How to use the Charity Digital Code of Practice

The Charity Digital Code of Practice (the Code) was originally developed to help close the digital skills gap in the charity sector. Launched in 2018, the Code became quickly invaluable, particularly during COVID-19, as charities adapted to remote working and digital service delivery. 

Digital, since the pandemic, has evolved at rapid pace. We have witnessed a shift to the cloud, experimentation with blockchain and cryptocurrency, the rise and fall of NFTs, and a growing interest in green technology. Social media platforms have become more challenging to navigate, and misinformation has become a growing concern. Most significantly, the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has changed how charities operate in almost every area. 

The 2025 version of the Code reflects these changes, and we’ve aimed to make it practical, accessible, and impactful. It is now available in the form of a professionally designed PDF, complete with accessibility tools, abridged versions, and a wide range of additional resources. It also includes CAI, our new AI assistant, which helps direct users to relevant information. 

General use of the Code 

We encourage charities to use the Code to benchmark digital progress and inform strategic decisions. We recommend approaching the Code at your own pace. Use it in the way that best suits your needs.

To support you, we have included case studies on the homepage that demonstrate how other charities are using the Code in practice. You can also join our webinar, led by Zoe Amar, for further guidance on how to maximise the Code’s benefits. 

The Code is structured around key principles. Each principle is explained with three elements: why it matters, what success looks like, and guidance on best practice. Each principle has its own dedicated page, allowing you to focus on areas most relevant to your organisation at any time. 

Navigating the new website 

The Code is now hosted on the Charity Digital website, accessible via the main menu. We have created a dedicated homepage for the Code, which features a range of tools and supporting materials to help users engage with it fully.

The homepage puts the Code front and centre but allows you to easily navigate some of the key features and resources, as well as ask questions of our AI system that provides answers relevant to the Code, helping you to skip. 

DOWNLOAD THE CODE

Resources on the website 

Each principle of the Code is available as an individual web page, so you can explore specific sections without needing to read the full document. You can navigate directly to these pages, ask CAI for tailored information, or download the full PDF to explore the sections listed in the contents. The principles are helpfully laid out on the homepage, so they’re easy to find.  

We’ll also be publishing a webinar, as mentioned above, along with loads of brilliant case studies, showing how the sector is using the Code, helping others to use it effectively too.  

DOWNLOAD THE CODE

Make use of CAI, our AI assistant 

CAI is an AI-powered chatbot trained specifically on the Code. You can use it to ask questions and receive instant answers. CAI is trained solely on the Code and Charity Digital information, which means that the answers will be specific, charity-focussed, and relevant to the Code.