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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 28/09/2026

We'll be looking at all the feedback from our virtual coffee trial, as we make plans for next year's offering. So make sure you're there for the final trial to help shape what's to come next.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 28/09/2026

Fancy a (virtual) coffee with some fellow nonprofit data folk? Nonprofit Datafolk Club: Randomised coffee trial - 12 Nov. We've been trialling this event format, to encourage networking and connection amongst this fabulous community. FINAL trial event Thu 12 Nov, 1-2pm (GMT) FREE buff.ly/qjYqg4K

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 25/09/2026

Join us to discuss what you've been up to, learn from peers' experiences and get a barometer of feelings across the sector. (Cowboy hats optional and, if you can't join the event, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.)

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 25/09/2026

AI - The good, the bad and the ugly. That's the theme for our October Nonprofit Datafolk Club workshop. It always makes for an interesting discussion when we together to talk about AI. Especially when you ask about people's fears and concerns - there are lots of them. buff.ly/8AOPlUN

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 23/09/2026

Developing a data strategy can feel like a daunting task. But, with a bit of outside help and a clear picture of where they stood, Farleigh Hospice was able to build a shared organisational understanding of data and plan for improvement. Here's how we worked with them to get there: buff.ly/gRmr4l5

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 21/09/2026

How do you build data culture? Well, together, of course. As we prepare to close bookings for our next Building Data Culture course (there're only a couple of seats left, despite expanding capacity - so act now if you want to join), let's revisit what our associate Jay Dev wrote: buff.ly/qSIHg98

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 17/09/2026

What's your experience of AI in the nonprofit sector? We'll be revisiting this with our Nonprofit Datafolk Club on 8 October, so it's worth a recap on what was said when we discussed the topic this time last year. Read about people's hopes and fears, and add your own in the comments. buff.ly/ZH8nKEz

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 15/09/2026

Our autumn events are available to book now. Catch up on that and other news in our newsletter, including: - Developing a data strategy for Farleigh Hospice - AI in nonprofits - How to build data culture - NEW! Nonprofit Datafolk Club events - Final places for Building Data Culture buff.ly/gXCPofS

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 07/09/2026

There's still time for you to join. One of our last cohort said: “I found the reflection process sparked by the blend of plenary and group sessions really valuable. I also learned a lot from both the course leaders who were excellent and my peers in similar or different organisational contexts”

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 07/09/2026

Data culture: Shaping it can be messy, but when done right, it can be a thing of beauty. There's only a few places left on our next Building Data Culture course. With sign-ups from the nonprofit, public and commercial sectors already, it's shaping up to be a really interesting and diverse group.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 03/09/2026

It describes five stages that apply to any organisation - nonprofit, commercial, or public sector - on a journey towards improvement and increased capability in using data. Then, head over and take a Data Maturity Assessment to find out where your organisation is on the journey: buff.ly/hNaGrQp

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Data Maturity Assessment tool — Data Orchard

We’ve developed this valuable tool to help you assess where your organisation is on the data maturity journey, benchmark against others in the sector, and identify areas for improvement. Choose…

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 03/09/2026

It's been borrowed by many (including the Government Data Quality Hub for the Government Data Maturity Model). You can borrow it too. If you're determined to head into the final half of the business year with a solid plan for tackling data, take a look at our data maturity framework.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 03/09/2026

'Data maturity' feels big and hard to pin down, but it's essential for organisations to tackle. That's why we've been working for nearly a decade on defining and measuring it. Our first data maturity framework was published back in 2017 and it's been honed and finessed since.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 21/08/2026

"It helped me see more clearly that improving data culture needs shared intent and buy-in from leadership and the wider organisation, and gave me practical and theoretical strategies for how to talk about that."

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 21/08/2026

Our next Building Data Culture course is nearly full. Early birds sold out before the deadline and now there are only a few standard price places left. If you've been considering joining, now's the time. Here's what Glen Winterbourne, who joined our pilot cohort, said about the course:

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

Early bird tickets for this cohort sold out before the deadline, but there are still some standard price tickets left at just £699+vat, so act fast to reserve your place. Read more testimonials from attendees here: buff.ly/XGbVebO And book to start Building Data Culture here: buff.ly/AFazrZl

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

*Join the next cohort* If you recognise those challenges and want your organisation to do things differently, we’d love to see you join our next Building Data Culture cohort. It kicks off on 3 November for five weeks of inspiration, learning, and practical tips and ideas.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

By contrast, challenges people had when they joined the course included: “Data collection feels like a chore”, “How can I lead on data culture if I’m not in the leadership team?”, and “There’s a lot of ‘data for the sake of data’. I want to help my organisation see the value in doing it right.”

