Tech for Good Bristol Unconference - June 2025
The Power of Participant-Led Learning
True to unconference principles, our attendees set the agenda with key themes emerged from attendees:
AI & Ethics dominated conversations, with participants wrestling with both the immense potential and real risks of artificial intelligence. From practical applications saving charities time to concerns about digital divides and environmental impact, these discussions showed a community taking a thoughtful approach to AI adoption.
Discussions also focused on the opportunity for AI to enable audiences to go on deeper journeys - how can AI help and support learning and education, through to AI lead generation for charities, reducing admin burden, automating board meeting preparation, bringing in governance processes and helping find pain points where technology could genuinely improve efficiency. Equally important were frank discussions about risks – from job displacement to environmental costs to the challenge of keeping AI accessible rather than creating new digital divides.
Hardware Redistribution brought together recycling businesses, nonprofits, and advocates working to bridge the digital divide through reused technology. The collaborative spirit was evident as commercial and charitable initiatives explored how to work together more effectively. Discussions focused on possibilities for collaboration between commercial recycling businesses and nonprofits and exploring innovative models like credit systems to get the right technology to the right people, and even discussed shared server systems for charities to run private AI systems.
Digital Inclusion conversations highlighted the complex challenges facing digitally excluded communities – from bad design that fails users to scammers preying on vulnerable people seeking help with online banking. Digital inclusion discussions were particularly powerful, acknowledging both the challenges (freemium models becoming paid services, design that excludes rather than includes) and the opportunities (AI potentially leveling playing fields, government digital inclusion programs, creative approaches to digital training).
Innovation Approaches explored how to make tech development more inclusive, with discussions about co-design, thinking about impact alongside objectives, peer networks who can also challenge each other, and creating "safe spaces to play" with new technologies and creating cultures of acceptance of failure in experimentation.
Cybersecurity addressed the urgent need for trusted guidance, particularly for charities navigating the complex landscape of data protection and digital threats.
Power Dynamics in tech examined fundamental questions about who benefits from current systems and how grassroots initiatives can shift power toward communities and individuals.
From Conversation to Action
The unconference format culminated in our action-planning session, where participants committed to concrete next steps across three levels:
Personal Actions focused heavily on networking and learning – following up with new connections, researching topics discussed, and applying insights to current work. The community clearly valued the opportunity to break out of professional silos and learn from diverse perspectives.
Organisational Actions emphasised collaboration and partnership-building, with many participants planning to bring unconference insights back to their teams.
Community Actions for Tech4Good South West showed strong enthusiasm for expanding our impact:
Run more unconferences and expand to areas like Gloucestershire
Incorporate "bring your old IT" elements into events
Deliver workshops on grants and funding strategies
Share attendee lists beforehand and circulate contacts afterward to help with connections and building relationships across the community
Keep running engaging events that people value
Voices from the Community
The 60-second showcase brought incredible energy as participants shared everything from Bath Social Impact Network's local business connections to Creative Sustainability's intergenerational AI projects. We heard about open source software initiatives, inclusive innovation collectives, digital poverty solutions for RAF cadets, and impact measurement tools for mission-led organisations.
What united these diverse projects was a shared commitment to using technology intentionally – not just because it's possible, but because it genuinely serves people and planet.
As we reflect on the day, we're energized by both the quality of conversations and the commitment to continued collaboration. Participants didn't just attend – they contributed, questioned, shared resources, and made plans to work together.
The themes that emerged reflect the maturity of our community: moving beyond early excitement about tech-for-good to grapple with complex questions about implementation, ethics, sustainability, and genuine impact. These are the conversations we need to be having as the sector evolves.
Join the Conversation
Couldn't make it to Bristol? The conversations continue in our community. Whether you're working on AI ethics, hardware redistribution, digital inclusion, or any other aspect of technology for social good, there's a place for you in our network.
Join the next Unconference:
Tech for Good Exeter Unconference - Friday 26 September
Tech for Good Bristol Unconference - Friday 5 December
We'll be exploring more locations across the South West to make these valuable connections accessible to even more people.
Ready to be part of the change? Join our community, share your challenges and solutions, and help us build a tech ecosystem that truly serves people, planet, and places across the South West.
The unconference showed us what's possible when passionate people come together with intention. Now it's time to turn those conversations into lasting change.
Want to get involved? Visit tech4goodsouthwest.org to join our community, sign up for our newsletter, and stay connected with the growing movement for technology that serves the common good.
