Worth a Look for Charities, Volunteers & Community Groups.
I wanted to share details of some free online AI courses provided directly by Microsoft.
These aren’t delivered by me — I’m simply passing them on in case they’re useful to any local charities, community organisations, volunteers, schools or individuals who want to build confidence with digital tools.
Microsoft have created an AI E-Learning Hub that anyone can access at their own pace. Below are a few of the most practical courses currently available. Microsoft AI E-Learning – Free Courses.
These courses are fully online, self-paced and suitable for beginners right through to leaders planning how their organisations can use AI safely and responsibly: -
1. Get Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot 1.5 hours – Full learning path. A clear introduction to how Copilot works across Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. You don’t need any prior AI knowledge — perfect for volunteers, administrators, trustees or anyone looking to save time on day-to-day tasks.Link...https://r1.technology-trust-news.org/.../AQim7hIQlcGGARj...
2. Azure AI Fundamentals. A foundation course for anyone wanting to understand how AI tools are built and how they operate on Microsoft Azure. Covers the core ideas behind modern AI systems and how software developers use Azure to create AI-powered solutions. Useful for organisations exploring more advanced or long-term digital projects.Link...https://r1.technology-trust-news.org/.../AQim7hIQlcGGARj...
3. Summarise & Simplify Information with Copilot 34 minutes – 10 short units Shows how to craft effective prompts so Copilot can: -
• Summarise documents.
• Simplify complex text.
• Extract key points.
• create visualisations in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. A fantastic time-saver for anyone dealing with reports, minutes, newsletters or funding applications.Link...https://r1.technology-trust-news.org/.../AQim7hIQlcGGARj...
4. Embrace Responsible AI Principles & Practices. An excellent introduction to Microsoft’s six Responsible AI principles: -Fairness, Reliability & Safety, Privacy & Security, Inclusiveness, Transparency, Accountability.
The course also explores: -
• How to build internal governance.
• Ethical decision-making.
• Real-world case studies.
• Frameworks leaders can use when adopting AI. Ideal for trustees, safeguarding leads or senior organisers.Link...https://r1.technology-trust-news.org/.../AQim7hIQlcGGARj...
Why This Might Help Local Groups...
Completely free No previous experience required Self-paced learning Practical and relevant to real community work Useful for digital champions, volunteers and staff Helps organisations stay safe, informed and up-to-date. If your charity, group or organisation is trying to understand AI — or simply wants to improve digital confidence — these courses are a very good starting point.
Cllr. Michael Thomas
07852174186
www.councillormichaelthomas.com
