Artificial intelligence at The Big Life Group
At The Big Life Group, we use technology to support our work and help us do it well. That includes some artificial intelligence, or AI. We know people may have questions about what that means, how it affects them, and how we keep information safe. This notice explains, how we use AI, the safeguards we have in place, and what people can expect from us.
We fight for equity, in health, in wealth and in life. AI will only ever be used in ways that support that mission. It should help our staff do some parts of their work more efficiently, but it must not replace human relationships, professional judgement or the care we take with people and communities.
How we use AI
We currently use approved AI tools in limited and supportive ways. This may include helping staff draft routine documents, summarise non-sensitive information, improve readability and accessibility, support training development, or generate meeting notes and actions. These tools are there to assist our work, not to make important decisions about people.
What we do not use AI for
We do not use AI to make decisions about a person’s care, support, eligibility for service access or risk.
We do not use AI to judge a person’s character, worth or behaviour.
We do not use AI for biometric identification or categorisation of people.
We do not allow staff to put personal or sensitive information into public AI tools, such as Claude, Chat GPT or Google Gemini.
We do not share AI-generated content without a human checking it first.
How we protect personal information
Protecting people’s information matters to us. Before any new AI tool is used, it must go through checks by our technology team and data protection officer. This includes assessing security, privacy, fairness, and whether the tool is appropriate for the task. Where required, we carry out a Data Protection Impact Assessment. We only approve tools for business use once we are satisfied that the risks have been properly considered and managed.
Our staff must only use approved AI tools. They must not enter names, health information, safeguarding concerns, or other personal or sensitive information into public AI systems. Where testing or analysis is needed, we use anonymised or test data that doesn’t relate to real people, unless a different approach has been formally reviewed and approved.
Human oversight and accountability
AI can be useful, but it can also get things wrong. It may produce inaccurate, biased or misleading content. That is why human oversight is essential. Our staff remain responsible for the work they do, including anything supported by AI, and they are expected to review and check AI-generated content before it is used or shared.
Our trauma-informed approach
Many of the people and communities we work alongside have experienced trauma, disadvantage or discrimination. That means we must be especially thoughtful about how technology is used. We aim to communicate clearly, avoid harm, and build trust. We will not use AI in ways that reduce people’s choice, remove human contact where it matters, or make people feel judged, watched or shut out.
We also know that not everyone has the same access to, or comfort with, digital services. Our use of AI should never create barriers for people who are digitally excluded, need information in different formats, or want to speak to a person. We will keep listening, learning and changing as this technology develops.
Governance and approved tools
Only AI tools approved by our technology team may be used for Big Life work. These tools are reviewed for risk, security and compatibility, and their use is monitored in a proportionate way to protect company data and support responsible use. Oversight of AI sits with our internal governance processes, including the technology team and data protection officer.
Further information
This notice should be read alongside our wider privacy information. If you want to know more about how we use personal information, or if you have questions about our use of AI, please contact us through the details provided in our existing service-specific privacy notices and website information.