It’s undeniable that technology has greatly changed our lives in recent decades. We live in a world that is more fast paced, information filled and interlinked than ever before.

Still, there are those who wonder - has technology actually changed the world for the better?

Here at LIKECHARITY we believe it has, and we believe technology has the potential to bridge the gap between charity donors and those in need.

Today technology is all about communication: being able to open an app and speak to your friend on the other side of the globe, being able to take a snapshot and share it with the world, being able to pick up your mobile and help change the life of a child in the developing world.

Just like at LIKECHARITY, Google believe that technology can change lives and they are challenging UK charities to show them how.

The Google Challenge was announced last week as the tech giant asked the UK charity sector - how would your organisation use technology to transform lives?

The top 10 innovative ideas will be asked to present their ideas in front of a judging panel consisting of entrepreneur Peter Jones of Dragon’s Den, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Emma Freud, director of Red Nose Day, as well as representatives from Google and Nesta.

Following the presentations the judges will select three winners. Each will receive a £500,000 grant from Google’s Charitable Giving and Advocacy Programme.

A vote will be open to the public through which a fourth winner will also win £500,000 towards implementing their life changing idea. Each successful charity will also gain assistance and mentoring from Google’s technology department. The remaining 6 finalists will receive a £200,000 grant.

Integrity Action, Google Challenge winner 2013, used their grant to help eradicate fraud, mismanagement and corruption in the charity supply chain. With their Google grant they created an app that “put technology in the hands of many more people in developing countries so they can provide feedback on vital public services”.

In Kenya, locals from a small village used the app to highlight that although they received access to clean water systems, the pipes had since been damaged meaning they faced a grueling walk to gain access to clean water. Using the app the locals brought this to the attention of Integrity Aid who in turn advocated on the village's behalf and got the local service provider to mend the damaged pipes.

The competition is open to any registered UK charity, there are no restrictions on your idea, your cause or your target beneficiaries.

There really is no reason not to throw your hat in the ring.

Google Challenge judge Jimmy Wales stated that “The Google Impact Challenge gives every charity in the UK the opportunity to consider how they can harness the unprecedented power of technology to achieve their aims, and I am very proud to be a part of an initiative that helps worthy causes deliver life-changing results.”

The only question now remaining is - who will rise to the challenge?

Applications must be submitted by 6th June via The Google Challenge website at g.co/ukchallenge

Can Technology Transform Lives? - Google Bets £3.2 Million That It Can.

The Benefits of Unconferences for the Charity Sector

Adapt or Die: A Fundraiser’s Guide to Social Media