PAUL Hamlyn Foundation and Comic Relief have together launched a new £1million digital development fund, as part of their joint Tech for Good programme. ‘Build’ will support UK non-profits to strengthen their services.

The Tech for Good programme was originally developed in 2016 in response to the need for charities to use technology to explore different approaches to delivering better services.

Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the drive and need for organisations to explore how digital and design capabilities can help transform or maximise their work in supporting vulnerable people even further.

The programme will offer grants of up to £70,000 over a nine-month period from June 2021, alongside access to technical support from experts provided by CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology). It is available to individual not-for-profit organisations or those working in partnership to define, test and develop digital solutions that meet a social need or challenge or aim to adapt or re-purpose existing technology to do so.

Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive of Paul Hamlyn Foundation said:

“The COVID-19 crisis has forced charities to adapt their services at pace. We hope that our Tech for Good programme with Comic Relief will help them to explore and develop the digital solutions they need to improve the way they work and the support they provide to people and communities. The programme is not only about creating a new product or tool – existing technology can be re-purposed or adapted. It’s about understanding where and how a digital approach can make a positive difference for organisations and those they work with.”

Comic Relief’s CEO Ruth Davison added:

“The Tech for Good programme offers charitable organisations the opportunity to build digital solutions that strengthen the vital services they provide. I’m pleased we are able to work with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation on this key programme and support projects across the country as they continue to help thousands of vulnerable people throughout this challenging time.”

After co-funding four rounds of Tech for Good from 2017-2019, as well as designing and launching an early-stage discovery fund ‘Explore’ in 2020, this will be the final application round in their three-year partnership.

The application process opens today to UK charities with incomes of between £75,000 and £10million.

Comic Relief and CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology), the support partner for this programme, will be running Q&A webinars offering additional guidance on Thursday, 21 January (2-3pm) and on Thursday, 28 January (10-11am).

Applications close at 12pm on 12 February 2021.

Visit Comic Relief for further information: https://www.comicrelief.com/funding/funding-opportunities/tech-for-good-build-2021/