Over 150 charity representatives have gained new AI and digital skills after receiving in-person training from a collaboration with Neighbourly, Microsoft and Onside.

The events, which took place in Youth Zones in Manchester, Carlisle, Croydon and Dagenham during the final week of June, brought together local community groups and charity representatives to raise awareness of the opportunities of AI, foster community engagement in AI and support staff to pass on their knowledge of AI to charity users through the train-the-trainer model.

Each event was supported by a local business, facilitating the sessions alongside Microsoft and Neighbourly, who developed the training as part of the wider Ai123 initiative.

Launched in March, Ai123 was designed to address the growing gulf between charities and businesses in the adoption of AI tools.

Neighbourly’s research found that over half (58%) of small charities and community groups are not yet using AI at all, despite its considerable potential, whilst a McKinsey survey found the vast majority (78%) of private sector companies are using it.

Zoe Colosimo, COO at Neighbourly, said: “There can be a lot of noise around AI, with many people understandably feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about how to get started.

“Through these sessions, we’re not only equipping charity employees with future-focused skills, we’re also connecting them with a wider network who are also exploring the use of AI. Together, this creates a powerful force to share knowledge across communities and bridge the AI divide.”

During the events, attendees gained practical skills, with live demonstrations, examples of use cases applicable to the small charity sector, as well as support with ensuring ethical AI frameworks within their organisations.

Jamie Masraff, CEO at OnSide, added: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Neighbourly and Microsoft on this vital initiative, which aims to make the transformative potential of AI more accessible to everyone.

“At OnSide, we are committed to ensuring that young people from many of the country’s most disadvantaged areas are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to seize the opportunities AI offers.

“The train-the-trainer model used within the workshops enables charities to leverage AI not only to enhance their operations but to pass on this knowledge to the young people they support, empowering them to thrive in a rapidly changing digital world."

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