🎓 ADSO Masterclass: Using Emerging Tech and AI as a Democratic Services Officer 📅 Tues 2 June ⏰ 9.30-11am 💻 via Teams Led by Nadira Hussain & Sam Smith from Socitm, our next masterclass explores how AI is shaping democracy and governance in public services. Book now👉 https://ow.ly/v7i250Z10on

Nominations for our ADSO Awards 2026 are due to close at midnight on Friday 22 May. ⏰ Don't miss your opportunity to showcase the amazing work you're doing. Please help us to celebrate the incredible people who are working in local democracy. 🎉 🌟 https://ow.ly/ZF9Q50Z1wpJ

🎯 Come along to our free drop-in session to find out more about joining our Become Your Own Career Coach programme. 📅 Weds 27 May 🕤 10am to 11am 💻 via Teams ✉️Email: [email protected] or see this week’s ADSO Democracy Matters newsletter for the link. More info 👉 https://ow.ly/f2TF50YXIYK

Thank you to all our ADSO members who are busy running councillor induction programmes and Annual Council meetings.👏 Our Chief Executive, Charlotte Eisenhart, has shared a message of hope for - and about - our wonderful members. We hope this brightens your day. 👉 https://ow.ly/8KoH50Z0Hva

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ Barnet ✅ Braintree ✅ Chorley & South Ribble ✅ Slough & more… See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/BJ8x50Z0Huo

🎯 Apply now to join the next cohort of ADSO's ‘Become Your Own Career Coach’ programme. We'll support you to take charge of your career through bespoke workshops, peer learning and online resources, so you can thrive in our changing local democracy. 
Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/YXvb50Yh0PQ

🗳️ Will you have some new committee members following the local elections? We can help. ADSO offers a range of training to support your councillors, including Chairing Skills and Overview & Scrutiny. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements. Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/FItT50YW8IZ

💬 ADSO and our partners LLG on the King’s Speech... We welcome that the government will bring forward measures to ensure high standards of trust in public service. But despite assurances, there doesn’t seem to be any provision for councillor standards or remote meetings. 👉
https://ow.ly/M2aq50YZ5ij

📚 Working in No Overall Control (NOC) Councils – new learning from ADSO 📅 Tuesday 19 May 2026 ⏰ from 10am to 11am 📍 via Teams This timely ADSO Bite-size Learning session is designed to support officers who are working in – or preparing for – NOC administrations. 👉 https://ow.ly/Unlz50YXGQs

🗨️ ADSO’s early reflections on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026. Our Policy and Government Engagement adviser, Rebecca Elliot, shares some early reflections on the English Devolution Act in our latest blog post. Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/gP3550YXHhp

🗳️ After the local elections, this is where our ADSO members step confidently into action. We’re sharing a hopeful message from our Chief Executive, Charlotte Eisenhart, for our members who’ve just had local elections. Read Charlotte’s reasons to be hopeful 👉 https://ow.ly/bex450YXxuM

🌟 We’re delighted to welcome a new ADSO Silver Sponsor🥈 We’re excited to have 🗳️ Modern Democracy as part of the ADSO family, especially as so many Democratic Services teams are closely involved in elections work. 🤝 Thank you for your support. 🙌 https://ow.ly/8aC150YVZTG

Good luck to all our ADSO members who are working hard to support elections in your area. 🗳️ We know that your dedication, skills, empathy & attention to detail will be invaluable this week (as they are every week). Thank you for everything you do to support local democracy. #NotJustAOneDayAYearJob

We can’t wait to welcome you to the ADSO Conference 2026. Highlights include: 💡 Workshops with sector leaders 📚 Bite-size Learning 🎉 ADSO Awards evening 💬 Hear from our speakers ❓Question Time 💟 Time to connect 🎟️ Book by 15 May to get our Early Bird rate 👉 https://ow.ly/sEaT50YV5IN

Good luck to all our ADSO members who are working hard to support elections in your area. 🗳️ We know that your dedication, skills, empathy & attention to detail will be invaluable this week (as they are every week). Thank you for everything you do to support local democracy. #NotJustAOneDayAYearJob

✅ We're hiring - could you be our ADSO Lead Consultant? We’re looking for someone with energy, ideas and a collaborative spirit to help us develop & expand our consultancy offer. 📅 12 month fixed term ⏰ 2 -4 hrs per week (flexible) 💻 Remote working View our job pack 👉 https://ow.ly/yUFr50YSvnj

