The digital challenge 

No matter where we apply for funding, there is never enough budget for training.

For IKWRO, the core challenge was managing and reporting large volumes of data with limited digital skills and no budget for formal training. 

As a small charity running close to 20 projects at any one time, they had never been able to invest properly in staff IT training, particularly around Excel and database skills. Although Excel was already in use, it was limited to very basic functions. 

Every quarter, the team had to manually calculate data for each project, often involving thousands of client records and different reporting requirements for funders. 

Because their existing systems couldn’t automatically break data down by project or reporting requirement, staff spent days counting and re‑counting figures.

How Superhighways helped

Superhighways began by taking time to understand IKWRO’s reporting pressures and the complexity of managing multiple projects and funders. 

Clare worked closely with Manisha and her colleague Kharman through a series of one‑to‑one sessions to design an Excel database tailored specifically to how IKWRO works. 

Together, they built a spreadsheet where each adviser has their own section, project data is clearly categorised, and the figures needed for funder reports are calculated automatically. 

With this Excel sheet, we have been able to put all different projects into different categories, and it generates this amazing data at the end of each quarter, which we need to send to our funders.

Crucially, the support went beyond building the tool. Clare focused on skills transfer, guiding Manisha and Kharman through how to use, adapt, and troubleshoot the spreadsheet themselves. 

As a “top‑up”, Manisha and Kharman also attended Superhighways’ three‑part Excel training series to deepen their skills and reinforce what they had learned in the one‑to‑one sessions. Training included practical tasks, allowing them to try things out, get stuck, and resolve issues immediately.   

Clare also provided responsive email support and a written manual or cheat sheet, enabling Manisha to confidently refer back and eventually build or adapt similar databases independently. 

The results 

The support from Superhighways led to substantial practical improvements, alongside important changes in confidence and working culture. 

On a practical level, staff now enter data once, on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter, the spreadsheet automatically generates all the figures needed for different projects and funders. Managers like Manisha can also quickly pull accurate data without repeatedly going back to advisers for missing information.

It saves resources because now our staff members don't have to spend 3 days just generating one report. [We were] wasting 60 hours or more per person just on generating these numbers.

Beyond the technical outcomes, the support made a real difference to staff confidence. Manisha spoke about how approachable and responsive the training felt, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and build understanding at her own pace.

With clear guidance and practical tools, Manisha now feels confident managing and adapting databases herself and is eager to involve more staff and volunteers in future training.

Visit IKWRO find out more about their services.