things will move forward.”
“The competitive and fast-changing nature of the digital sphere has meant it is not easy to work out where to spend the little resources I have, in case the mode I choose becomes quickly outdated.”
Mirroring the trend that we saw with learning about digital, charities seek out support through online search and their network.
- Almost half of charities (47%) seek out support via online search.
- Just over a third turn to trusted advisors and organisations, with 35% leaning on current suppliers and the same number asking charities and networks such as Charity Digital, Superhighways and Catalyst, 15% to infrastructure organisations such as NCVO, and 15% to digital communities or WhatsApp groups.
- Charities also utilise peer support, with 33% asking for word of mouth recommendations from peers and 21% reaching out to networking groups.
- Just over 1 in 4 (26%) find digital workshops and events helpful.
- 15% turn to their board for help.
- 10% turn to specialist volunteers such as Digital Candle or Reach Volunteering.