Being a parish/town council chair is an important, complex and unique role. The aim of these informal sessions is to provide an opportunity for chairs to get together and discuss experiences and share learning. The session will be facilitated by Parish Councillor Darren Cranshaw who has chaired Brindle Parish Council in Chorley for the last 18 years and has chaired LALC for a number of years. Professionally Darren works in local government in the governance arena and involved as a school governor and is a trustee for a number of local organisations. There is no set agenda for the network, we will be guided about what chairs wish to discuss and what might help them in their role and their council. BOOK ONE DATE ONLY

The effective chairing of meetings is a good skill for a councillor to have. This session is for councillors that have been recently elected. It is also aimed at those wanting a refresher. During the session we will consider how to effectively prepare for meetings. How to get the most out of the meetings you chair and dealing with tricky situations.

This course examines the obligations of local councils regarding Freedom of Information (FOI). We discuss the necessary policies and procedures. How your council could ensure awareness among officers and councillors about FOI. Consider the steps to follow when managing an FOI request including the use of exemptions.

Canva is a design tool that can be used for free. It allows you to quickly create posters, newsletters, and other physical documents. You can also create images and videos for social media and websites. This session is for people who have never used Canva before. We will go through the basics and show you how to get the most out of the free version. Our goal is to get you started with Canva and to help your Council to communicate better.

During the session we will focus on the advanced features of Canva. This session is for experienced users of it. In part 2 of our Canva training we will show you how your Council can get more out of it. For instance, creating complex designs and a brand for your Council. We will also cover integrating Canva with social media. There will be a particular focus on creating social media videos and using the scheduling tools.

Every local council should have a communications strategy. It should set out its communications priorities, aims and goals. In this session, we will consider how your council could create an effective communication strategy. One that is sustainable and supports your council. A strategy that considers your council’s human and financial resources.

This session will focus on putting your council’s communication plan into action. On how your council could connect with the community it represents. We will consider the ways your councils can communicate effectively and build conversations. We will equip you with tools and techniques to start engaging and getting messages across.

This 2 hour online course is designed for new Councillors and Clerks. It describes the role of the Parish Council, its powers, responsibilities and purpose. The course will set out in some detail how Councillors should behave, how meetings are conducted, how the Council raises money, the rules surrounding how decisions are taken to spend it, and the need for transparency in conducting its business.

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks, deputy/assistant clerks and finance officers in their first few months and is designed to give them an overview of a council's year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO's role. When a new clerk attends this session, you will also get a free place on a second course of your choice. If you have 9 month's experience or more, this session is unlikely to cover anything you don't already know. Please leave this session for very new clerks and book yourself onto the more detailed sessions on Budgeting, Internal Control, The Role of internal audit, Procurement, Year-end and VAT instead. Bookings for experienced clerks, or anyone that is not eligible for this course, may be removed without notice. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Setting a budget and precept • Internal control • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return • Internal and external audit By the end of the session you will: • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Be able to describe the key financial activities in a year • Be aware of how the council's accounts must be prepared and audited • Recognise the importance and purpose of internal controls

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects. Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are registered for VAT and submit VAT returns directly from their accounting software. Topics include: • how VAT law applies to local councils • where to find the law and guidance • what are business and non-business activities • understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT • when a council must register for VAT • when VAT can be reclaimed • partial exemption • reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations By the end of this session you will: • Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance • Understand the key concepts of VAT • Know when a council can or can’t reclaim VAT • Recognise when a council must register for VAT • Be aware of activities that require special attention

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • setting a budget and precept • Financial control • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return • Internal and external audit • How VAT applies to local councils By the end of the session you will: • Understand the council's duties regarding financial management • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Be aware of how the council's accounts are prepared and audited • Recognise the importance of internal controls • Understand how VAT law applies to your council

This session gives councillors and officers an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Financial risks • Purpose of internal controls • Case studies • Examples of controls • Review of internal controls By the end of this session you will: • Understand the council's and RFO's duties regarding internal control • Be aware of the purpose of internal controls • Be able to identify examples of internal controls • Know when to review internal controls

This session is aimed at officers of parish and town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council's budgets. Topics include: • setting a budget and precept • Contingencies and reserves • how the council tax base affects the budget • Inflation • budget monitoring By the end of this session you will: • Understand how and when to prepare a budget • Know how to approve and issue a precept • Be aware of the factors that affect a budget • Understand how to manage a budget

Bribery is known by many names - a sweetener, kickback or backhander - but would you really know if it was going on in your workplace? The Bribery Act 2010 was introduced to halt corruption and bribery in the UK, and in organisations associated with the UK. During this course we'll explore anti-bribery legislation under the Act, look at what constitutes bribery, and provide tips on how you can spot it. You'll learn when it's ok to accept a work-related gift, and when a 'gift' is considered bribery under the law.

