Supplier Directory Survives Funding Crisis

appiChar, a leading IT supplier for the not-for-profit sector, has teamed up with the charity, Lasa, to help ensure Lasa’s popular online Suppliers’ Directory remains a free service.

The Suppliers’ Directory is a searchable directory of ICT suppliers who provide goods and services to the voluntary and community sector in England.

Inspired by the U.S. site Techfinder, Lasa partnered up with NTEN and Compumentor to develop and deliver a specific English version of this resource. The Directory received initial funding from Capacitybuilders’ ChangeUp programme.

Following the close of Capacitybuilders’ funding the future of the Suppliers’ Directory is now under threat; appiChar’s support will provide significant help towards the continuation of this valuable service.

Aba Maison, from Lasa’s Information Systems Team said: “We are absolutely delighted that appiChar has come on board. Without support like this we will be unable to offer the Suppliers’ Directory as a free service to the voluntary and community sector. Support like this is absolutely vital if we are to keep our service open and accessible.”

Ian Ryder, appiChar’s Managing Director, said: “The Suppliers’ Directory is very important for the charity sector because companies are checked by Lasa before they can be listed. Most directories are paid for by the listed supplier with no form of checking so charities don’t necessarily know if they have a track record in the sector. When we heard funds were needed to keep it running we were more than happy to help. As a company we’re committed to improving IT in the not-for-profit sector.”

Lasa was established in 1984 and is a second tier development and resource agency providing a range of services to the voluntary advice and legal services sector. Lasa is recognised centre of excellence and innovation for advice related ICT developments, for support and training on welfare benefits law, and for policy campaigning and development work.

Lasa’s ICT support services include consultancy work, IT ‘Healthchecks’, telephone advice, case management software, publications (including Computanews magazine now approaching its 150th issue), and a dedicated IT expert information source on the Internet - the ICT Knowledgebase.

The Directory lists over 130 suppliers across England offering over 251 services.

LASA Supplier Directory

appiChar