The South West is the first region in the UK to provide guidance and advice for Member Champions to help Councillors to connect their community to their Council.
The Member Champions project has been led by Graham Russell, Senior Associate of the South West Provincial Employers and former Head of Democratic Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council.
A comprehensive guidance book Member Champions Guidance and Advice has been produced. It has been written as a practical, comprehensive document to develop and improve local guidance for the benefit of Member Champions.
A copy of the Guidance and Advice Notes can be accessed from this website and is being made available at no cost to all local authorities. It should not be replicated or utilised for the purposes of commercial gain by regions or individual local authorities.
Graham Russell said: “The Guidance and Advice book will be a very useful tool for the Champions and also for Council Officers. It will make it easier for everyone to fully understand the scope of the Champion role, and the ways to fulfil its potential, through direct engagement with local people and organisations.”
A Level 3 qualification "BTEC Advanced Award for Local Government Member Champions" has also been launched and training towards this qualification will start in September 2007.
The Level 3 BTEC Advanced Award for Local Government Member Champions qualification has 3 units:
• The Member Champion Operating Environment
• Key Interpersonal Skills
• Sources of Information and Support.
There's an electronic link on the SWPE website where you can download the guidance document and find out more about the Btec qualification http://www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=3021
Fay Edwards from SWPE said: “This qualification has been designed to enable a greater understanding of the role of the Member Champion and to provide national recognition through an accredited qualification.”
For more information contact Moira Anderson on 01823 270101 moira.anderson@southwest-ra.gov.uk
