The Local Government Community Engagement Conference 2022

Councils have statutory requirements to consult with their populations on many occasions when making decisions that will affect the community. Beyond this, community engagement and communication is essential to ensure local services are working as intended, and are meeting the needs of all residents In the wake of Covid-19, communicating regularly and through a variety of channels has been especially important, due to limits on meetings in public spaces. While digital alternatives have been found, an effective pandemic recovery needs to provide multiples avenues of engagement, so that councils continue to understand and serve their communities as a whole.

• 69% of citizens think it is important to feel they can influence decisions in their local area
• The Government’s Community Life survey 2019/20 showed that a higher proportion of White respondents engaged in civic participation (41%) than Black respondents (33%) and other respondents (29%)
• 41% of respondents have taken part in civic participation, 21% in civic consultation, and 8% in civic activism
• 45% of respondents said it would be easier to influence decisions in their local area if they could give their opinion online/by email

Join us at The Local Government Community Engagement Conference 2021 to hear the latest updates and strategies from leaders in communication and local community engagement. Learn best practice from local councils developing new methods of partnership working and evaluation to improve engagement with communities in a fast-changing environment.  You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues to share common challenges in developing an accessible service and engaging with hard-to-reach communities.

Why attend:
✓  Latest updates on ensuring local councils remain accessible in the Covid-19 recovery
✓ Strategies, tools and best practice for engaging hard-to-reach communities through multiple channels
✓ A greater understanding of strategies to establish online and offline communication processes
✓ Network with senior colleagues from across local government
✓ Gain 4 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota

This is a live event taking place online:
✓ Access a full live event with 4 hours of CPD points from home
✓ Network and connect with colleagues in breakout networking sessions and the meeting hub
✓ Interact with speakers through live Q&A and networking
✓ Review event materials and presentations post-event
✓ Receive additional resources to boost your learning and support you in your role

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.30

  Online Registration

• 10.00

  Chair’s Opening Remarks

  Dr. Koen P.R. Bartels, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Institute of Local Government Studies (CONFIRMED)

• 10.10

  Keynote: Developing New Avenues to Better Engage with Communities

  Justin Griggs, Head of Policy and Communications, National Association of Local Councils (CONFIRMED)

• 10.30

  Case Study: The Co-Operative Engagement Toolkit: A Multi-Agency Approach to Community Engagement

  • Improving community engagement through partnership working with the voluntary and community sectors
  • Co-operative Engagement: using established local networks to reach out to the wider community
  • The collaborative networks model: discover, define, develop, deliver
  • Sharing examples of best practice community engagement initiatives

  Kerry Bertram, Strategic Locality Lead, Action Together (CONFIRMED)

• 11.05

  Case Study: Overcoming Obstacles to Engagement with Hard-To-Reach Communities

  • Undertaking a system-wide review to provide new engagement channels for hard-to-reach communities
  • Fostering resilience in local communities by developing alternative communication spaces in local community hubs
  • Establishing an early intervention approach to engage hard-to-reach communities in problem-solving
  • Key insights into designing a cost-effective local space to connect and collaborate with local organisations

  Mohammed Jama, Brent Hubs Manager, Brent Council (CONFIRMED)

• 11.25

  Questions and Answers

• 11.45

  Comfort Break

• 12.00

  Keynote: Harnessing Digital Strategies and Planning Systems to Engage with Local Communities Effectively

  Bridget Wilkins, Head of Digital Citizen Engagement, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (CONFIRMED)

• 12.20

  Case Study: Implementing a Long Term Community Engagement Strategy to Rebuild Public Confidence in Local Government

  • Building relationships with residents to improve their experience of necessary disruption arising from new developments in their area
  • A fair broker: navigating the competing interests of different resident groups to make reasonable and cost-effective decisions for all stakeholders
  • Striking the right tone: key tools and strategies for ensuring conversations with residents are both honest and avoid confrontation wherever possible
  • Managing sensitive council-led schemes in an environment where trust and confidence in public institutions is low

  Dan Hawthorn, Executive Director of Housing and Social Investment, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea  (CONFIRMED)

• 12.40

  Pre-Recorded Case Study: Excellent Community Engagement in a Fast-Changing Environment: Lessons from Covid-19

  • Establishing a responsive communications plan to react quickly and help react to changes in information flow
  • Using postcode data to target communications to hard-to-reach communities
  • Building trust with communities by collaborating with key partners to co-produce content
  • Improving public buy-in by adapting partner organisation content to quickly respond to local needs

  Claire Tulloch, Communications Manager, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (CONFIRMED)

  Rebecca Ramsay, Service Lead – Neighbourhoods, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (CONFIRMED)

• 13.00

  Questions and Answers

• 13.20

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

• 13.30

  Optional Breakout Networking: Developing New Communication Methods for Hard-To-Reach Communities

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss alternative communication methods you are using to engage with hard-to-reach communities. Allowing you to share experiences and encourage cross-sector collaboration

Who Should Attend?

Delegates who will have an interest in this event will be people who work in local government.

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers across local government
✓ Meet your target audience in the Sector
✓ Listen and Learn from leading industry experts across the Sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

Strategic Headline Sponsor:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
• Post show inclusion on presentation email
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
• 5 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Speaker Pass

Key Supporter Package:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or Chair Drop
• 1 Speaker Pass
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes

Exhibition Stand:

• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Stand Manager Pass

Insert or Chair Drop:

• 1 Delegate Conference Pass
• A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team on 0330 0584 285, or sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.

• All Tickets: £199 + VAT+VAT