NALC urges parish and town councils to make the switch to .gov.uk domain

We are urging parish and town councils across England to make the switch to .gov.uk domains and join the growing movement to professionalise the sector.

In 2024 alone, the Government Digital Service (GDS) supported a record-breaking 1,295 parish and town councils in migrating to .gov.uk domains through its Parish Council Domains Helper Service. It marked a 566% increase from the previous year and brought the total number of parish and town councils using trusted .gov.uk domains to over 4,000. So far in 2025, a further 422 parish and town councils have made the switch, and we're calling on your council to be part of the next 1,000.

Using a .gov.uk domain is more than a branding decision. It's a signal to the community that the parish or town council is serious about transparency, professionalism, and digital safety. Only recognised public sector bodies can register a .gov.uk domain. That means if your council uses .gov.uk email addresses, your residents can be confident that the communication is legitimate. It also makes it much harder for cybercriminals to impersonate the parish or town council or target residents.

Switching to a .gov.uk domain enhances the council's ability to manage and control its information, a vital step in meeting legal responsibilities around Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests. If your parish or town council is using personal or generic email addresses, there is a risk of losing important records when the individuals step down. A .gov.uk email allows council business to be kept where it belongs, within the council, and supports complying with General Data Protection Regulation requirements.

With cyber threats on the rise, parish and town councils must be proactive about digital security. GDS offers a free monitoring and protection service to all .gov.uk domain holders. Their Cyber and Domains Protection Team identifies vulnerabilities before they can be exploited and provides support to resolve them.

We're pleased to work alongside GDS to promote the Parish Council Domains Helper Service, which guides parish and town councils through every step of the process, from choosing a domain to going live. Parish and town councils can join free online workshops and speak directly with the team for personalised advice.

To get started, email [email protected] or read the guidance to learn more about how to move to a .gov.uk domain.