// IT SUPPORT FOR CHARITIES IN DORSET
IT support for charities in Dorset
Affordable, down-to-earth IT support for charities and nonprofits across Dorset — helping you claim free and discounted Microsoft 365 nonprofit licences, keep tight budgets under control with simple per-PC support, protect the people whose data you hold, and satisfy the Cyber Essentials that funders increasingly ask for. A local family firm since 1995. Rated 4.9 on Google.
- ● Microsoft 365 nonprofit licences
- ● Affordable per-PC support
- ● Cyber Essentials for funders
// WE GET IT
IT support that respects a charity’s budget — and its mission
Every pound a charity spends on IT is a pound not spent on the cause. We understand that completely — we’re a family-run firm, not a faceless corporate, and we’ve spent since 1995 helping Dorset organisations get more from their technology without overspending. For charities, community groups and nonprofits across Bournemouth, Poole and the wider county, that means making tight budgets stretch, tapping the grants and discounts you’re entitled to, and keeping volunteers and staff productive with a minimum of fuss.
Charities also face a hard truth: you often hold some of the most sensitive data there is — details of vulnerable beneficiaries, donors, service users and volunteers — frequently with fewer resources to protect it than a commercial business. And funders and grant-makers increasingly want proof you take that seriously. We bridge that gap, quietly and affordably.
- Do more with less — free and discounted software, refurbished hardware and simple per-PC support that suits a lean budget.
- Protect the people you serve — sensible security and data protection around the beneficiary and donor data you’re trusted with.
- Win and keep funding — the Cyber Essentials and good-practice basics that reassure funders, grant-makers and public-sector partners.
We’re Windows and Android specialists (not an Apple/Mac firm), and we explain everything without jargon. See our monthly support plans or our wider Dorset IT support overview.
// GRANTS & SAVINGS
Microsoft 365 nonprofit licences — free and discounted plans
One of the quickest wins for any charity is software you may be able to get free or at a steep discount. Eligible nonprofits can access Microsoft 365 through Microsoft’s nonprofit programme. As things stand, Microsoft grants eligible charities Microsoft 365 Business Basic free for up to 300 users — that gives your team professional business email, Teams, 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, and the web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. If you need the full installed desktop Office apps or extra security (for example Business Premium), those are offered to nonprofits at a heavily discounted rate rather than free. (Microsoft retired its old free Business Premium and E1 grants from July 2025, so what’s free now is Business Basic.)
- We help you check eligibility and apply — the process runs through Microsoft’s nonprofit portal, and we’ll help you navigate it and get your organisation validated.
- We set it up properly — migrating email, moving files to secure cloud storage, configuring Teams for staff and volunteers, and getting the security switched on from day one.
- Affordable hardware too — where you do need to buy, our refurbished business-grade Dell laptops and desktops start from £510, a fraction of new, and come with a warranty.
We’re a Microsoft Partner, so we know the ecosystem well. Grant availability, plan inclusions and eligibility are set by Microsoft and do change, so we’ll always check what your specific charity currently qualifies for rather than promise a fixed outcome — but for most registered charities there are real savings to be had. Learn more on our Microsoft 365 support page.
// TRUST & PROTECTION
Data protection, Cyber Essentials and keeping funders confident
Charities hold data that really matters — safeguarding records, health details, donor and Gift Aid information, volunteer details. Protecting it isn’t just a UK GDPR obligation; it’s a duty to the people who trusted you. And more grant-makers, commissioners and corporate partners now ask about your security — often naming Cyber Essentials specifically — before they release funds or sign a contract.
- Sensible, affordable security — business-grade antivirus, patched Windows, encrypted laptops, multi-factor authentication on Microsoft 365 and email, and phishing-awareness for staff and volunteers.
- Verified backups — automatic, tested, off-site backups of your beneficiary records, finances and documents, so a failed drive or a ransomware attack can’t undo years of work.
- Cyber Essentials — we help you prepare for and work toward Cyber Essentials, the government-backed certification (run by IASME for the NCSC) funders increasingly expect, plus ongoing cybersecurity support.
- GDPR peace of mind — we set up and maintain the secure IT and give your trustees the tools to meet their data-protection duties; you stay in control of the data and decisions.
The result is a charity that can look a funder in the eye and say, honestly, that it protects the people it serves.
