Selected charities will take part in six months of digital training and receive advice and access to a peer network to support their digital development. The programme is delivered in collaboration with CAST, a charity helping organisations use digital for social good.

Deloitte encourages applications from charities and social enterprises that have a project or programme aligned to education, employment or climate action.

Last year, Deloitte invested £800,000 in Deloitte Digital Connect and the programme has already had a significant impact on charities. The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust took part while it was developing the Ready, Steady, Go app, which helps young people in hospital regain fitness. The app will support 150 patients in their recovery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital by helping them become more physically active.

Richard Houston, senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte UK, said: “Technology has the power to transform charities and their services. We’ve brought together what we do best around technology and applied it to charities and social enterprises so they’re able to digitally deliver vital services to those most in need.

“I’m proud to see how Deloitte Digital Connect is helping charity digital leaders to build capacity and capability within their organisations. This has been critical for them as they transition through the pandemic into the new hybrid world.”

The new cohort of charities will have their individual digital needs assessed by Deloitte’s 5 Million Futures team and CAST to identify the most effective actions to assist them. Charities will be given access to mentoring sessions, group coaching calls, workshops and masterclasses and peer support sessions. Deloitte will also offer one-to-one support from teams across the firm including tech, digital and legal advice.

The latest research from the 2022 Charity Digital Skills Report revealed that just over half of charities have a digital strategy and only a third of charities have someone leading on digital either as part of or in addition to their work, a ten per cent decline from 2021.

Ben Hilton, chief executive of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, reflected on the support his charity received: “Taking part in the programme allowed us to understand how to develop a digital product and we have been using all the learnings and resources to help us plan projects for the future. From an executive level, the roundtables with Richard Houston were insightful; hearing how big business is coping with the external factors we are all experiencing, and enabling us to take hints, tips and best practice back to the Trust and the wider sector.

“On a day-to-day level, the peer sessions and knowledge sharing workshops were incredibly helpful when piloting our new app to young people in hospital. Throughout, the support from Deloitte and CAST was thoughtful, timely and engaging and it was an honour to be involved along with a number of other great charities.”

To apply for the programme, please complete this short online application form by 12 noon on Monday 17 October.