Free AI Training Courses for UK Charities

A huge range of 30+ free AI training courses for charities, and individuals of all levels and abilities provided by Microsoft, our Microsoft Partner Companies  and ourselves.  Accessible AI training for everyone, from trustees through to junior staff and volunteers, and from non IT people just wanting to understand the basics, through to those who are looking for more formal, specialist or in-depth AI training.  You simply pick and choose the free AI training courses you want and how you wish to access it - webinars, on-demand video, and certified Microsoft e learning programmes, including Copilot.

To begin or continue your charity AI journey visit our AI Ready programme and, for all of our free AI services, guides, toolkits and training courses, visit our charity AI page.  To access all of our services and resources, including funding directories, register now; everything is free.

Free Charity Excellence AI Online Learning

We schedule these for anyone, with details in our weekly newsletter and social and make these available on our You Tube Channel AI Play List.  To date (May 25), these have been watched more than 10,000 times.

We also deliver free AI training courses to networks, groups of charities and small infrastructure charities, such as CVSs. Get in contact - ian@charityexcellence.co.uk.

As part of a new initiative, we've significantly expanded and upgraded our AI training and plan to launch a full online AI learning programme that requires no prior expertise and which will give people the confidence and skills to not only benefit but also keep themselves, others and their organisations safe.

Programme Structure

Each module below will take about 45 mins but will be delivered in short video units you can take at any time and at your own pace.   Each has resources you can use to build on your learning, tasks and demo videos, quizzes and certificates to demonstrate your competence.  You will be able to work through different module options to complete courses and each module will link to relevant free Microsoft Learn training courses enabling you to progress to more advanced, certificated learning if you wish to.

Social Franchising

We will use our social franchising model to enable our technology partners and others to create additional modules and pathways and for external organisations to take our work, adapt it and brand it as their own to enable them to upskill all of their people.  Those who franchise with us will have to agree to maintain our content and learning standards, and meet any costs in creating or modifying our learning materials, but the purpose of social franchising is scaling rapidly and widely to help as many as possible.  It's not about making money.

Programme Content.  We plan to initially launch the following training courses.

• A Plain-English Guide to AI for Everyday Users. Understanding how AI works, what generative AI can do, and how to use it safely and effectively in everyday tasks.
• Getting Started Using AI. Gain the confidence and practical skills to use AI effectively, including AI’s strengths and weaknesses, writing prompts, improving your results and troubleshooting.
• Understanding AI Risks: A Guide for Everyday Users. Gain the skills to identify, understand, and respond to common AI-driven risks, to protect your organisation, yourself and others.
• Funding Made Easier: How to Use AI to Find and Win Grants. How to use AI to search for funders and create compelling and emotionally engaging funding bids.
• AI Safety for Everyone: Deepfakes, Scams, Misinformation and Slop. How AI is changing the risks we face, and simple, practical steps to stay safe online and protect yourself, others and your organisation.
• Managing AI Safely and Well.   What you need to know about and do about ethics, governance and management, including key issues, oversight, policies and procedures and support and training.

Launch Date

We hope to launch the initial programme in October 2025.

Microsoft Learn - AI Training Courses

AI Fluency.  Foundational AI concepts, history, and real-world applications. Includes modules on generative AI, responsible AI, and Microsoft Copilot. Tailored for beginners and non-technical users

Explore AI Basics.  Duration: 11 units. Discover the world of AI by exploring its foundational concepts and history. Learn how AI technology powers everyday items and transforms daily life.

Fundamentals of Generative AI.  Duration: 1 hr 13 min (11 units). Explore how language models enable AI to generate original content based on natural language input. Learn how generative AI assists in creative tasks.

Microsoft Copilot Training

Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Duration about 27 minutes.  Copilot’s purpose, functionality, and Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI.

Get Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Duration - 1.5 hours (3 modules). A walk through how Copilot works across Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. No prior AI knowledge needed.

Summarise and Simplify Information with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Learn how to use Copilot to draft proposals, summarise reports, and generate persuasive content.  Includes prompt engineering tips for Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Ideal for staff writing funding bids or impact reports.

• Create and Draft with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 27 min (8 units).  Use Microsoft 365 Copilot to create, draft, and brainstorm new ideas and materials in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Edit and Transform Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 31 min (8 units).  Craft effective prompts to edit, transform, and rewrite information using Copilot in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

Ask Questions and Analyse Content with Microsoft 365 Copilot.  Duration: 38 min (9 units). Prompt Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook to ask, analyse, and receive recommendations for fresh ideas and content.

