[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "what%20can%20you%20tell%20me%20about%20the%20scotish%20tech%20army"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a detailed breakdown of the **Scottish Tech Army (STA)**\u2014what it is, where it came from, what it does, and how it\u2019s making an impact:\n\n---\n\n## Origins & Mission\n\n- The Scottish Tech Army was founded in 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, by tech entrepreneurs **Alistair Forbes** and **Peter Jaco** in Edinburgh. It was created to help charities and third-sector organisations digitally adapt in a time of crisis. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/our-story?utm_source=openai))  \n- Its mission is to mobilise the UK\u2019s tech community\u2014volunteers with a variety of skills\u2014to rapidly deliver technology-focused solutions for pressing social challenges. Over time, its scope has broadened beyond pandemic response to general tech-for-good initiatives. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/our-story?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Structure & Operations\n\n- STA is a **not-for-profit company (limited by guarantee)**, run on a voluntary basis. It receives support from many firms and individuals pro bono, including legal, design, PR, and recruitment firms. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))  \n- It is non-political. Its only agenda is helping the third sector (charities and nonprofit organisations) access technical skills and technology resources they may not have in house. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Who\u2019s Involved & What Skills Are Needed\n\n- Volunteers come from across Scotland\u2019s tech sector. Skills sought include:\n  - Software development  \n  - Project and programme management  \n  - Business analysis  \n  - Application operations / deployment  \n  - Social media & marketing  \n  - Salesforce customisation/design ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))  \n\n- Organisations working with STA include **CivTech** and the Scottish Government\u2019s **Digital Directorate**. These collaborations help identify projects where STA can add value. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## What Happens in Practice\n\n- If you\u2019re a third-sector organisation in need of tech help, you describe your problem to STA. STA assesses feasibility and scales of effort, then matches you with volunteers who work on delivering a solution. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/how-it-works?utm_source=openai))  \n- They aim to keep the process focused and fast, delivering practical solutions like:\n  - Websites  \n  - Dashboards  \n  - CRM systems  \n  - Automation of administrative processes ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Scale & Impact\n\n- According to their site:\n  - Over **5,000** volunteers in the network ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/?utm_source=openai))  \n  - Support has been given to **600+** nonprofits and charities ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/?utm_source=openai))  \n  - The projects supported reach more than **1 million** people through the organisations helped. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n- Early in the pandemic, volunteers rapidly built technological tools for:\n  - Enabling care homes to stay connected to families\n  - Helping food banks and community groups scale digitally\n  - Creating platforms for remote support and dashboards for tracking COVID-19 data ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/blog/founders-reflections-five-years-on?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Evolving Work & Alliances\n\n- As the acute urgency of the pandemic eased, STA transitioned into a \u201cTech for Good\u201d force\u2014supporting digital transformation, efficiency gains, accessibility, and inclusion through tech. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))  \n- In **2022** STA launched the **Tech for Good Alliance**, partnering with private sector companies to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or volunteering resources toward meaningful tech-for-good work. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/our-story?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Why It Matters\n\n- Many nonprofits and community organisations lack the technical capacity or budget to tackle digital challenges on their own. STA helps fill that gap. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/?utm_source=openai))  \n- Volunteers gain experience, purpose, and connections while making meaningful social contributions. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/how-it-works?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can also pull up some recent case studies or numbers for 2026 to show what STA is doing right now."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "would%20they%20be%20the%20kind%20of%20people%20we%20should%20be%20contacting%20if%20we%20needed%20help%20with%20developing%20an%20app%20for%20iOS%2C%20and%20Android%20plus%20an%20Alexa%20skill%20for%20our%20Internet%20Radio%20Station%2C%20owned%20and%20run%20by%20volunteers%20most%20of%20whom%20are%20blind%20or%20disabled%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 from what I can tell, the Scottish Tech Army **would very likely be a good organization for you to approach** if you need help developing an iOS/Android app *and* an Alexa skill for your Internet radio station, especially given that your volunteers include people who are blind or have other disabilities. Here are some reasons why, plus some caveats and tips to get the best result.\n\n---\n\n## Why STA could be a great fit\n\n1. **Experience with complex, inclusive tech projects**  \n   - They\u2019ve done projects involving accessibility\u2014for example, helping adapt *Soundscape*, a 3D-audio mapping app for blind/partially sighted users, to Android, including offline mode, local search, house-number support, etc. ([doubletaponair.com](https://doubletaponair.com/community-powered-accessible-apps-you-need-to-try-soundscape-comes-to-android-with-a-little-help-from-double-tap/?utm_source=openai))  \n   - They also work on bridging digital inclusion and accessibility more widely (e.g. UX / inclusive design) for charities serving disabled people. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/for-volunteers/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Relevant technical skillsets are represented among volunteers**  \n   - Their volunteer community includes people in software development, UX/UI, accessibility, application deployment, and cloud/DevOps. This matches well with what you\u2019d need for cross-platform app development *and* voice skill development. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/faqs?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **Focus on digital solutions for nonprofits and charities, run by volunteers**  \n   - STA exists exactly to help organizations that may not have big tech budgets or in-house technical teams. They assess projects, match them with volunteers, and help manage them from start to finish. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/how-it-works?utm_source=openai))  \n   - Your radio station, which is volunteer-run and mission-driven, fits their target profile. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/how-it-works?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Accessibility and inclusion are part of their charter**  \n   - Beyond project delivery, STA lists \u201cDisability & Inclusion\u201d as an area their volunteers support. That means you\u2019ll likely find people who take accessible design seriously. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/for-volunteers/?utm_source=openai))  \n   - They have projects that put accessibility front and centre\u2014this is exactly the mindset you want for building apps/skills usable by blind or disabled users. ([linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottish-tech-army-limited_skilledvolunteer-activity-7318619267401216000-zIt7?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## Important considerations / challenges\n\nEven though STA looks like a good match, here are a few things to keep in mind:\n\n- **Alexa skill development** is voice-first and has its own platform requirements (AWS Lambda maybe, voice UX, etc.). You\u2019ll want to make sure the volunteers have experience with voice platforms, not just mobile. STA\u2019s listings don\u2019t explicitly say \"Alexa skill\" in the examples; so you\u2019d want to check whether they can take on that kind of project.  \n\n- **Cross-platform mobile apps** (iOS, Android) plus voice skills will likely be more complex than smaller website or dashboard-type solutions. That means you\u2019ll need a clearer specification, maybe modular design; good accessibility requirements will add design and testing time.\n\n- **Timeline & volunteer commitment**: Projects are often run over 4\u201312 weeks, with 2\u20136 hours/week from volunteers. If your project is bigger or needs faster turnaround, you\u2019ll need to ensure both sides can commit. ([scottishtecharmy.org](https://www.scottishtecharmy.org/for-volunteers/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Geographic constraints**: STA is Scotland-based, so their volunteers are mostly there or remote. If your station\u2019s in a different country/region, time zones, legal and infrastructure stuff (e.g. in AWS or Alexa regions) might matter.\n\n---\n\n## What to do to prepare so they can help well\n\nIf you decide to reach out to STA, here are some steps to make your proposal clear and increase your chances of success:\n\n1. **Define the project scope clearly**  \n   - What exactly must the app do (streaming audio, scheduling, chat/message, show listings, live request, etc.)  \n   - What the Alexa skill needs to do (play station, read playlist, take requests, show schedule, etc.).  \n   - Accessibility requirements: screen reader support, voice control, large text, colours/contrast, etc.\n\n2. **Budget time & volunteer hours realistically**  \n   - Ask them to estimate how much work such a project would likely require (e.g. hours or weeks).  \n   - Be open to phased delivery \u2014 maybe start with minimum viable features, then expand.\n\n3. **Highlight that many of your volunteer team are blind or disabled**  \n   - This is a strength \u2014 it shows the importance of accessibility is not just theoretical. It may also help STA assign people who specialise in accessible UX or testing with assistive tech.\n\n4. **Mention Alexa/voice platforms explicitly**  \n   - If you know Alexa Skills Kit, AWS Lambda, voice UX, etc., mention them. If you're unsure, express that you need guidance on that part.\n\n5. **Consider funding for necessary infrastructure or specialist tooling**  \n   - Sometimes there are costs (server hosting, registrations, etc.) that volunteers might not cover. Be clear what is and isn\u2019t possible.\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can draft a sample outreach message to STA tailored to your radio station, or we can check whether there are other groups near you with the right skills (especially for Alexa/voice development and accessibility). Would you prefer that?"
    }
]