This session is aimed at officers of parish and town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council's budgets. Topics include: • setting a budget and precept • Contingencies and reserves • how the council tax base affects the budget • Inflation • budget monitoring By the end of this session you will: • Understand how and when to prepare a budget • Know how to approve and issue a precept • Be aware of the factors that affect a budget • Understand how to manage a budget

Topics include: • legislation and guidance • Roles and responsibilities • Internal controls • how the council appoints an internal auditor • Scope of internal audit • Reviewing internal control • Internal audit reports Session benefits: By the end of this session you will: • Understand the purpose of internal audit • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Understand how a council should appoint an internal auditor • Recognise the importance of internal controls • Be aware of the need to review effectiveness

It’s important for any councillor to grasp how data protection laws relate to your role. This is true for new as well as longer serving councillors. This session clarifies a councillor’s legal responsibilities to themself and the council. We will guide you on the right procedures and best practice. We will also introduce Freedom of Information and the implications it has for councillors.

The legislative landscape is constantly changing. It is important that councils have the most up-to-date understanding of data protection legislation. They should also have a good grasp of their data protection obligations. This introductory session walks councils through the theory and core principles of UK GDPR and other relevant legislation. We will explain what policies, practices and processes local councils need to have in place.

 This session deep dives into how councils demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR. We consider the different lawful bases for the processing of personal data. We will also delve deeper into how to create the policies and documents required for local councils. We will explore the requirements of the published Privacy Notice, how to create Legitimate Interest Assessments and Data Protection Impact Assessments.

During this course we'll explore anti-bribery legislation under the Act, look at what constitutes bribery, and provide tips on how you can spot it. You'll learn when it's ok to accept a work-related gift, and when a 'gift' is considered bribery under the law.

This course outlines the parameters of the FOI Act and explores how requests under the Act should be made and dealt with.

This course explores the types of health and safety issues you might face and outlines the responsibilities we all have in keeping ourselves and our colleagues safe from harm.

Planning is always one of the most popular topics for training, and recent surveys indicate a high demand for aspects of training relating to this subject. To respond to this WALC have developed this eLearning module as our second theme to follow the Introduction to Parish Councils. This module will provide a simple introduction to the topic; not everything can be covered and attending a full training event is recommended to get a complete understanding. This course would be excellent preparation.

This course aims to increase awareness of money laundering and offers tips on how to identify and prevent it within your organisation.

Have you ever stopped to think about the hazardous substances you may be exposed to at work? Every year, thousands of workers suffer from illnesses caused by hazardous substances in the workplace. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to serious health issues and cost businesses, society, and individuals millions of pounds each year. You might not think that you're working with anything particularly dangerous, but the truth is that many of the products we use on a daily basis can pose a risk to our health if not handled correctly. During this course, you'll learn how to identify hazardous substances, assess the risks associated with them, and put measures in place to minimise the risks to your health.

Now that technology plays such a central role in our everyday lives, many of us are sharing more and more personal information in exchange for products and services. We want to think this data is secure and well-managed. However, with frequent reports of hacking attacks on large organisations and misused personal information, how can we be sure our data is safe? People need to feel confident that their information is in good hands. Anyone who processes personal data must comply with data protection rules and follow good practice in data management.

Cyber terrorists, hacktivists, ransomware - it all sounds a bit 'James Bond', doesn't it? Yet the rise in remote working has left many organisations exposed to a greater 'attack surface', resulting in a surge in cyber crime. Organisations that fall prey to cyber criminals due to information security failures suffer the consequences of reduced productivity, damaged customer relationships, tarnished reputations, and significant financial penalties.

The saying 'great leaders are born, not made' could be somewhat uninspiring for those of us who don't ooze natural charisma or possess prophetic-like vision! But in truth, there's no 'one size fits all' for leadership. While your birth traits may inform the type of leader you become, nurture can determine how 'great' you'll be. It's important to remember that a leader does not become successful in isolation - they are products of their environments and the people surrounding them. A good leader will work hard for their success by reading, observing, seeking feedback, practising, failing, and adapting - they never stop learning.

This course outlines best practices for engaging and supporting volunteers.

