This is a living library of resources that we hope will support you as you explore the challenges and opportunities associated with AI. We’ll add to this section regularly; if there is anything you would particularly like to see added, or anything you need support with, please contact us at [email protected] - thank you!
Support offered by CAST:
Getting Started With AI: a self-serve course
If you’re keen to get to grips with AI but not sure where to start, our new self-serve course is here to help! Every week for seven weeks, you'll receive an email with a guided activity, designed to help you comfortably familiarise yourself with AI - and discover the ways in which it can help make your work life easier. Sign up for the free AI self-serve course here.
AI for Digital Leads Peer Group
The Digital Leads Network is a vibrant community of over 200 members, dedicated to sharing knowledge, fostering best practice and peer-to-peer learning in the UK charity sector. The network offers a range of resources and learning opportunities, including access to a new AI Peer group, bringing digital leads together to explore the opportunities and challenges of AI across the sector. The network is free to join; if you are interested in becoming involved, please fill out the expression of interest form.
AI for Grantmakers - peer group
An opportunity for funders of all sizes to come together and explore the opportunities and challenges of AI. The group - which consists of more than 80 Trusts and Foundations - is open to all UK funders, of any size. Find out more at the AI for Grantmakers page - and contact CAST’s Director Dan Sutch at [email protected] to join the next session.
Charity AI Task Force
A task force convened by CAST and Zoe Amar Digital, designed to champion the responsible, inclusive and collaborative use of AI across the social sector, for maximum impact and collective benefit. Find out more at the Charity AI Task Force page.
Safe experiments with AI
We're currently supporting a number of organisations to safely experiment with AI, either through internal peer groups or working with specific teams. If you're interested in this support please contact [email protected].
Blogs and reflections
Check out our latest content on AI:
- How can AI transform collaboration and shape the future of VCSE funding? Insights from February’s AI funder event
- AI: What you told us, what we've been doing - and what's next
- AI and inclusion: Opportunities, challenges and action
- Getting practical with AI: how to get started in the refugee support sector?
- Insights from the Charity Digital AI Summit
- Using data and AI for social good: Insights from Magid at Catch22
- Insights from the Deloitte Digital Connect AI panel series
- Perspectives on change
- AI experimentation canvas
- Changing expectations
- Holding responsibility
- AI survey
- Civic AI Observatory unconference
- CAST's workshop with Charity Digital
- AI experimentation
Shared Digital Guides
Our Shared Digital Guides platform contains step-by-step Guides to handy ways of using digital tools, written by charities, for charities. There are more than 80 Guides in total, covering a wide range of topics; take a look at the AI Guides as below:
- Managing user research findings using Miro AI
- Creating course materials using ChatGPT
- Evaluating generative AI text tools using an experimental framework
- Enabling people with restricted movement to create art using eye-tracking software and generative AI
If you would like to suggest a topic or contribute a Guide, we’d love to hear from you; please get in touch via the Shared Digital Guides site.
AI experimentation canvas
We’ve developed a simple AI experimentation canvas, which helps us think through any use of GenAI. As the test or practice becomes bigger, we might use a more detailed version to document and think through the approach. Download the canvas for yourself: we’ve got a Miro version that is easy to edit, and printable versions if Post-its and Sharpies are your style.
AI perspectives visual
We've been using a new diagram as a basis for contextualising the different perspectives at play when thinking - and talking - about Generative AI (GenAI). Incorporating four key elements - Efficiencies within existing workflows; New processes & ways of working; Changes to mission and Context change - we have found that the diagram can be useful when starting or guiding discussions around the full scale of opportunities and challenges presented by GenAI. Take a look at Dan Sutch's blog for more information and the full AI perspectives visual.
Other resources that we recommend:
- AI Governance Framework for Nonprofits
- SCVO: 25 questions charities are asking about AI in 2025
- The National Lottery Community Fund’s 10 principles of AI
- Harnessing AI for environmental justice: a report from Friends of the Earth and We Are Open Coop, containing seven principles for responsible AI use.
- AI policy template for charities
- Guidance on generative AI for local authorities
- How to use generative AI responsibly: a guide from SCVO
- AI Checklist for charity leaders
- Case study: Citizens Advice Scotland
- 100DaysOfAI - a free bite-sized course
- Campaign Lab Handbook
- Guidance to civil servants on use of generative AI
- The We and AI podcast
- Charity Digital’s Ultimate Guide to AI
- The 2024 Charity Digital Skills Report
- The art of AI prompting - from Torchbox
- Strategic AI framework - from Torchbox
- Race and AI Toolkit - from We and AI
- MySociety’s AI Framework: guiding questions
- Do's and don'ts of using GenAI large language models - from Socitm
- CharityComms AI Hub
- SCVO’s glossary of AI terms