In 2015, Cisco set itself a challenge to positively impact 1 billion lives through its social impact grants and programmes by 2025. As we start 2023, this global technology giant has reported that it is 70% into meeting that challenge. Kathryn

Series 2 - Ep 9 - Tech for Good Summit - Skilled Volunteering, the value to the Third Sector

May 8th, 2023 30m

Volunteers are the bedrock of the third sector – it simply wouldn’t function without them. Skilled volunteering, whether from the tech or any other specialist sector can be transformational for charities, but sometimes doesn’t realise its full

Series 2 - Ep 8 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Open Data for Action

May 7th, 2023 29m 58s

The value and power of open data was highlighted to everyone during the pandemic. There are many open data sets being generated from multiple sources but there are also many issues with discoverability, consistency and frequency/regularity of u

Series 2 - Ep 7 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Federated Organisations - The Scale Opportunity

May 6th, 2023 32m 58s

Federated organisations share some characteristics of franchise models. Common processes and systems underpin the operations of successful franchise operations. In principle this lends itself well to federated organisations in the third sector

Series 2 - Ep 6 - Tech for Good Summit - Ambassadors Session, Cross Sector Collaboration

May 5th, 2023 39m 58s

For the last two years, the Scottish Tech Army has benefitted from the insight of its cross sector Ambassadors. This group of leaders brings together insights and experience from the tech, corporate, third and education sectors, a combination t

Series 2 - Ep 5 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Creating Equality of Opportunity

May 4th, 2023 31m 30s

There is much talk of the digital divide. On one hand, there is a widely-recognised shortage of skilled people in the tech sector and others that rely on technology, and on the other hand there is an urgent problem of digital exclusion and a de

Series 2 - Ep 4 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - An Enabling Infrastructure for the Third Sector

May 3rd, 2023 33m 4s

The technology landscape in the third sector is fragmented and where common systems have been created it has often been difficult to get widespread adoption. There is no ‘one size fits all’ tech platform that can serve all the needs of an entir

Series 2 - Ep 3 - Tech for Good Summit 23 - Skilled Volunteering - Good for the People, Good for the Business

May 2nd, 2023 42m 41s

Many companies now offer their employees the opportunity to carry out voluntary work during paid hours. This reflects genuine philanthropic intent and the organisations being supported undoubtedly derive benefit from it, especially when staff a

Series 2 - Ep 2 - Tech for Good Summit 2023 - Rhodri Davies

May 1st, 2023 45m 53s

RHODRI DAVIES, WHY PHILANTHROPY MATTERS: The third sector is always under pressure and constraints, now more than ever - it is heavily dependent on the support of volunteers, funders and philanthropists. Technology has the potential to maximise

Series 2 - Ep 1 - Tech for Good Summit - Opening Address, Alistair Forbes

Apr 30th, 2023 35m 39s

The Tech for Good Summit 2023 marks 3 years since the launch of the Scottish Tech Army at the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has faded but the need and the opportunity for tech for good has not, indeed it cou

Episode 20 - Series 1 ends with a look back and forward

Dec 23rd, 2020 34m 10s

Graham and Kirsty look back on 2020 with Alistair Forbes and Joanna Allen. Wishing all a peaceful and safe Christmas and New Year. See you all in 2021.

Episode 19 - Global Stories 1 - AIME Mentoring, Australia

Dec 10th, 2020 29m 7s

A chance connection on LinkedIn brought the amazing work of Australia's AIME Mentoring programme to the STA's attention. Kirsty McIntosh met Brenden Newton across an 11 hour time difference to find out more. This is the first in a periodic ser

Episode 18 - Rise of the CodeClan

Nov 25th, 2020 42m 34s

Kirsty McIntosh takes a tour around the motivations and experiences of 6 graduates of Scotland's Digital Skills Academy, CodeClan and who have all volunteered their time and new skills to the Scottish Tech Army.

Episode 17 - Eirini Komninou, data science and sonification

Nov 17th, 2020 25m 6s

Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh talk data science, sonification, PhDs and more with STA volunteer Eirini Komninou. Eirini's story is a classic example of diverse thinking, teamwork and dedication.

Episode 16 - Return to the Town Hall

Nov 3rd, 2020 28m 43s

Alistair Forbes joins Kirsty in the co-hosts chair as we return to the scene of last week's Town Hall announcements about the future of the Scottish Tech Army. Volunteers Stacy Munro, Jean Ferguson and Brian Baglow give their thoughts on an eve

Episode 15 - Grace Chocolates changing lives

Oct 27th, 2020 17m 8s

Graham and Kirsty talk to Joyce Murray about how a realisation that we are all just one decision away from getting into trouble led her to set up a chocolate making business that works with women who've brushed up against the justice system. Du

Episode 14 - Digital Access to the National Library of Scotland

Oct 20th, 2020 28m 30s

Stewart Lewis of the National Library of Scotland and STA volunteer Project Manager Alec Davies join Graham and Kirsty to talk about how a team of STA volunteers worked together with the NLS to bring https://opentexts.world online during lockdo

Episode 13 - World Mental Health Day

Oct 10th, 2020 43m 59s

It's World Mental Health Day. We brought together one of Crossreach's amazing counsellors, Julie Reekie, with Scottish Tech Army volunteers, Rab Mungall, Kirsty McIntosh and Graham Johnston to share stories of lockdown, managing the new work fr

Episode 12 - Checking in again with Alistair Forbes

Oct 6th, 2020 23m 3s

The Scottish Tech Army had quite a week - 5 months old, awards, partnerships and press galore. Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh catch up with Alistair to hear all about it.

Episode 11 - Graham Johnston and Josh Havens

Sep 29th, 2020 33m 20s

Listeners finally get the introduction to Graham Johnston they and he deserve and Kirsty to talks to STA volunteer Josh Havens, coming from a non-tech background, the support he's received from fellow volunteers and the impact the charities he'

Episode 10 - Agenor Technology

Sep 22nd, 2020 28m 5s

Agenor Technology is an Edinburgh based IT consultancy. Several employees, some furloughed, some not have been giving their time and experience to the Scottish Tech Army. Graham Johnston and Kirsty McIntosh find out more about the business and

Episode 9 - Crossreach with Tanya Anderson and Luke Woollett

Sep 15th, 2020 36m 2s

Kirsty McIntosh and Graham Johnston chat to Tanya Anderson of Crossreach Counselling Scotland and the STA's Luke Woollett about their work to bring Crossreach's services into the digital age.

Episode 8 - Mhairi Cochrane from Lilypads

Sep 8th, 2020 24m 4s

Mhairi Cochrane, CEO of Lilypads tells us about the origins of the organisation, the impact of the pandemic on their operations and how much she enjoyed working with the Scottish Tech Army to help resolve some of the challenges they were facing

Episode 7 - The Covid-19 Dashboard for Scotland

Sep 1st, 2020 23m 13s

STA Volunteers Luke Woollett and Donal Stewart discuss the launch of the new Covid-19 Dashboard for Scotland, how it came into being and why it's both an important project for our volunteers and valuable tool for the public.

Episode 6 - The VSA Project with Robin Williamson and Rhona Holland

Aug 25th, 2020 33m 1s

Introducing our new co-host, Graham Johnston, some music and the story of how the Scottish Tech Army worked with VSA to produce an inventory system that's making a real difference every day to that organisation.