# DSC launches Speed Read guide to AI for charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/04/30/dsc-launches-speed-read-guide-to-ai-for-charities/
- Published: 2026-04-30T12:19:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Directory of Social Change (DSC) has published _Speed Read: Artificial Intelligence_,
a short practical guide to help voluntary sector staff understand AI and start using
it without a big budget or specialist knowledge.**

Written by Matt T. I. Hill, the 38-page guide explains what AI is, what it can do
for charities, and how to choose suitable tools. It also sets out how to put governance
in place so that AI is used safely and ethically, how to prepare staff, and which
common pitfalls to avoid.

## What the guide covers

The book is organised around five areas:

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 * AI and the voluntary sector
 * The foundations of AI governance
 * What AI can do for you and your organisation
 * Choosing the right tools
 * Avoiding the pitfalls of AI

It is written for anyone working in the voluntary sector, so fundraisers wondering
where AI might support their work, and what safeguards to agree first, will find
it a useful starting point. Like other titles in DSC’s Speed Read series, it includes
top tips, case studies and “where next” ideas for readers short on time.

Early readers quoted by DSC include charity chief executives and technology and 
data specialists, who describe it as clear, practical and focused on people, purpose
and impact rather than hype.

### About the author

Matt T. I. Hill has worked in the charity sector for over 12 years, designing and
implementing services for people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
He focuses on people-focused charities supporting individuals facing challenges 
including homelessness, mental ill health, bereavement, the criminal justice system
and, most recently, addiction recovery and clinical support services.

## Availability

_Speed Read: Artificial Intelligence_ (ISBN 9781784821395) is available only as 
a digital download, in PDF or epub format, priced at £8.95 each. It can be bought
from the [Directory of Social Change website](https://www.dsc.org.uk/publication/speed-read-artificial-intelligence/).

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