How Local Government Works, 2002

This seminar aimed to increase the understanding by the voluntary sector of local government and in particular of its financing, budgeting arrangements and rules. Voluntary groups need to better market themselves and understand how to maximise press and public relations opportunities. The contribution that voluntary organisations make to the strategic objectives of a local authority is often minimised through ignorance. A greater shared understanding of the successes of the voluntary sector can only improve the relationship and influence future funding decisions. This seminar was led by Martyn Kempson, a former Director of Education in the London Borough of Barnet and the Charity's principal advisor on local authorities and schools in the maintained sector.