Circuit Riders
What is a circuit rider?
Circuit riders are mobile, independent ICT (Information and Communications Technology) workers who provide ICT development and support work to several small voluntary sector organisations, many of whom can't afford to employ their own ICT staff. Circuit riders also work in collaboration with other circuit riders.
How can a circuit rider help us?
Circuit riders have a range of skills from strategic to technical and can help organisations with aspects of ICT including:
- Supporting your ICT software and systems
- Recommending or offering resources
- Writing technology strategies
- Drawing up ICT budgets
- Training staff to manage and plan how they use ICT
Why should we use a circuit rider?
Circuit riders understand the voluntary sector. They are committed to its success.
They don't want to sell you anything. They aim to develop your organisation's ICT skills and knowledge so that you can ultimately manage your own ICT needs.
How is Lasa involved?
Lasa is the main driver in the development of the circuit riding movement in the UK. We have run circuit rider projects (PDF) to support voluntary organisations and published the Circuit Riders 2.0 Guide (PDF). We run seminars and conferences for circuit riders and those interested in circuit riding. We maintain the UK Riders mailing list, and UK Riders website, the premier support resources for circuit riders. We have developed principles (PDF), quality standards, and a development programme for circuit riders.
What our clients say
‘My confidence grew considerably as a result of the Lasa Circuit Rider Project and through dealing with the ICT issues that we had.... the confidence I got from working with Lasa now means that I feel much more able to discuss ICT and understand what we need.'
Stephen Hawkins, Age Concern Hounslow
"The Circuit rider course was fantastic...Lots of new ideas like using video to tell [our] story to funders" - Indira Beqiri CARIS
"Wanted to say a really big thank you to Lasa for making the conference happen this year. Like last year, I found it really enjoyable and super useful - was great to have the chance to talk and learn and make connections, etc. There were lots of people I didn't get a chance to talk to that I'd have liked to but hey ho, there's always next year, I hope!"- 2009 Circuit Rider Conference attendee
Find out more
- Circuit Rider Development Programme
- Lasa's new learning and development program for circuit riders
- Building Bridges to ICT Excellence project
- Help for funders and the organisations they fund
- UK Riders
- Networking and resources for circuit riders http://ukriders.lasa.org.uk