About Us
At Old Dogs New Tricks, we believe it’s never too late to learn — or to share what you know.
The idea for ODNT began with a personal journey.
After two decades serving in the armed forces, I retrained and qualified in a computing field. Like many career changers, I soon found myself in a position many will recognise — I had the qualifications, but little hands-on experience. I knew I wasn’t alone, and I wanted to create something that could help others bridge that same gap. From that spark, ODNT was born. We’re a not-for-profit organisation with a simple principle: any revenue beyond our running costs is reinvested into our mission and services. Every membership, partnership, and sponsorship helps us offer more resources, connect more people, and create more opportunities.
ODNT is a community-driven platform for people at all stages of their career journey. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to give back, a creative or technical talent seeking portfolio-building opportunities, or a career changer ready to explore a bold new path, we’re here to make those connections happen.
Our two core pillars — Old Dogs and New Tricks — work hand-in-paw:
Old Dogs
• Old Dogs are skilled but inexperienced creative and technical professionals — career changers, workforce returners, and reskillers — who want to gain experience through voluntary projects, build their portfolios, and step confidently into their next chapter.
New Tricks
• New Tricks are the pro-bono projects posted by charities and small businesses. These opportunities allow volunteers to showcase their skills, make a meaningful impact, and form lasting professional connections.
Every project is a chance to learn, teach, and grow. Every connection has the power to open a new door. And with our ever-enthusiastic mascot, leading the way, we’re here to prove that when experience meets opportunity, magic happens.