Please see below the response sent to the government by the Charity AI Task Force on 6th May 2025. We're keen to build up a continuous picture of the needs, priorities and activities of the charity sector (and supporting organisations) with regard to AI, so that our work remains representative and timely. If you have any AI-related research, insights, material or any other information to share that may be of use to inform the work of the task force, please email [email protected].

Response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan from the Charity AI Task Force

Whilst the Charity AI Task Force welcomes this ambitious plan, we are today calling on the government to engage with the VCSE sector as a matter of urgency, in order to ensure that the nation can benefit from all sectors supporting the potential of AI to drive growth, and that the adoption and use of AI across the UK is fair, representative, inclusive and equitable. Immediate action is required not only to ensure that the VCSE sector is able to adopt AI at the same pace as the public and private sectors - but also in order that the government can benefit from the invaluable wealth of skills, connections and community insights that charities can share. These strengths, alongside the evidence we have for rapid adoption of - and innovation with - AI across the charitable sector, demonstrate the potential for the VCSE sector to significantly bolster the ambitions for growth underpinning this plan.

AI is the defining social and strategic opportunity of our time - and we welcome the government’s position that the UK must actively shape AI technologies and their impact, rather than be left to respond to the influence and actions of others. The democratic principles, liberal values, culture and innovation capabilities of the UK provide the strongest context for this leadership. One of the incredible assets the UK government can draw upon in this leadership to ensure ethical AI is the UK’s civil society, especially the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE).

The Government announced an SME AI Task Force to support the adoption of AI by SMEs. A coalition of charities, funders, regulators and industry partners have initiated the Charity AI Task Force to sit alongside this group. VCSEs make up a critical sector within the UK. The new Charity AI Task Force, made up of leading charitable, philanthropic and partner organisations provides a vehicle to engage at a strategic level to support the government’s objectives. This task force should be given support and access equal to that of the SME Task Force.

The VCSE sector's response to AI is vital for safe and responsible AI in the UK:

  • The sector stands to benefit from AI technologies and needs to adopt them responsibly but at pace with the public and private sectors.
  • The efficiencies and innovations from AI within VCSEs can bring vital productivity gains in the delivery of public and charitable services and growth of impact.
  • VCSEs are well placed to act in joint enterprise at a time when government resources are stretched.
  • Shifts brought about by AI (e.g. in employment or in new vulnerabilities) are likely to increase the demand for support from charities.
  • The sector is well placed to help identify and mitigate AI-related harms as they arise, providing crucial early warning to help policymakers act swiftly.
  • The sector represents some of the most vulnerable in society and AI poses some of the greatest risks and opportunities for this cohort. The sector can support these individuals and communities to engage with AI-related developments to mitigate inequality and improve accessibility.
  • The charity sector needs to be recognized as part of the AI infrastructure and aligned with the public and private sectors.

Across the UK, the VCSE sector has an income of £79bn per annum. Across the four UK nations, over 200,000 VCSE organisations employ a workforce of over 1.1 million people, as well as engaging an additional 15 million volunteers and almost 2 million trustees. These people collectively connect to communities, businesses and enterprise across every geographical area - often in those areas where government and business struggle to reach. Harnessing AI to make more of this volunteer workforce provides a significant opportunity for a substantial contribution to the economy. From grassroots organisations with expert knowledge on the needs of specific communities to national organisations with turnovers of £100 million or more, employing national experts - VCSEs offer a rich and knowledgeable skill base. A strong partnership with this sector and the communities they work with can support the economic and skill development focus of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and its focus on growth and cross sector partnerships.

We request:

That the Secretary of State meets with the Charity AI Task Force with the intention of providing Government backing to the Task Force and its work, and to learn from the Government’s work to inform the VCSE sector’s use of AI.

That the AI Opportunities Unit meets regularly with the Charity AI Task Force to ensure structured and explicit consideration of the VSCE sector as the recommendations of the report are implemented.