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

So far, 100% of attendees have said they've come away with a better understanding of what data culture is and how it’s shaped, and 100% have a better understanding of the role they can play in improving data culture in their organisation.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

We’ve been reviewing our training course feedback and that’s what an attendee of our first Building Data Culture course said after the course. In fact, almost all the attendees said they appreciated coming away with so many practical ideas that could be tried out immediately in their organisation.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 12/08/2026

“It’s not just theory - already after the first session I was able to adapt an activity we did and use it in my organisation to start the conversation of what data culture means to us.”

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 07/08/2026

Co-produced in several stages, we created a new impact framework, defined and tested the data and processes needed, and built skills and confidence among staff. This year they’ve begun the big roll-out.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 07/08/2026

Improving impact measurement isn't a once-and-done thing, it's a long-term strategic endeavour (much like improving data maturity). Our work with Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW) to lay the groundwork spanned almost three years.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 05/08/2026

If you've been considering one of our training courses, visit our new testimonials page to see what people say about them: buff.ly/zly9IxD

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 05/08/2026

In particular, we were aiming to fill the gap in the data training market for skills like leadership, data literacy and data culture. We've recently been reviewing some of the feedback from our training courses and it's giving us a warm fuzzy feeling, seeing some of the positive comments.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 05/08/2026

A few years ago we noticed a clear pattern in users of our Data Maturity Assessment. The weakest area is always skills. We set out to do something about it with our training course offering.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 03/08/2026

It describes five stages that apply to any organisation - nonprofit, commercial, or public sector - on a journey towards improvement and increased capability in using data. We've recently published a top-level summary describing each of the five stages. Get it here: buff.ly/VhWcPoU

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The 5 stages of data maturity — Data Orchard

This resource provides a top level summary of the five stages of organisational data maturity (Unaware, Emerging, Learning, Developing, and Mastering) and what each stage looks like.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 03/08/2026

"'Data maturity' is vague and hard to define". No - it's not. Our first data maturity framework was published back in 2017 and it's been honed and finessed since. It's been borrowed by many (including the Government Data Quality Hub for the Government Data Maturity Model).

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 30/07/2026

We've been working on data maturity for over a decade and we'll keep saying – until we're blue in the face – that data quality, leadership and culture is everything when it comes to data. Now the Government Digital Service is saying this too, saying that data maturity must come before AI investment.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 30/07/2026

Unpopular opinion: No AI wonder tool will fix a lack of data skills and leadership in your organisation, much less a poor data culture.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 28/07/2026

If you're not already signed up to our mailing list, here's the link so you can get the newsletter direct to your inbox in future: buff.ly/10oZgzQ

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 28/07/2026

Our July newsletter - time to catch up! In this issue: - Advice: Build your data maturity before your AI tool - The 5 stages of data maturity - Feedback from our training courses - Case study: Improving impact measurement - Other interesting news - Upcoming courses Online here: buff.ly/a2hAcJ1

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

Yet it seems that there's great pressure on leaders to adopt AI in organisations that aren't ready for it yet. Are you seeing this too?

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

Building data maturity involves stopping, taking a cold hard look at the organisation's needs, and addressing weaknesses in data uses, analysis, leadership, culture, tools and skills, as well as the data itself.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

In fact only 5% of over 1,000 organisations that used our Data Maturity Assessment over the last five years have reached that level of data maturity.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

The scramble to get on the AI train seems to be getting more and more frantic. But we've long been arguing that organisations really need to address their wider data maturity before adopting AI at scale. Our research over many years shows that very few organisations are mastering data.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

In a blog about the project, GDS said: "Before data can be considered AI ready, there needs to be confidence that it is well managed, thoroughly understood, and supported by the right people, processes and culture." Well, we couldn't agree more.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 19/06/2026

Good AI starts with good data... The Government Digital Service has said public sector organisations should focus on data quality, governance and skills before investing in AI. This is following a joint pilot project with the National Archives to explore how legal data could be optimised for AI use.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 15/06/2026

- Includes a whopping ten hours of face-to-face learning and guided activities, spread over five manageable two-hour sessions. - Overwhelmingly leaves attendees feeling more confident and better equipped to lead on data in their organisation.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 15/06/2026

The course: - Is designed for senior leaders looking for the big picture view of data in their organisation – from developing a data strategy and figuring out what skills are needed, to using data to drive decision-making and building a data-driven culture.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 15/06/2026

A quick reminder that the deadline to catch early bird prices for our next Data for Leaders course is tomorrow – 16 June.

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Data Orchard @dataorchard.org.uk · 10/06/2026

This cohort are now nearing the end of the course - we'll fill you in more on how they got on. In the meantime, tickets are selling fast for our autumn cohort - starting 3 Nov. There are only a few tickets left at early bird prices, so get in quick if you want to join us: buff.ly/MeR66EH

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Building data culture - online course — Data Orchard

A 4-week online course for people working in data roles who want to encourage better use of data across their organisations - exploring what good data culture looks like, and how it can be influenced.

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