Charity Technology
@charitytechnology.co.uk
The small consultancy
for small charities
with big ambitions
Get a digital expert (me @kevinbeynon.com) on call for the cost of a decent plumber.
for small charities
with big ambitions
Get a digital expert (me @kevinbeynon.com) on call for the cost of a decent plumber.
Generative AI is hugely damaging to the environment - using terrifying amounts of electricity and water, is built on stolen & copyrighted data, and usually provides incorrect or completely fabricated answers.
It's of no use whatsoever, and there are no two sides to this.
It's of no use whatsoever, and there are no two sides to this.
Could AI help save the planet? Or is it part of the problem?
Watch to see both sides of the story.
Visit the AI Gateway at https://learning.goodthingsfoundation.org/ai.
Watch to see both sides of the story.
Visit the AI Gateway at https://learning.goodthingsfoundation.org/ai.
December 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Generative AI is hugely damaging to the environment - using terrifying amounts of electricity and water, is built on stolen & copyrighted data, and usually provides incorrect or completely fabricated answers.
It's of no use whatsoever, and there are no two sides to this.
It's of no use whatsoever, and there are no two sides to this.
This! 👇
In the pub last night, accosted by a chugger (Brit: charity mugger) in a tabard saying their company is raising money for a charity and will we pledge for the disabled kiddies.
My friend S: Are you a registered charity?
Him: We’re raising money for a charity.
/1
My friend S: Are you a registered charity?
Him: We’re raising money for a charity.
/1
December 9, 2025 at 10:39 AM
This! 👇
"Small, grassroots organisations shouldn’t have to jump through endless hoops to get support."
100% agree!
100% agree!
Boring Fund | Christina Poulton
Applications now open!
£200 grants available for small charities, CICs and voluntary groups towards some of those boring but hard-to-fund costs.
www.christinapoultoncreative.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
"Small, grassroots organisations shouldn’t have to jump through endless hoops to get support."
100% agree!
100% agree!
Reposted by Charity Technology
Look at this great fund. £200 for really small charities to spend on boring things. Easy, quick to apply.
Link below.
Please share :)
Link below.
Please share :)
Boring Fund | Christina Poulton
Applications now open!
£200 grants available for small charities, CICs and voluntary groups towards some of those boring but hard-to-fund costs.
www.christinapoultoncreative.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Look at this great fund. £200 for really small charities to spend on boring things. Easy, quick to apply.
Link below.
Please share :)
Link below.
Please share :)
Reposted by Charity Technology
Reposted by Charity Technology
Britains's AI gold rush hits a wall: not enough electricity
Britains's AI gold rush hits a wall: not enough electricity
Energy Secretary Miliband promises renewable utopia for green and pleasant land... filled with datacenters
Energy is essential for delivering the UK governments' AI ambitions, but Britain faces a critical question: how can it supply enough power for rapidly expanding datacenters without causing blackouts or inflating consumer bills?…
dlvr.it
October 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Britains's AI gold rush hits a wall: not enough electricity
Reposted by Charity Technology
In Mexico, blackouts caused by data centers destroyed people's refrigerators and oxygen equipment in hospitals, and water shortages meant toilets couldn't flush in schools.
AI is another version of colonial extraction.
AI is another version of colonial extraction.
“By 2035, data centers globally are projected to use about as much electricity as India…according to the International Energy Agency. A single data center can also use more than 500,000 gallons of water a day, nearly as much as an Olympic-size swimming pool.”
🎁:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
🎁:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...
From Mexico to Ireland, Fury Mounts Over a Global A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
In Mexico, blackouts caused by data centers destroyed people's refrigerators and oxygen equipment in hospitals, and water shortages meant toilets couldn't flush in schools.
AI is another version of colonial extraction.
AI is another version of colonial extraction.
Reposted by Charity Technology
“It is quite clear that various organisations are starting to consider synthetic images instead of real photography, because it’s cheap and you don’t need to bother with consent and everything…”
AI-generated ‘poverty porn’ fake images being used by aid agencies
Exclusive: Pictures depicting the most vulnerable and poorest people are being used in social media campaigns in the sector, driven by concerns over consent and cost
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
“It is quite clear that various organisations are starting to consider synthetic images instead of real photography, because it’s cheap and you don’t need to bother with consent and everything…”
Reposted by Charity Technology
Improved data about political and other influences on science is required: "safeguards from the politicisation of citizen-led research are needed"
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #misinformation #disinformation #transparency #data #politics
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #misinformation #disinformation #transparency #data #politics
October 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Improved data about political and other influences on science is required: "safeguards from the politicisation of citizen-led research are needed"
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #misinformation #disinformation #transparency #data #politics
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #misinformation #disinformation #transparency #data #politics
Reposted by Charity Technology
"lawmakers could either reframe protests relating to scientific data as a legal form of scientific research translation and dissemination, or as ‘illegal protest’."