Context

The VCSE sector has also seen significant growth in its use of AI over the last year. Initial findings from the Charity Digital Skills report suggest that 76% of charities are now using AI, compared to 61% in 2024 and 35% in 2023. Whilst finances, skills and capacity are constraints on some charities’ digital progress, there is appetite to use AI across civil society, with 65% of charities agreeing that AI developments are relevant to them. Despite financial constraints there are many examples of excellence in innovation. By necessity, the charity sector contains organisations adept at delivering excellence at low cost with knowledge that could support learning in other sectors.

Elsewhere, there is a need for more support for the sector with AI adoption, similar to the requirements of SMEs. VCSEs have a deep commitment to inclusion, transparency and retaining public trust, and so many organisations have approached AI with a keen awareness of the risks and pitfalls, whilst harnessing the opportunities for greater efficiency that AI gives. The opportunity here is that the sector can reach more people, especially at a time when demand is rising but funding is reducing. In a sector with many organisations at the smaller end of the SME scale, charities often lack the resources to explore, develop and deploy new technology. This means that some organisations may take longer, and will require more support, to realise the potential of AI adoption.

While financial support (akin to that being provided to SMEs) would be welcome, this support could also be in the form of sharing resources and best practice from initiatives such as the Incubator for AI, recognising that many of the use cases being addressed in Government will be shared by civil society organisations. Some civil society organisations have already contributed impactful projects to the Incubator for AI, such as the Caddy advisor support tool from Citizens Advice.

The VCSE sector is a critical part of the social infrastructure that celebrates and supports individuals and communities; reflects the voices of those often unheard, and addresses harms and challenges across the UK. The sector also often works in early intervention and community spaces that significantly reduce dependency and the financial burden on statutory services. The ‘third sector’ is a critical complement to business and government, and as such is vital to ensure AI works for the collective prosperity and health of our nation. To create a sector wide approach to responsible, ethical and inclusive AI adoption, a coalition of organisations have come together as part of the Charity AI Task Force. We will be delighted to work with you to achieve the goals set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan - at the accelerated pace that the Government has rightly identified.

Below we have set out some specific ways in which the VCSE sector is ready to support the Government’s plan, bringing resources, connections and ambition to that of the public and private sector. The Charity AI Task Force requests direct engagement at a strategic level to bring the energy, connections and resources of the VCSE sector to support the Government’s objectives.

Specific responses to the plan:

To support the government’s work to achieve the objectives of the plan, we have detailed where charities and community groups provide direct alignment - based on the 50 recommendations that have been agreed. There are many more ways in which the sector can support the Plan, but to provide clarity - there are significant contributions from the VCSE sector in:

1. Helping to deliver recommendations 8, 9, 17, 35, 46, 48

Based on The Civil Society Covenant - ensure charities are included in these actions by design - and as a default. The Covenant’s four principles: Recognition, Partnership, Participation, Transparency align with civil society organisations being well placed to bring an additive lens to AI innovation that is a unique part of the UK’s global leadership - working across Government, including DSIT and DCMS. From engaging with audiences and communities that are often furthest from commercial and statutory reach; to engaging in the most complex challenges (health and social care) where new models are desperately needed and where AI can have the greatest positive impact. Charities and community groups bring insight, connections that add to that of government and industry and make sure no communities or groups of individuals with specific needs are left behind.

We believe that civil society’s input can contribute to developing cutting edge inclusive products and services which will help the UK become an AI leader whilst living up to British values.

2. Helping to deliver recommendations 3, 4, 50

The Social Value Act also requires people who commission public services to think about how they can also secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits. Many of the investments and recommendations require alignment with the Social Value Act to ensure community benefit - for example - ensuring social benefit within the AI Growth Zones by engaging with community and charitable organisations to ensure equitable growth zones, shared skills and development etc. Charities play an essential role in creating local growth and prosperity - the aspiration of AI growth zones through training, support and community cohesion. Charities invest in community projects, like local parks and community centres, and create infrastructure that improves community cohesion and activity. Charity activity builds local skills, training and development helping to support and strengthen local business and attract new businesses. The Charity AI Task Force should be involved to support the development and success of AI growth zones. We are ready to help generate the social impact aligned with these investments building on the vast place-based expertise within the sector.