Microsoft - AI Ethics & Governance Courses

Explore Responsible AI

• Covers ethical implications of AI-generated content, including imagery
• Discusses fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI use
• Includes guidance on deepfakes and misinformation
• Teaches how to critically analyse AI-generated content and spot misinformation
• Includes global implications of human-AI interaction

 Embrace Responsible AI Principles and Practices

• Introduces Microsoft’s six core principles: fairness, reliability, privacy, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability
• Explores how to build internal governance systems for ethical AI use
• Includes real-world examples and decision-making frameworks for leaders

Responsible AI: Ethical Policies and Practices

• Offers guidance on how to implement governance structures for AI within organisations
• Includes tools like the Responsible AI Dashboard and Human-AI Experience Workbook
• Ideal for trustees setting strategic direction and oversight

Microsoft AI Cyber Security Training

Describe the basic concepts of cybersecurity.  A beginner-friendly module introducing online safety, threats, and best practices. Perfect for quick awareness training for staff and volunteers.

Security for Nonprofits.  Offers free training and resources tailored to nonprofit organisations. Includes modules on phishing, malware, and data protection.

• Also check out the Cybersecurity Awareness Kit for staff training materials
• Includes Cybersecurity is for Everyone.
  • Securing you: Basics and beyond.  34 min.
  • Describe the concepts of cybersecurity. 6 modules. 2 hr 17 min.
  • Establish the guiding principles and core components of Zero Trust. 7 modules. 1 hr 46 min.
  • Examine ransomware and extortion-based threats. 4 modules. 1 hr 22 min.

Data Protection Training Courses

• Protect Sensitive Data in a Digital World.  Intermediate. Topics - data classification, labelling, and encryption, insider risk management, AI-generated data protection and security monitoring tools.
• Implement Information Protection and Data Loss Prevention Using Microsoft Purview.  Intermediate. Topics - sensitivity labels and auto-labelling, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies and information governance.

Microsoft Learning Pathways

MS AI For Creatives

• Photoshop Essential Training, Illustrator Essential Training, Generative AI Skills for Creative Content and Advanced QGIS Analysis and Machine Learning.

MS AI Skills for Educators

MS Driving transformation in government

Explore cybersecurity skills - cyber security learning pathway.

Guidance for leaders

Learn how to lead your organisation in the era of AI with insights and skills for managers and leaders.

• • AI for managers and leaders

Lead with confidence in the era of AI. Explore tools, best practices, and strategies to grow your AI capabilities and enhance your leadership skills.

Learn how to lead AI transformation

Learn about AI for people managers

• • Data and insights

Ground your organizational AI strategy in data and insights from the latest work. Find trends for workplace skills, sector changes, AI adoption rates, and more.

Get insights from Work Trend Index

Explore LinkedIn AI at Work

Human skills in the age of AI

• Build essential human skills—like adaptability, decision-making, communication, and social intelligence—to stay competitive in an AI-driven world.  Start the learning path

Microsoft 365 Copilot QuickStart Training for Nonprofits

A 2.5-hour hands-on session for Copilot Beginners.  Learn how to start using Copilot as your own AI assistant - how to summarise and draft emails, create PowerPoints within seconds, and explore the Copilot in Word.  For the less numerically inclined, using Excel with the help of some natural language prompting.  Plus the art of ‘Prompting’ for the best results, and  hands-on demos of how to use Copilot.

Microsoft Azure Training

Azure AI Fundamentals

• Duration: Self-paced
• Description: Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform and service.  Demonstrate fundamental AI concepts related to the development of software and services on Microsoft Azure to create AI solutions.

Azure Skilling for Non Profits

• 4 courses ranging from beginner to advanced.

Microsoft AI Training - YouTube

Subscribe to Microsoft AI Skills on YouTube for quick learning tips, success stories, live trainings, and deep dive sessions into new learnings.  Subscribe on YouTube

Microsoft AI Training Courses - LinkedIn

Join Microsoft AI Skills on LinkedIn for live trainings, panel discussions from AI skilling leaders, news, training opportunities, and success stories.  Follow Microsoft AI Learning on LinkedIn

Find the Funding and Free Help Your Charity Needs

A registered charity ourselves, the CEF works for any non profit, not just charities.

• Funding Finder - with categories for Core Cost Funding and Small Charities & Community Groups.
• Help Finder – find anything for free, including companies that make financial donations and raffle prizes.
• Data Finder – for fundraising bids & research, impact reporting, planning and campaigning.

Plus, 60+ policies, 8 online health checks and the huge resource base.

Quick, simple and very effective.

Find Funding, Free Help & Resources - Everything Is Free.

Register Now!