Hidden Value: Uncovering the Real Impact
What do we really walk away with at the end of a project? Is it just a finished product, or is there something more?
In a recent Lunch & Learn session, Archie Gray takes a reflective look at how even the lightest-touch Tech for Good projects can unlock long-term value, not just for charities, but also for volunteers and the wider community.
Where the Idea Began
"The idea for this stems from a chat at our weekly meetings. I was updating the team on a recent project. We hadn't actually done very much work, but the benefit to the charity was massive. They did all the work and we guided them. At the end of it, the benefit was very significant, and that led us into thinking maybe that's a good topic to talk about."
That simple story sparked Archie’s session: exploring the types of value we create and how we can recognise the ripple effects of even the smallest interventions.
Real Projects, Real Impact
Archie walked us through three Tech for Good projects that revealed just how powerful volunteering at any scale can be.
Slade Gardens:
This busy London-based play area welcomes up to 100 children a day. Before the project, staff used pen and paper to log entries. Thanks to support from skilled volunteers, from PwC UK and Lloyds Banking Group the charity now has a digital registration system on iPads—complete with a child-friendly picture-based login developed by a volunteer.
“Most importantly, it’s enhanced safety and security. Also takes less time and effort to manage the process… and you get much more useful data out of it.”
The result? Slade Gardens can better manage attendance, safeguard children, and plan for the future using reliable data.
Equi-Power Central Scotland:
This organisation offers therapeutic horse-riding for disabled children. Volunteers helped consolidate various systems into one Microsoft platform.
“Benefits were relatively small but important to them… saved them £700 a year on licence fees, consolidated all the data and processes, and most importantly… improved their ability to work together and share data.”
These changes helped a part-time team collaborate more easily, make informed decisions, and free up capacity for frontline work.
Dundee Bairns:
This Dundee charity supports children through food and activity programmes. The Scottish Tech Army provided a simple digital tool, just one step up from a spreadsheet, to help manage its packed warehouse.
“We gave them a very simple tool… We spent maybe two man-days writing the tool… They actually shut their warehouse for a week so they could review and implement improvements in the process… everything was significantly improved.”
The charity felt more in control and gained confidence to streamline operations and even began planning a follow-up website revamp.
What About Indirect Benefits?
Some outcomes are harder to measure, but just as important. As Archie explained, these indirect benefits can include increased confidence, satisfaction, and future potential for both the charity and the volunteers.
Slade Gardens:
“We’ve built a product… and it’s actually in the process of being deployed at two other organisations right now.”
The digital registration system is now being reused across similar charities. A single project has become a scalable solution, supporting more organisations with minimal extra effort.
Equi-Power:
“There’s an uplift in team spirit that gives them more confidence and enables them to make better decisions.”
Beyond the tech, this short project helped strengthen internal relationships and team morale, giving staff a renewed sense of control and optimism.
Dundee Bairns:
“They just feel more involved in what they’re doing… it enables them to make better changes and gives them more confidence in making future decisions.”
What began as a simple tool led to process improvements, clearer roles, and the confidence to explore future digital enhancements. They’re now considering a website upgrade, something that wasn’t on the table before.
A Different Kind of Impact
Archie reminded us that the impact of volunteering isn’t always found in metrics or milestones. It can be found in confidence, momentum, and the quiet shift that happens when people feel supported.
“They just feel a little bit more positive every day they go into the office or the stables.”
Sometimes, it’s that shift that makes the biggest difference—one that spreads through teams, charities, and communities.
But the benefit doesn’t stop there - volunteers gain too. Whether it’s the satisfaction of solving a problem, building confidence, or simply knowing your time made a difference, the rewards are real.
“It’s a big thing… it makes you go back and do the next project.”
Then there are moments where the impact is both emotional and measurable. Like this message from James Turing, after skilled volunteers helped create a warehouse app for The Turing Trust:
“I wanted to send a massive thank you for your incredible support in helping with the creation of our warehouse app. It’s fantastic to finally see the idea come to life, and it’s all thanks to your support.
We knew that app would bring a big difference in how we do things, and add a conservative estimate, I reckon that by making us much more efficient, it will enable us to support an additional 12,600 students to learn vital IT skills every year.
Beyond this, the environmental impact from the extra PCs we’ll process will offset 196 tons of CO₂ emissions, which is the equivalent of planting 490 trees or offsetting the annual carbon footprints of 20 Scots.
The embodied energy savings are also enough to power 48 UK homes for a year, and this impact will continue, year after year. Truly, thank you for making this possible.”
When we get it right, we make it well, we do good, and everyone benefits.
