This event is a unique opportunity to learn from a distinguished panel of community engagement experts as strong leadership and effective engagement remain more critical than ever.
As we welcome a newly elected government, parish and town councils continue to face complex and pressing challenges at the grassroots level. Despite the shifting political landscape, strong leadership and effective community engagement remain more critical than ever. Parish and town councils are at the heart of their communities, often making difficult decisions impacting residents' daily lives.
This event is a unique opportunity to learn from a distinguished panel of community engagement experts. They will share valuable insights and provide practical strategies and actionable advice on how local councils can foster positive relationships with their communities. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to engage residents constructively, build trust, and create solutions that address local issues while navigating the complexities of sometimes unpopular decisions.
Sponsors: Blachere Illumination, CCLA and Clear Councils Insurance
NB: NALC reserves the right to change the programme at any time.
Assistant chief executive, Local Government Association
Helen Jenkins has considerable experience and understanding of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the local government sector, having joined the LGA on secondment from a council in 2016, and has worked across several priority areas, including their flagship leadership programmes, national graduate programmes and improvement support to the sector.
Head of policy and insights, New Local
At New Local, Grace Pollard leads on developing the evidence base for community power, looking at the impact of these practices across the public sector. She also manages our member research programmes of Innovation Insights and Innovation In Depths. Grace was a policy adviser supporting the London Assembly Transport Committee and held previous roles supporting the Police and Crime Committee and EU Exit Working Group. Before this, Grace was a trainee in the CharityWorks graduate scheme. She has a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Law, Anthropology and Society from the London School of Economics and Political Science.