We’re partnering with the National Lottery Community Fund
By Tracey Curran, Programme Manager
“We’re really excited about this partnership, which will allow National Lottery Community Fund grantholders to access tailored, hands-on digital support from the Scottish Tech Army. Our hope is that it will help build a much-needed level of digital capability in Scotland’s third sector.” – Kirsty McIntosh, Executive Director
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside organisations that pour their hearts into supporting communities across Scotland. Whether this means responding to a crisis, tackling inequality, or creating opportunities for the people who need them most, our third sector is powered by extraordinary people who show up to help others every single day.
With this background, I’m excited to share that I’ve joined the Scottish Tech Army as the Programme Manager for a new partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund for Scotland – a programme designed to help grantholders build the digital confidence, clarity and capability they need to thrive.
Why digital capacity matters now
Throughout my career, I’ve seen how the right tools and processes can free up time for people to focus on what matters most: supporting others. Digital capacity isn’t about chasing the latest technology and tools. It’s real value comes from:
Reducing manual, time-consuming tasks
Making systems talk to each other
Getting more value from the tools you already have
Exploring new solutions that genuinely help
Building confidence, not complexity
In the third sector, digital capacity and confidence is often missing – even though this is the sector where it’s needed most. With small teams and limited resources spread thin over mission-critical work, it’s increasingly difficult for organisations in the sector to develop and maintain the kind of digital capacity that would save them time and resources.
The Scottish Tech Army has already supported more than 500 organisations with exactly this, and I’ve seen firsthand how transformative even the smallest of changes can be. When a charity saves hours of admin each week, that is reinvested straight back into the communities it serves. Building digital capacity in the third sector is absolutely crucial.
What this programme will do is ensure National Lottery Community Fund grantholders can access the Scottish Tech Army’s support at no cost through a managed programme. Our volunteers will help them create practical, sustainable, scalable solutions for their tech problems, and in turn build their digital capacity and confidence.
What can National Lottery Community Fund grantholders expect?
One of the things I love most about The Scottish Tech Army is how human the process is. We don’t drop in a solution and walk away – it’s always about building a partnership with the organisations we support. Throughout the programme, grantholders will be able to access:
“Ask Me Anything Digital” sessions: For those who aren’t sure where to start, these sessions will help create an understanding of what’s possible. We share examples of previous projects and answer questions in a relaxed, supportive and safe space – you can book your slot here.
Tailored, hands-on digital support: Our volunteers work directly with organisations to understand their challenges and deliver effective solutions – from workflow automations to CRM improvements and new tool implementation.
Real support, real impact: We’re not here to drop in a solution and walk away. I’ve already seen volunteers help charities to integrate application forms into CRMs, build e-commerce sites, create learning platforms, and streamline entire service pathways digitally. The creativity and generosity of our volunteer community never fails to impress me.
A partnership with a shared purpose
What excited me most about this programme is the shared belief that every organisation – no matter its size or resources – deserves to have the tools necessary to thrive in a digital world. By combining the reach of the National Lottery Community Fund and the skills of the Scottish Tech Army’s volunteer community, we’re creating a pathway for charities to:
Strengthen their operations
Improve their service delivery
Increase resilience
Unlock new opportunities for growth
Amplify their impact in communities across Scotland
Ready to get started?
If you’re a National Lottery Fund grantholder, you can find more information on this page.
I’ll be supporting grantholders from first conversation to final delivery: scoping projects, matching organisations with the right volunteers and ensuring the entire experience feels supportive, collaborative, and grounded in the real needs of your charity. I believe deeply in the power of people-first digital transformation, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve for grantholders with this project.
Thanks for reading. Fill out the form above to request support, or find me on LinkedIn if you have any questions.