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #law #protest #slapps
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #law #protest #slapps
October 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"lawmakers could either reframe protests relating to scientific data as a legal form of scientific research translation and dissemination, or as ‘illegal protest’."
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #law #protest #slapps
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25 #science #law #protest #slapps
Reposted by Charity Technology
How do we improve citizen science? I'm presenting at the Australian Citizen Science Association conference about how we co-created 10 recommendations with researchers and the public.
You can read our discussion paper pre-print here:
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25
You can read our discussion paper pre-print here:
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25
October 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
How do we improve citizen science? I'm presenting at the Australian Citizen Science Association conference about how we co-created 10 recommendations with researchers and the public.
You can read our discussion paper pre-print here:
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25
You can read our discussion paper pre-print here:
doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670232
#CitSciOz25
Reposted by Charity Technology
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Fit for Purpose? How Today’s Commercial Digital Platforms Subvert Key Goals of Public Education
Digital educational platforms have become ubiquitous in American classrooms, with tools like Google Workspace for Education, Kahoot!, Zearn, Khan Academy, and many others now structuring curriculum, i...
nepc.colorado.edu
September 29, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Reminds me of every meeting during the 10 years I worked at one of the largest UK charities.
I think about this stock image a lot and how it presaged modern llms
September 10, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reminds me of every meeting during the 10 years I worked at one of the largest UK charities.
Reposted by Charity Technology
"UK government trial of M365 Copilot finds no clear productivity boost"
www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/m...
www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/m...
M365 Copilot fails to up productivity in UK government trial
: AI tech shows promise writing emails or summarizing meetings. Don't bother with anything more complex
www.theregister.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:28 AM
"UK government trial of M365 Copilot finds no clear productivity boost"
www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/m...
www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/m...
Reposted by Charity Technology
Pay inequality flourishes when salaries are kept secret, widening the already damaging inequalities in our society.
The simple reason employers must publish salaries on job adverts
www.bigissue.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Pay inequality flourishes when salaries are kept secret, widening the already damaging inequalities in our society.
The award for best church donation platform name goes to...
Tithely 🏆
Love that name!
Tithely 🏆
Love that name!
August 19, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The award for best church donation platform name goes to...
Tithely 🏆
Love that name!
Tithely 🏆
Love that name!
Is your Firefox browser busy when it shouldn't be?
You guessed it: looks like it's a so-called AI
You guessed it: looks like it's a so-called AI
Some users report Firefox scoffing CPU power
: You guessed it: looks like it's a so-called AI
www.theregister.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Is your Firefox browser busy when it shouldn't be?
You guessed it: looks like it's a so-called AI
You guessed it: looks like it's a so-called AI
"Digital inclusion in the UK is not a matter of personal reluctance or lack of awareness, an issue that, with the right training session, donated laptop, or signposted support service, will quietly resolve itself."
This is why I go on about things like app-only parking meters. It's exclusion!
This is why I go on about things like app-only parking meters. It's exclusion!
Digital exclusion isn’t a glitch, but a structural failure. The government must ensure people don't get left behind.
Digital exclusion isn't a glitch – it's a structural failure that needs fixing
www.bigissue.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM
"Digital inclusion in the UK is not a matter of personal reluctance or lack of awareness, an issue that, with the right training session, donated laptop, or signposted support service, will quietly resolve itself."
This is why I go on about things like app-only parking meters. It's exclusion!
This is why I go on about things like app-only parking meters. It's exclusion!
Reposted by Charity Technology
Conversations with residents offer a deep account of the realities of life in their neighbourhood – an understanding that would be unattainable observing only data
We are partnering with Place Matters and Just Knowledge to equip communities with knowledge, power, and agency to drive social change 🤝
We are partnering with Place Matters and Just Knowledge to equip communities with knowledge, power, and agency to drive social change 🤝
placematters.org.uk
August 5, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Conversations with residents offer a deep account of the realities of life in their neighbourhood – an understanding that would be unattainable observing only data
We are partnering with Place Matters and Just Knowledge to equip communities with knowledge, power, and agency to drive social change 🤝
We are partnering with Place Matters and Just Knowledge to equip communities with knowledge, power, and agency to drive social change 🤝
Reposted by Charity Technology
📣 First episode of Antisocial Economics podcast with @wealtherty.bsky.social out now!
