Age UK has partnered with technology platform Multiverse to train 60 members of staff on AI and digital skills, funded by a government levy.
The older people’s charity plans to use strengthened digital skills to reduce delays in live fundraising projects, identify future fundraising opportunities and streamline its funding bid writing, which can take weeks to complete manually.
Age UK’s “AI and data academy” will be funded by the charity’s growth and skills (formerly apprenticeship) levy contributions, which requires all employers with an annual pay bill of over £3m to use 0.5% of their yearly wage costs to fund training.
Donna Marshall, chief people officer at Age UK, said: “Our people are deeply committed to the meaningful work that they do, and this partnership with Multiverse is a significant investment in their growth and the future of the charity.
“By launching this AI and data academy, we are empowering our team to work more effectively, so they’re able to focus on what truly matters.”
James Radford, strategy and transformation director at Age UK, said: “To address the complex challenges of poverty and isolation in an ageing population, we must be as agile and data-informed as possible.
“That means developing data and AI capabilities across our teams to unlock insights that allow us to scale our impact and target our resources to reach more people that need our support.”
Gary Eimerman, chief learning officer at Multiverse, said: “Charities like Age UK deliver critical support to those in need, and as the need for charity support grows, so do the demands on those delivering these services.
“To help meet these demands, Age UK is leading the way by removing digital barriers, streamlining processes and unlocking valuable time through data insights and responsible AI uses.”