📗 One place has just become available for our popular Overview and Scrutiny training course. 📅 12 & 19 May 2026 ⏰ 3 hours per session 💻 Online via Zoom ADSO Member rate: £110 + VAT Non-ADSO Member rate: £160 + VAT ✉️ Please email: [email protected] to book

We love to celebrate the special projects you've been involved in. Hear from last year's winner of our ADSO Democracy Project of the Year award - and send us your nominations for our 2026 award. If there's a piece of work you're really proud of, we want to hear about it. 👉 https://ow.ly/T8qG50YRerp

📚 Standards and Conduct – new learning from ADSO 📅 Tues 23 June ⏰ 10am-1pm 📍 via Zoom  This new session includes the Code of Conduct, declarations of interest, use of social media, councillor-officer relations & councillor complaints. Find out more & book 👉 https://ow.ly/qPfR50YJTjn

🌈 Reasons to be hopeful about the future of the Civic Office… Our ADSO Vice Chair, Katherine Harclerode, shares some positive reflections on a discussion she took part in at a recent National Association of Civic Officers event. Read Katherine’s blog post 👉 https://ow.ly/ZbLb50YOYht

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ Erewash ✅ Hinckley and Bosworth ✅ Burnley & more… See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/Avky50YKNcq

James McLaughlin from Sandwell Council was the winner of our ADSO John Lynch Award for Distinguished Service in 2025. In this insightful and fascinating blog post, James shares some reflections on his career so far - along with some “Old Sage” advice. Read James’s blog 👉 https://ow.ly/eZpc50YMJSO

🎓 ADSO Masterclass: Proportionality & Committee Places 📅 Fri 1 May ⏰ 9.30am-11am 📍 via Teams   With local elections in May, this is an ideal time to refresh your learning. Join our interactive session, with practical exercises to support your learning. Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/PMbv50YJPqC

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ Burnley ✅ Hinckley and Bosworth ✅ Rugby ✅ Worcestershire & more… See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/Avky50YKNcq

Nominations are open for the ADSO Awards 2026. 🎉 Help us to celebrate the incredible people who are working in local democracy. Your nomination could help highlight best practice, boost morale and inspire others. 📅 Nominate by Fri 22 May 🌟 Find out more & nominate: https://ow.ly/GvIL50YIiO7

We've opened our bookings for the ADSO Conference 2026 #ADSOConf26 - see you there? 🚀 📅 10 & 11 September 2026 📍 University of Warwick 🎟️ Early Bird Discount - book by Friday 15 May to receive a discount on your booking ADSO Conference and Awards 2026 👉 https://ow.ly/Q1TO50YIeeB

🎙️What skills do you need to be a Democratic Services Officer? In Democracy Conversations episode 4, we explored local decision making with Ed Hammond from CfGS. You might enjoy this refection on the highly skilled role of a DSO. ▶️🎙📖 Watch, listen or read www.adso.co.uk/democracy-co...

📚 Using Copilot to Support Minute Writing – new Bite-size Learning 📅 Tues 26 May 2026 🕤 9.30am to 10.30am Online via Zoom You'll see live demos using Copilot. Learn how it can help you to summarise information & improve clarity. Find out more & book your place 👉 https://ow.ly/SNzX50YIbCa

💬 ADSO are preparing a response to the Government's new draft regulations and guidance for Planning Committees - and we would like your input. We've put together some key questions for you, which we're keen to hear your views on. Take part by Monday 20 April 👉 https://ow.ly/ySjQ50YIcnb

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ City of London ✅ Coventry ✅ Peterborough ✅ Worcestershire & more… See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/B6IP50YGWGC

🛡️ We provide a free Standards Advice Line, open to all our ADSO members & there whenever you need it. Advice includes: Code of Conduct issues, Councillor complaints and wider standards issues. Access our advice line 👉 https://ow.ly/ZWlY50XV5CR 🔒 ADSO member login required

🗨️ Highlights from our ADSO Annual General Meeting 2026 Thank you to all the ADSO members who joined our AGM on Thursday 2 April. We were delighted to see so many of you there. Read John Austin’s highlights 👉 https://ow.ly/vGhs50YEQMc

All ADSO members are welcome to join us for our Annual General Meeting. We look forward to seeing you there. 📅 Thursday 2 April 2026 🕓 4pm to 5.15pm 💻 Online (via Teams) Teams link and meeting papers: https://ow.ly/6j9i50YAoxV 🔒 Please login to view