3. Helping to deliver recommendations 3, 11, 23, 26, 29

The Government has rightly committed to a scan, test, scale approach, recognising that the complex environment requires a ‘test-and-learn’ approach that senses new data to inform developments. One of most critical contributions from charities and civic organisations - especially within the emergent/complex environment of AI - is providing a key role in sensing new data that informs the design/testing loops that underpin the Government approach to AI. Charities play a critical role in sensing the implications (especially the unintended implications and potential harms) of innovation on communities and individuals - and therefore play a vital role in ensuring safe and fair impacts of AI. There are many specialist civil society organisations that are very well placed to support the development, governance and design of safe and ethical AI: organisations such as Connected by Data, Careful Industries and Ada Lovelace Institute. In addition, there is a vital role of non-AI specialist charities in identifying impact after AI innovations are implemented, providing vital feedback and accountability loops. The build-measure-learn cycle, and the scan, test, scale approach rely on effective sensing of the impact of any innovation, in addition to the design of safe and fair AI interventions. Charities are uniquely placed to fill this role, providing evidence and early warning to ensure safe and fair AI use.

Charities have unique trust and reach into communities. High quality, diverse and complete data is essential to have competitive data sets and AI development capabilities in the UK. The charity sector is a key enabler to support the development of strategically important data sets as part of the national data library. Charities have enabled citizens to use and access digital public services. The involvement of charities in supporting the testing of AI tools will help drive impact and benefits to citizens.

4. Helping to deliver recommendation 16

Charities and civic organisations already engage with communities that are often furthest from the mainstream, including those from under represented and minoritised communities; disabled communities, young people and those not in the workforce. Here, charities hold trusted relationships that often enable support and learning opportunities - including the development of digital skills and experience. These communities have incredible strengths that can significantly contribute to aspirations in this Opportunities Plan. Building partnerships with these organisations can utilise this expertise and connections to help to achieve the ambition to create routes to skill development and diversity of the talent pool.

5. Helping to deliver recommendation 45

There is a growing movement of community and sector technology that builds on open-source, shared ownership and reuse of existing tools. This movement supports the collection and reuse of open-source solutions and aligns with the intentions of the AI Knowledge Hub. The use cases within civil society will not always match those within government and business, but the reach can be increased if the AI knowledge hub can be segmented/searched or replicated based on sectors, including being curated to support civil society organisation-specific insight to be shared within the Knowledge Hub by engaging sector specialists. In areas such as social care where charities and businesses are commissioned to provide services, it is often charities that are doing the most innovative, creative work as their nonprofit structure ensures reinvesting into impact.

6. Helping to deliver recommendation 48 and 49

To drive AI adoption across the whole country requires local, trusted intermediaries with reach beyond that of government and industry. The Government announced an SME AI Task Force to support the adoption of AI by SMEs. A coalition of charities, funders, regulators and industry partners have initiated the Charity AI Task Force to sit alongside this group. VCSEs make up a critical sector within the UK. The new Charity AI Task Force, made up of leading charitable, philanthropic and partner organisations provides a vehicle to engage at a strategic level to support the government’s objectives. This task force should be given support equal to that of the SME Task Force.

VCSEs play an important role in supporting citizens and public services, increasing capacity and access in ways that the public sector is often unable to. The charity sector and hence both public sector services and citizens have significant opportunities based on open source AI. Charity sectors through the AI task force should be involved in the development of open source AI and investment in infrastructure to support the development and use of open source AI to create equitable tools that are innovative and help public sector transformation.