Insights
The Charity Digital Code of Practice will be updated for 2025. Here we discuss the background of the Code, the nature of the update, and how you can help improve the Code
Charity leaders developed the Charity Digital Code of Practice (the Code) to improve digital sustainability, efficiency, and decision-making. The first of its kind in the UK, the Code proved particularly important during the pandemic, as charities sought to navigate a period of digital acceleration, adapt to the world of remote working, manage virtual service delivery, and more.
In 2021, Charity Digital became the long-term home of the Code. But the success of the Code has always depended on cross-sector ownership, so we will keep working with people from across the sector to perfect the latest iteration of the Code. Digital expert Zoe Amar continues as Chair of the 2025 Code, bringing vital insights and in-depth knowledge of the sector.
The update will aim, among other things, to help charities grasp upcoming digital opportunities, mitigate tech risks, and grapple with some of the latest digital challenges, such as artificial intelligence (AI). In this article, we explore the background of the Code, look at how Charity Digital will conduct the update, and discuss how you can get involved.
Since launching in 2018, the Code has empowered trustees and leaders to embrace digital strategies and enact both short and long-term changes that amplify their sustainable impact. Led by Amar working with a collaborative cross-sector group, the Code combines practical guidance with insightful resources. valuable case studies, and benchmarks for the sector.
The Code focusses on seven key areas: Leadership, User-led, Culture, Strategy, Skills, Managing Risk and Ethics, and Adaptability. Under each area, the Code offers insight to help charities make responsible decisions and increase their impact. The Code is aimed at charities registered in England, Wales, and Scotland, and is designed to apply to charities of all sizes. However, each area of the Code has been adapted specifically for small and large charities to show what success looks like at each stage, with acknowledgement of the digital barriers they may face.
The 2025 update to the Code is funded by The Clothworkers’ Company, The WCIT Charity and Resource for London, with the aim of enhancing the Code and further driving its adoption. The Code is managed by a steering group of representatives from across the sector and chaired by independent digital expert Amar.
The Code is user-led, always responding to the main issues in the sector. That means that, prior to the update, we are contacting charities to discover the main digital opportunities, the core tech risks, and all the areas in which they may need some additional guidance.
Our user research is qualitative and quantitative. We aim to conduct at least ten virtual interviews with charity leaders, exploring challenges in depth, spending time talking about the best ways that we can support them. We combine that with a survey that asks hundreds of charities to contribute to simple questions, defining the risks and opportunities most important to them.
We combine the qualitative and quantitative with our previous user research, market research, and any other information available in the sector. We will ask a Review Board – more on that below – to explore the collated information and provide guidance on the key areas that need updating.
The process has been established to ensure user needs are always a priority.
The Code is a work of collaboration. And we need your help to ensure the latest update is a success. We are recruiting a Review Board to share their knowledge and experience of successful digital transformation, explore our user research and draw balanced conclusions about the direction of the Code’s update.
The Board will, in short, help to define the future of the Code. Roles on the Review Board would be voluntary and would likely require ten to fifteen hours, including all meetings and the work of reviewing the user research and drafted amendments to the Code.
We are also looking for Code Champions. Champions are people who will use, or have used, the Code’s resources to improve digital confidence in charities or with service users. Champions can help us extend the use of the Code in simple ways, by sharing the Code with their networks, by explaining how you’re using the Code, or simply by engaging with the Code in meaningful ways.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Review Board, or a Code Champion, then please get in touch with us using the button below. We really appreciate all the support!
We are also continuing to look for further funding to enable us to scale up the dissemination and education on the Code in 2025. If you are interested in supporting this as a grant funder or commercial partner please contact us at sponsorship@charitydigital.org.uk.
Get involved with the next iteration of the Charity Digital Code of Practice
On the 17th October 2024, Charity Digital will hold our first ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit, a ticketed in-person event that will help charity professionals master the most talked-about tech of the decade.