BJSS and Tech for Good: Empowering Scotland's charities and upskilling the next generation

Tech for Good Alliance (which started in Scotland) is an organisation that connects IT experts, volunteers and charities across the UK. These initiatives help BJSS to provide expertise whilst enabling upskilling. Working with charities means we’re solving small problems but making a big impact.

“Social value is not just about what you have done, but what you are continually doing to make your community better.”

Building capabilities

At BJSS, we ensure every graduate from our Academy has the opportunity to participate in a Tech for Good project. This allows them to build a referenceable project for their CV and enhance their skills before they even begin their first client assignment.

Mobilising Euan’s guide

For the past nine months, a team from BJSS has been working with Euan's Guide, a charity that provides reviews and information on disabled access to venues, much like TripAdvisor does for general accessibility.

"The aim of Euan's Guide is to empower disabled people by providing information that will give confidence and choices for getting out and about."

Together, BJSS and Euan’s Guide have been developing a mobile app to help disabled users easily find accessible toilets when they’re out and about. This project aims to enhance the user experience by making crucial accessibility information more readily available on the go.

This has allowed the Scotland-based charity to expand their audience reach, providing further accessibility.

Mobile app development

We developed a mobile app using React Native and Expo for building and deployment, working closely with Euan's Guide's in-house technical team to define and build an API that the app could integrate with.

Through several rounds of user testing, we validated the need for the solution, generating significant excitement and positive feedback.

Street Soccer Scotland

Street Soccer Scotland, a charity that uses football-themed training to support socially disadvantaged groups across Scotland, approached BJSS for help in automating and improving their volunteer recognition processes. With a growing number of volunteers and hours logged, they needed a way to track volunteer time efficiently in a centralised system.

As the charity expanded, it became increasingly difficult to manage and track the increasing volume of volunteer hours in a manual system. Street Soccer Scotland needed a streamlined solution to track and reward volunteer contributions.

BJSS solution

We developed an automated rewards system for volunteers using Salesforce CRM and its engagement plans. The system included reward levels to motivate volunteers, encouraging them to reach the next tier based on the number of hours they volunteered.

Automating volunteer management

By automating these processes, we provided Street Soccer Scotland with a scalable, efficient system to track volunteer time, incentivise participation, and generate reports. This solution ensures that the charity can offer more support to people facing homelessness, isolation, and exclusion, harnessing the power of sport and community to create lasting change.

Website rebuild for West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC)

After their website was hacked, forcing them to take their services offline for over 18 months, WSREC turned to BJSS for help. The website was a critical resource for vulnerable minorities seeking training and support, as well as for volunteers needing access to training guides. It was also essential for grant applications, and its prolonged downtime was hindering the charity's ability to secure additional funding.

BJSS solution

We took the time to understand the needs of the staff and their technical abilities, then selected a simple, point-and-click solution using WordPress and Elementor. By stripping out complex CSS, we ensured the website was easy to manage and fully clickable for the staff, delivering a user-friendly solution that could be quickly maintained.

Rebuilding access with a new, scalable website

We successfully delivered the rebuilt website, enabling easy maintenance and the addition of new content. Over time, the site grew, and we enhanced its design and functionality, ensuring it was an effective resource for both users and staff. The new website has helped the charity resume its vital work, ensuring that people in need have access to the support they deserve.

Is your organisation in Scotland ready for digital transformation? BJSS can help you build innovative solutions that make a real impact. Get in touch here.

Nations and Regions Programme activities

techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience across the nations and regions. Visit the programme page here