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Small Charities Week: Tech 4 Good South West


As Small Charities Week draws to a close, one message rings louder than ever: resilience and connection remain at the heart of everything we do.

This week, our goal at 3SG was to shine a light on the incredible work of small charities. We wanted to not only recognise their impact, but their unwavering strength in the face of economic, social, and political challenges.

While the sector continues to navigate uncertain times, the dedication to mission and community remains unshaken. At 3SG, we firmly believe that stronger communities are built on the foundation of resilient charities and this week has been a powerful reminder of that truth.


For our final spotlight, we are pleased to introduce Tech 4 Good South West!


Can you tell us a little bit about your small charity?

Tech4Good South West is a community of people across the South West driving technology for good through bringing people together, sharing knowledge and ideas, matching needs with skills, and creating space to innovate.

Our working definition of Tech for Good is the intentional use of technology to drive positive outcomes for people and planet.


What do you see as the main challenges facing small charities today?

As the funding world comes under increasing pressure of all shapes and sizes, small charities and social enterprises are hit with a double whammy of increased demand and a reduction in available funding. Resources are always a challenge but small charities and social enterprises are really resourceful so still punch above their weight. In addition, our experience is that funding for convening and skills development work is still hard to get. We know that is, if you get the right mix of people to meet and connect, brilliant things happen. 


What does financial resilience mean for Tech 4 Good?

Our approach has always been to explore a mixed model of financial sustainability, a good combination of trading, project funding, sponsorship and consultancy. Grant funding is great but hard to get for an organisation like Tech4Good South West. 


How has being part of the Social Economy West Project impacted your organisation?

Great support from Dan Gregory and Oliver Holtaway. Tech4Good South West is a membership organisation and the Social Economy West Project gave us the time and support to step back and think more intentionally about how we grow as a participatory network. We mapped out the different roles people play – from listeners to collaborators to maintainers – and looked at how we could create more inclusive and meaningful ways for members to get involved. It also helped us put words to the values we already work by: trust, care, abundance, and collaboration. That’s now shaping how we design events, hold space for others, and grow our membership in a way that feels true to our purpose.  


What’s been one memorable moment for Tech 4 Good so far?

This is a tricky one...the Unconferences we deliver are really enjoyable and always bring a real mix of different people and organisations, from big tech to small charities, as I mentioned above...if you get the right people together and let them shape the agenda, good things happen. We held our latest one a few weeks ago. Read more here. 

If I'm allowed another one. Our AI in Action session at Bath Digital Festival was a real highlight. We brought together charities, social enterprises, and tech specialists to explore AI side by side. People got hands-on with tools like Grants.ai and Form Fighter, built their own ChatGPTs, and had open conversations about ethics, accessibility, and real-world use. It was practical, peer-led, and full of curiosity — exactly the kind of space we need more of in the sector.


Tech 4 Good has received support through Social Economy West. They collaborated with two of our incredible mentors to design a more inclusive and engaging offering for their members.


At 3SG, we’ll keep supporting our third sector community through events, training, networks, and tailored support. If your organisation could benefit from fully funded, bespoke guidance to navigate today’s challenging landscape, our Social Economy West project is here to help.


Social Economy West is a West of England Mayoral Combined Authority initiative, led by Business West and delivered locally by 3SG in the Bath and North East Somerset area. This programme builds on our ongoing work with the School for Social Entrepreneurs and the Bath Social Impact Network, continuing our commitment to strengthening the region’s social economy.


The aim of the project is to support third sector organisations, social enterprises, and co-operatives to become more financially sustainable and resilient in today’s challenging economic landscape. We do this via 5 key support activities:


Through Social Economy West, we’re offering access to tailored support, practical resources, and expert guidance to help organisations:

  • Identify and explore opportunities for sustainable impact

  • Navigate increasing demand for services

  • Build financial resilience and embed environmental sustainability

  • Strengthen risk management practices

  • Diversify income streams and reduce reliance on short-term funding


If you’re a charity, community group, social enterprise, or co-operative working in Bath and North East Somerset, we encourage you to apply.

Apply now by completing the application form here: https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/social-economy-west


If you have any questions or would like to talk about the programme in more detail, please get in touch with our Project Manager - Alfiya Khan at 3SG: alfiya@3sg.org.uk.


Find out more about Small Charity Week here: https://www.smallcharityweek.com/


Small Charity Week defines a small charity as a voluntary organisation with a social or charitable purpose with an annual income of less than £1 million. This includes registered charities, community groups, community interest companies (CICs) and other structures.


If your small charity would like to become a 3SG member, you can find more information here. Alternatively, please get in touch and we'd be happy to have a chat - contact@3sg.org.uk


Read a recent blog post by Small Charities Week Campaign - How to build financial resilience for small charities


Additionally here are few more resources from our sector partner Media Trust -  :

Free upcoming events:

Low-cost courses/events:

Free resources:


DSC Resources:

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