Network Effects

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 could be said to be greater than ever. At the Tech for Good Summit in 2022, the Scottish Tech Army announced the launch of the Tech for Good Alliance - join our co-founder and CEO as he shares highlights from the past year and looks ahead to the challenges facing the third sector and the opportunities for the tech for good ecosystem to join forces to create positive change.

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.

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 series of tech-for-good stories from around the world.

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. 

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.

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 event that really showed both the scale and the strength of the STA.

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. During lockdown she asked for help from the STA who managed to help in more ways than she imagined.

Plus - there's a big announcement at the start of this episode. 

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 lockdown. 8 million digital texts are now available to anyone who wants or needs them, with about 32 million left to go. There's some deviation into talk of Hibs and Edinburgh Rugby and we get Alec's view on good Project Management - a topic for another episode.

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 from home normal and how the STA has provided purpose and a sense of belonging in the most difficult of years.

If you need to work through your experiences, here are more links to those who can help:

https://breathingspace.scot/

https://clearyourhead.scot/

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.