// EVERYDAY HELP
Volunteer devices, remote working and simple per-PC support
Charities run on mixed kit and changing hands — volunteers on their own laptops, donated computers, a few office PCs and people working from home or out in the community. That variety is exactly where things get messy and insecure. We tidy it up and keep it running:
- Volunteer and staff device setup — getting new starters and volunteers going quickly with the right access, and cleanly removing it when they move on, so old logins can’t linger.
- Remote and hybrid working — secure Microsoft 365 and Teams so your team can collaborate from the office, home or the field without risking data.
- Refurbished hardware on a budget — reliable, warrantied ex-business Dell machines from £510 to replace ageing or donated kit.
- Simple per-PC support — predictable monthly cover with no call-out fee, no-fix-no-fee, same-day response and most issues fixed within minutes remotely. We phone first, you watch the whole session, and it ends when the job’s done.
Business monthly support starts from £24.38 per month per computer, and if you qualify for nonprofit Microsoft 365 licences your software costs can drop dramatically on top of that. We’ll always aim to get you the best-value setup, not the biggest bill. Tell us about your charity and we’ll take it from there.
// RELATED
Explore related help: our wider IT support for charities guide, Microsoft 365 support and nonprofit licences, Cyber Essentials certification, everyday cybersecurity support, affordable refurbished Dell hardware, and local IT support across Dorset.
FAMILY-RUN SINCE 1995 · ★ 4.9 ON GOOGLE · 200+ COMPUTERS UNDER OUR CARE · NO FIX, NO FEE · SAME-DAY REMOTE SUPPORT
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Can our charity get Microsoft 365 for free or at a discount?
Very likely, yes. Microsoft runs a nonprofit programme that currently grants eligible charities Microsoft 365 Business Basic free for up to 300 users — giving you professional business email, Teams, 1TB of OneDrive storage and the web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. If you need the full installed desktop Office apps or extra security (such as Business Premium), those are offered to nonprofits at a heavily discounted rate rather than free. Eligibility and plan inclusions are set by Microsoft and can change, so we’ll check what your specific charity currently qualifies for, help you get validated on the nonprofit portal, and set everything up properly and securely.
How much does IT support for a Dorset charity cost?
Our business monthly support starts from £24.38 per month per computer, and if you qualify for nonprofit Microsoft 365 licences your software costs can fall dramatically on top of that — the free Business Basic plan covers up to 300 users. There’s no call-out fee and we work no-fix-no-fee, so you only pay for help that genuinely works. We always aim to get your charity the best-value setup rather than the biggest bill, and we quote clearly before any hands-on work.
Do funders and grant-makers really ask for Cyber Essentials?
Increasingly, yes. More grant-makers, commissioners and corporate or public-sector partners now ask whether your charity has security basics in place — and Cyber Essentials, the government-backed certification (run by IASME on behalf of the NCSC), is the one they name most often. Having it can help you win and keep funding. We help you prepare for and work toward Cyber Essentials and support the ongoing security it relies on.
How do you help us protect sensitive beneficiary and donor data?
We put affordable, sensible security around your charity — business-grade antivirus, patched Windows, encrypted laptops, multi-factor authentication on Microsoft 365 and email, staff and volunteer phishing-awareness, and verified off-site backups of your records and finances. We set up and maintain the secure IT and give your trustees the tools to meet their UK GDPR duties; you stay in control of the data and the decisions about it.
Can you set up laptops for our volunteers and remote workers?
Yes. We get new staff and volunteers up and running quickly with the right access, secure Microsoft 365 and Teams for home and field working, and we cleanly remove access when people move on so old logins can’t linger. Where you need hardware, our refurbished ex-business Dell laptops start from £510 with a warranty — a reliable, budget-friendly alternative to buying new or relying on ageing donated kit.
Are you local, and will you take the time to explain things simply?
Always. We’re a family-run firm based in Bournemouth, supporting charities and organisations right across Dorset, and we pride ourselves on plain English and patience — the same friendly faces who answer the phone and remember your setup. Most issues we fix within minutes remotely (we phone first and you watch), with free local collection and on-site visits across the county when hands-on help is needed.
Let’s make your charity’s tech go further
We’ll help you get every grant and discount you’re entitled to and keep your team running for less — so more of your money reaches the cause. No call-out fee, no-fix-no-fee, and a friendly local team who explain everything in plain English.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM