Independent technology advice for charities that can't afford to get it wrong

I'm Tom Cain. I help UK charities understand and improve how they use technology and manage data.

The problem I kept seeing

For years, I watched charities struggle with the same technology problems — not because they lacked good people, but because they lacked independent advice. Vendor assessments always conclude you need their product. IT support companies rarely look beyond the systems they manage. And most technology consultants price themselves out of reach for organisations spending less than £5 million a year.

The result is that thousands of charities are making critical decisions about data, cybersecurity, and digital tools without anyone in their corner who understands both the technology and the charity context.

What I bring

I'm a senior software engineer and technical leader. I've built and managed complex systems, led engineering teams, and worked across the full technology stack. But what makes this work different is that I understand how charities operate — the governance structures, the funding constraints, the board dynamics, the regulatory environment.

I don't assume charities should work like tech companies. I start with how your organisation actually functions and assess whether your technology supports that — or gets in the way.

How the review works

Every review is structured around the Charity Digital Code of Practice — a 7-principle framework developed by the charity sector. This means you get a consistent, rigorous assessment that covers leadership, users, culture, strategy, skills, managing risk and ethics, and adaptability.

The output is a scored assessment, a detailed findings document, and a set of prioritised recommendations — all in plain English, all actionable, all tailored to your organisation.

My commitment

I don't sell software. I don't take referral fees. I don't recommend solutions I have a commercial interest in. The review is a standalone engagement with a clear end point. If you want help implementing the recommendations afterwards, we can discuss that separately — but there's never any pressure.

My goal is to give you clarity and confidence. Whether that means doing nothing, making small changes, or pursuing something larger — the decision is yours.

"The assessment was incredibly thorough. It pulled together things I knew were issues and things I didn't even know to look for. The report gave us a clear, prioritised roadmap and the templates alone would have taken us months to produce. I'd already started actioning recommendations before the walkthrough session. This is exactly the kind of support small charities need but rarely get access to."

Mona, Interim Director of Operations

Peer Power Youth

Due Diligence

I understand that charities need to carry out due diligence before engaging external support. Here's what you need to know.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

£1,000,000 cover

Public Liability Insurance

£1,000,000 cover

DBS Check

Basic DBS — applied for

Data Handling

During engagements, I review how your organisation uses and processes its data — I don't access, copy, or inspect the data itself. Any information shared during an engagement is handled confidentially under separate terms agreed before work begins.

If you need copies of insurance certificates or any other documentation as part of your procurement process, just ask — I'm happy to provide them.