This module is designed to provide local councils and councillors with an introduction to strategies needed to get the most from positive communication and engagement on social media. For local councils large and small, and increasingly for councillors, social media is a hugely important component of community engagement. Social media is increasingly being utilised by councils and councillors as a tool to stay in touch and engage with communities.

This module is designed to provide Clerks, Council Officers and Councillors with an introduction to the skills needed to be effective leaders in the different roles we have, and the different situations we face, in our local councils. We are going to explore the ways in which all of us have leadership roles in our councils, whether we're aware of it or not. We will consider a range of different leadership styles and explore when different leadership styles and approaches can be effective in different situations. We will explore the related concepts of active listening and giving effective feedback, which are two core skills required to be an effective leader. We will also consider the importance of effective teamwork how to get the most out of people you work and engage with across the council.

By the end of the course you should be able to Understand the role of the local councillor Identify the council's purpose Appreciate how decisions are made Identify the principles of public life Recognise the council's legal context Understand how the council manages its money

This course is suitable for Councillors, Clerks and other Officers who may be new to the role or would like information on what the precept is and how it works for the Council. In this course you will learn What a precept is and how a Parish Council receives it What a Parish Council needs to do in preparation for setting it How a Parish Council can justify the money it seeks Who should be consulted

The Bribery Act 2010 is among the strictest legislation internationally on bribery. It is now possible to charge organisations if it is found they failed to prevent bribery, and to charge individuals who are found guilty of bribing or being bribed. Knowing exactly what is and isn't accepted under the Act enables employees to act within the confines of the law. This course explains the Bribery Act, including the four offences covered by it, and uses case studies to give learners more insight. This course can form an integral part of an organisation's defence against the crime of failing to prevent bribery. This course helps you understand the Bribery Act and shows you how the provisions of this UK legislation function. When you finish the course, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of some of the key points by completing a short assessment. E-Learning Courses are available at any time and undertaken independently at your convenience. To sign-up please email training@lalc.org.uk. Once processed you will receive joining instructions and your council will be issued with an invoice. Registration on this course will last 12 months. Available to members only

Most people experience stress from time to time, and this isn't necessarily bad; stress is a natural response, but prolonged periods of stress can be harmful. There are many ways in which employees can reduce or avoid stress, and if they are experiencing stress already, there are approaches they can follow to manage their stress most effectively. This highly interactive course helps your employees prevent, reduce, and manage their stress levels, by providing them with a wide range of tools to deal with stress. Courses developed by Nimble Elearning have been certified by the CPD Certification Service and count towards your annual CPD requirement. Objectives After completing this course, learners will be able to: Understand and identify stress and why it can be detrimental Identify stress and stressors in themselves and others Reduce their exposure to stress Develop a Wellness Action Plan Implement coping strategies in work and personal life Topics Topics explored in this course, Managing and Reducing Stress: Causes of stress Responses to stress Reducing stress Wellness Action Plans Stress coping strategies

Mental health is an important part of everybody's wellbeing. During this course we'll explore the causes and impact of things that can affect peoples mental health. In part one we'll be looking at depression, and in part two we'll cover stress. We'll also have tips on how to spot signs of mental health issues in yourself and others, and ways to stay mentally healthy. By the end of the course learners will be able to: Understand the causes and impacts of mental health conditions Identify key signs and symptoms of mental health conditions Understand mental health needs, conditions and the continuum Know how to stay mentally healthy Explain how to support colleagues and family Recognise when they themselves need support

Certain characteristics are protected by the equality law and it is necessary for every employee to know what these are, so they can abide by the equality legislation. If a person feels your organisation (or someone in your organisation) has treated them unfairly, they can start a grievance procedure or take their case to the employment tribunal. It is important to make sure everyone in your organisation complies with equality law. The course boosts understanding of the equality and diversity legislation, and its hand-picked examples demonstrate the benefits that come from promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. Objectives After completing the course, learners will be able to: Understand what is meant by 'equality' and 'diversity' and recognise how they benefit us Identify who is protected by the Equality Act, and explain what happens if their rights are compromised Recognise discrimination and other unfair practices in the workplace and know how to act on them Understand what they can do to promote equality and diversity Topics Topics explored in this course, Equality and Diversity: Equality and diversity Facts about equality and diversity Equality legislation Unlawful behaviour Making a complaint Discrimination Harassment and victimisation Responsibilities

Environmental Awareness Essentials. It explores the importance of being environmentally aware in your workplace and the steps we can all take to reduce our negative impact on the climate.