Is there a way to get permissions to carry over when creating a space from a template?
Alternatively, is there a way within Alfresco for a user to view what spaces they have been invited to? For example, Bob logs in and wants to see what he's been invited to work on.
Permissions should be copied from templates - but only if the user doing the copy can read the permissions. Otherwise a user with READ access would be able to make a copy and then see the permissions you had set ….
You would need to grant ReadPermissions somewhere along the line.
You can invite Groups using the Manage Space Users dialog (select Groups from the drop-down selector in the dialog - the default is Users). The ReadPermissions is the same as "Consumer" in the role selection by default - so this is what you want.