On 21st July, Sandwell Advocacy staff and trustees took part in an engaging AI training workshop, ‘AI at Work: Working Smarter with AI – Copilot’, facilitated by Trustee and Digital Lead, Daljit Kumar. The session focused on helping colleagues understand the opportunities, responsibilities and practical applications of Artificial Intelligence within the charity sector while ensuring that any use of AI remains ethical, secure and person-centred.
The training covered the growing role of AI in charities, the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, data protection considerations, prompt writing techniques, and practical examples of how AI can support everyday work. Participants explored how AI can save time on routine administrative tasks, improve consistency in documentation and communications, and support governance activities, while reinforcing the principle that AI should assist people rather than replace professional judgement.
A key message from the workshop was the importance of using approved and secure AI tools. Staff and trustees were reminded that Sandwell Advocacy’s preferred platform is the enterprise version of Microsoft Copilot, which provides enhanced security, privacy and organisational controls. The session highlighted the distinction between enterprise AI tools and public AI platforms, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities when handling information and organisational data.
AI Best Practice and Governance Focus
Alongside the training, Sandwell Advocacy is developing an AI Policy that reflects both sector best practice and the organisation’s commitment to safe and responsible innovation. The policy draws upon recognised AI governance principles including safety, transparency, fairness, accountability and redress, ensuring that AI use aligns with the charity’s values and legal obligations.
A review of the policy documents demonstrates a strong commitment to governance and safeguarding. The policy emphasises that final decisions affecting individuals will always involve human oversight, that AI-generated content must be reviewed before use, and that personal or confidential information should not be entered into AI systems unnecessarily. It also highlights the need for ongoing staff training, regular policy reviews, cyber security awareness, and compliance with data protection legislation.
Particularly important for an advocacy organisation is the policy’s focus on protecting vulnerable groups, ensuring fairness in decision making, and maintaining transparency about how AI is used. The supporting governance framework also encourages engagement with beneficiaries and stakeholders, helping to ensure that technological innovation enhances services without compromising trust or dignity.
The workshop and policy development work represent an important step in Sandwell Advocacy’s digital journey. By investing in staff and trustee knowledge while establishing clear safeguards and accountability measures, the organisation is positioning itself to benefit from AI’s potential while remaining firmly committed to its core values of advocacy, inclusion and safeguarding. Under the leadership of Trustee and Digital Lead Daljit Kumar, Sandwell Advocacy is taking a balanced approach that combines innovation with responsible governance, ensuring AI is used as a tool to support, rather than replace, with human relationships at the heart of its work.