In this episode, Sarah Kerr talks to @profjanegreen.bsky.social about the role of wealth in the widening sense of economic insecurity and electoral volatility.
Listen here ⬇️
In this episode, Sarah Kerr talks to @profjanegreen.bsky.social about the role of wealth in the widening sense of economic insecurity and electoral volatility.
Listen here ⬇️
Antisocial Economics
What is wealth? How come so many of us haven’t got any? How does wealth inequality make poverty worse? In the UK and other rich economies, wealth inequality and poverty are at incredibly high…
buff.ly
July 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
📣 First episode of Antisocial Economics podcast with @wealtherty.bsky.social out now!
In this episode, Sarah Kerr talks to @profjanegreen.bsky.social about the role of wealth in the widening sense of economic insecurity and electoral volatility.
Listen here ⬇️
In this episode, Sarah Kerr talks to @profjanegreen.bsky.social about the role of wealth in the widening sense of economic insecurity and electoral volatility.
Listen here ⬇️
The end of Windows 10 should not mean the end-of-life of hundreds of millions of computers!
There are many ways to keep these computers running for years to come – stopping them from becoming poisonous landfill and saving people money in the process.
There are many ways to keep these computers running for years to come – stopping them from becoming poisonous landfill and saving people money in the process.
The end of Windows 10 shouldn't mean the end of life for hundreds of millions of computers💻️😵
Check out @therestartproject.org's guide for repair groups to support their local communities and save laptops from landfill 🪛
🔗 therestartproject.org/end-of-windows-10-toolkit-for-repair-groups
Check out @therestartproject.org's guide for repair groups to support their local communities and save laptops from landfill 🪛
🔗 therestartproject.org/end-of-windows-10-toolkit-for-repair-groups
August 5, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The end of Windows 10 should not mean the end-of-life of hundreds of millions of computers!
There are many ways to keep these computers running for years to come – stopping them from becoming poisonous landfill and saving people money in the process.
There are many ways to keep these computers running for years to come – stopping them from becoming poisonous landfill and saving people money in the process.
Microsoft says it "cannot guarantee" data sovereignty to customers in France – and by implication the wider European Union – should the Trump administration demand access to customer information held on its servers.
Microsoft exec admits it 'cannot guarantee' data sovereignty
: Under oath in French Senate, exec says it would be compelled – however unlikely – to pass local customer info to US admin
www.theregister.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Microsoft says it "cannot guarantee" data sovereignty to customers in France – and by implication the wider European Union – should the Trump administration demand access to customer information held on its servers.
Reposted by Charity Technology
Leaked documents confirm that Microsoft is providing millions of dollars worth of cloud computing and AI surveillance tools to coordinate airstrikes which have killed over 50,000 Palestinians so far.
Microsoft employees demand an end to ties with the Israeli military.
Eko.org/microsoft
Microsoft employees demand an end to ties with the Israeli military.
Eko.org/microsoft
July 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Leaked documents confirm that Microsoft is providing millions of dollars worth of cloud computing and AI surveillance tools to coordinate airstrikes which have killed over 50,000 Palestinians so far.
Microsoft employees demand an end to ties with the Israeli military.
Eko.org/microsoft
Microsoft employees demand an end to ties with the Israeli military.
Eko.org/microsoft
Beware using link shorteners to share important information.
You never know when they'll stop working!
You never know when they'll stop working!
Google to Shut Down All goo.gl Short Links on August 25, 2025
Google has confirmed that it will officially deprecate all URLs created with its goo.gl link shortener next month.
Google has confirmed that it will officially deprecate all URLs created with its goo.gl link shortener next month.
Google to Shut Down All goo.gl Short Links on August 25, 2025
Google has confirmed that it will officially deprecate all URLs created with its goo.gl link shortener next month.
www.abijita.com
July 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Beware using link shorteners to share important information.
You never know when they'll stop working!
You never know when they'll stop working!
Reposted by Charity Technology
typo aside, this makes me more determined to find a good replacement for office, not to just renew at the original price
July 19, 2025 at 5:16 AM
typo aside, this makes me more determined to find a good replacement for office, not to just renew at the original price