We recently partnered with Touchstone, a charity who provide health and wellbeing services to diverse communities across Yorkshire, to host a collaborative event bringing together leaders from across the not-for-profit sector in West Yorkshire. The goal was simple but ambitious: to explore how artificial intelligence can be meaningfully embedded into organisations already facing growing demand, limited resources, and complex societal challenges.
Held at CATCH Leeds, a vibrant space and registered charity designed for the local community, the full-day agenda covered expert-led sessions, case studies, and a CEO roundtable, with the conversation moving beyond hype and quickly into practical reality.
Setting the Scene: A Sector in Transition
The day began with informal networking before moving into a thought leadership session from Tyron Raubenheimer (Head of Security and Cloud Technologies), focused on “Harnessing AI for Impact: How Charities Embed AI Within a Broader Digital Transformation.”
A clear picture quickly emerged. While awareness and interest in AI are high, most organisations are still in pilot or exploratory phases. Tools like Microsoft Copilot are being tested, but not yet fully embedded into day-to-day processes.
At the same time, many organisations have already begun implementing AI usage policies, particularly around open AI tools, highlighting a growing recognition of both opportunity and risk.
The Foundations: Data, Governance, and Confidence
A recurring theme was the importance of getting the basics right to ensure success with AI has the right foundations.
It was clear across the board that AI success depends on:
- Strong data maturity models
- Clear data access structures
- Clean, well-managed datasets
- Having the skills to effectively prompt and brief AI tools
- Safeguarding sensitive information
These are not barriers, but they are critical considerations that need structured governance and leadership alignment.
From Theory to Practice: Real-World AI in Action
One of the most encouraging aspects of the event was hearing how AI is already delivering value.
Examples included improving administrative efficiency and productivity, supporting funding applications (including AI-assisted bids), enhancing internal knowledge sharing and exploring use cases like ambient voice technology.
Interestingly, perspectives on AI-generated outputs varied. Some funders are beginning to request or accept AI-supported submissions, while others remain cautious. This mixed landscape reinforces the need for clear ethical guidelines and transparency.
The Leaders Roundtable: Honest Conversations, Shared Challenges
The afternoon roundtable, hosted by Chris Brushett (Head of New Business), provided a space for open, peer-led discussion. This session surfaced some of the most important insights of the day.
- Purpose vs Productivity
A key theme was around how AI will help to reduce administrative burden, but the ultimate goal is not efficiency alone. It is about freeing up more time for not-for-profits to focus on their core mission and deliver greater real-world impact.
- Cost and Accessibility
Licensing costs remain a significant concern, particularly for smaller organisations. There was strong interest in programmes like Microsoft Elevate for not-for-profits to help bridge this gap.
- Cultural Adoption and Buy-In
Technology is only part of the equation. Leaders identified the importance of communicating clear, relatable use cases, providing training and support, and leading from the top to establish trust and confidence.
- Ethical AI and Human Oversight
A consistent theme was the need to keep a human in the loop, particularly when working with vulnerable communities. Diversity, fairness, and accountability must remain central to any AI strategy.
The Big Takeaway: Start Small, Think Big
Perhaps the most important message from the day was this that organisations don’t need to solve everything at once. Starting with small, manageable use cases allows teams to build confidence, demonstrate tangible wins, and create momentum for further investment.
At its best, AI is not about replacing people, it's about augmenting human capability, reducing burnout, and enabling leaders to focus on what matters most - their missions.
Touchstone and Sharp: Building a Future-Focused IT Partnership
Touchstone delivers mental health and wellbeing services to over 10,000 people in the West Yorkshire area each year. Beyond direct service provision, the organisation plays a vital role in empowering communities, building confidence, strengthening capacity, and enabling individuals to advocate for the services and positive experiences they are entitled to.
Touchstone initially came to Sharp for assistance with their IT Support, and have since evolved from a traditional support-based engagement into a more strategic partnership with Sharp, where our services have adapted to better align with their wider IT objectives.
By refining our approach and broadening the scope of support, we’ve been able to provide proactive, tailored solutions that underpin their day-to-day operations while also supporting longer-term business goals. This shift has enabled a more collaborative relationship, ensuring we are not only meeting their current needs but also helping to shape and deliver their future IT strategy.
