Harnessing AI for the voluntary sector’s benefit
There is a persistent misconception that the voluntary sector lacks innovation—that we somehow do not possess the spark to ignite transformative change. However, innovation does indeed occur within this sector. The voluntary sector is not a polar opposite to the fast-paced technology world; instead, it holds immense potential. Nevertheless, the challenge lies not in leadership, commitment, or vision—it lies in the persistent lack of sustained financial power to sustain these ideas and foster their growth.
The recently released UK government AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines ambitious aspirations for UK AI development. However, as I carefully review the document, I cannot help but notice the glaring omission of any specific focus on the voluntary sector. This presents a missed opportunity. The voluntary sector plays a pivotal role in addressing societal challenges and serving communities, yet its potential to leverage AI for the public good remains largely overlooked by the Uk Government.
The voluntary sector possesses the innovative ideas and unwavering passion necessary to drive transformative change. However, it lacks the financial resources to sustain innovation over the long term and overcome resistance to its impact. The AI action plan’s emphasis on high-impact datasets, talent pipelines, and infrastructure is commendable, but it fails to address the critical connection between AI and civil society. Where is the focus on integrating the enthusiasm for AI with sustainable funding models for charities and non-profit organizations?
For instance, CivTech programmes cost modifications, designed to reduce entry barriers for voluntary organizations to innovation programs, were a welcome initiative. These changes opened doors for the sector to participate in AI-driven innovation. However, participation alone is insufficient. How can we ensure that ideas from the voluntary sector are adequately nurtured and integrated into the system, enabling them to become embedded, scalable solutions that benefit communities?
The voluntary sector requires a mission-based approach to innovation—a sustained, collaborative effort that channels funding certainty into the sector. This would enable us to address societal issues proactively, scale solutions that address challenges such as health inequalities, poverty, and community well-being.
Envision a “Mission for Communities” initiative, where public, private, and voluntary sectors collaborate to foster innovation. This would involve leveraging the outputs of previous projects, connecting them to funding models capable of addressing significant challenges, and directly transferring this innovation energy to citizens.
Without this strategic approach, the voluntary sector risks losing its creative momentum. While innovative ideas exist, the financial resources to sustain and scale them often remain elusive. A national innovation grid could serve as a catalyst, distributing opportunities and resources to the voluntary sector, ensuring that promising initiatives do not succumb to funding constraints.
As an individual who has participated in several innovation challenges, I firmly believe that the voluntary sector holds a pivotal role in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology-driven transformation. Let us establish VolTech—technology and innovation for the voluntary sector, by the voluntary sector. However, we must establish an ecosystem that supports this transformative endeavor:
• Sustained impact funding: A transformative funding model that prioritises time, ideas, and socially driven innovation over traditional financial returns.
• Lowering barriers to entry: Building upon initiatives such as CivTech across the UK to ensure that non public and private organisations, irrespective of size, can participate.
• A national innovation grid: Sharing ideas, resources, and outcomes across sectors to ensure that no community is left behind.
The UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan presents a visionary framework, yet its lack of focus on the voluntary sector constitutes a critical gap. With the appropriate infrastructure, funding, and collaborative networks, we can accelerate VolTech and empower the voluntary sector to lead this innovation nation.
The United Kingdom government’s Civil Society Covenant Framework, introduced in October 2024, seeks to enhance collaboration between civil society and government through four fundamental principles: recognition, partnership, participation, and transparency. However, the AI Opportunities Action Plan does not explicitly address the voluntary sector, which appears incongruous with the Covenant’s principles.
This oversight presents a missed opportunity to integrate civil society into AI initiatives, potentially impeding the development of inclusive and effective AI solutions that benefit all communities. By aligning the AI strategy with the Covenant’s principles, a more collaborative approach can be fostered, ensuring that AI advancements draw upon the insights and contributions of the voluntary sector. This alignment would not only strengthen the relationship between government and civil society but also enhance the societal impact of AI technologies.
I had hoped for a clearer articulation of how voluntary community and social enterprises could contribute to the mission outlined by the prime minster. The potential of AI to drive societial change is undeniable but delivering this potential for good requires collaboration across all not just some sectors. Other sectors are uniquely positioned to champion AI innovation in ways that are deeply people centred, inclusive and grounded in public trust. One of the biggest acknowledged challenges in scaling AI is public trust. Many people remain skeptics about how AI will impact their lives particularly in sensitive areas of health, care and community services. This is where voluntary community and social enterprises can and should come in.