📗 A place is available on our popular Overview and Scrutiny training course. If you’re a Democratic Services Officer who would like to develop your understanding of Overview & Scrutiny, this course is for you. 📅 12 & 19 May ⏰ 3 hrs per session 💻 via Zoom Book your place 👉 https://ow.ly/fc5X50YBFOS

“Public servants are not faceless institutions”. We're concerned about the abuse that our members face whilst doing their jobs. We've joined organisations from across the local gov sector in making a joint statement on civility in public life. Read our statement 👉 https://ow.ly/2KKF50YAH9x

All ADSO members are welcome to join us for our Annual General Meeting. We look forward to seeing you there. 📅 Thursday 2 April 2026 🕓 4pm to 5.15pm 💻 Online (via Teams) Teams link and meeting papers: https://ow.ly/6j9i50YAoxV 🔒 Please login to view

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ Wandsworth ✅ Lancashire ✅ Derbyshire & more… See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/tOts50YzCsu

What role should democratic services officers have in enabling citizen participation?💬 Jack Roberts is leading one of our current Working in a Modern Democracy projects, exploring how we can better connect citizen participation and decision making. Read Jack's blog post 👉 https://ow.ly/7T9n50Yz56s

Our first Rising Star Award winner, Joshua Mann, has shared some reflections about growing a career in Democratic Services. 🌱 If you know someone who is growing from strength to strength, please nominate them for this year's ADSO Awards. Read Joshua’s blog 👉 https://ow.ly/5rVB50YwKFR

🌟 Do you work with someone who is growing from strength to strength? Our Rising Star award recognises the achievements and impact of someone who is new to the sector, or new to their role. 📅 Nominate by Fri 22 May 2026 Find out more & make your nomination👉 https://ow.ly/iFN150YwKbp

Councillors - what support do you need from officers? Take part in our survey by 26 March. ⏰ ✅ If you’re a Councillor in England, Wales or N Ireland, please take part in our Councillor Survey. ✅ If you work with councillors, please share this. Take part now 👉 https://ow.ly/W9vW50YvJFA

How can we improve citizen engagement? We want to hear views from Councillors. 💬 ✅ If you’re a Councillor in England, Wales or N Ireland, please take part in our Councillor Survey or Focus Groups. ✅ If you work with cllrs, please share this. How to get involved 👉 https://ow.ly/wibr50YvJu1

📗 Have you taken part in an ADSO training course recently? We’d love to hear your feedback. In this short blog post, our Director of Training Susan Biddle shares why listening to (and acting on) your feedback is really important to us. Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/PgiN50YvJY9

How can we improve citizen engagement? We want to hear views from Councillors. 💬 ✅ If you’re a Councillor in England, Wales or N Ireland, please take part in our Councillor Survey or Focus Groups. ✅ If you work with cllrs, please share this. How to get involved 👉 https://ow.ly/wibr50YvJu1

We’re delighted to bring you this blog by ADSO member Nicholas Hughes from Thanet Council. From "pinch-me" moments to Golden Tickets, it's the story of how his team developed successful T-Level work placements to give local students real world skills in local democracy. 👉 https://ow.ly/wOje50Yv9WM

📗 Introduction to Health Service Governance If you're working with health scrutiny committees in local government, working in the NHS at bands 5 to 8, or keen to explore a career in the NHS, this course is for you. 📅 15 & 22 April ⏰ 3hrs / workshop 💻 via Zoom Book now 👉 https://ow.ly/NRJm50Yvapw

Here’s a quick summary of some of our recent ADSO Board highlights and activities from the ADSO team. We’ve included some highlights from our most recent ADSO Activity Report, which our Chief Executive presented at our ADSO Board meeting on 13 March. Read our highlights 👉 https://ow.ly/6m7150YuIbZ

Nominations are open for the ADSO Awards 2026 🌟 Help us to recognise & celebrate the incredible people who are working in local democracy. You are very welcome to nominate your own team or project, or a colleague. 🎉 📅 Nominate by Fri 22 May 🌟 Find out more & nominate: https://ow.ly/ne5E50Yv9gG

Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now: ✅ Salford ✅ Cotswold ✅ Derbyshire ✅ Rochdale & more See all our current vacancies: https://ow.ly/B16U50YuEf9

How is our local democracy changing? We want to hear views from Councillors. 💬 ✅ If you’re a Councillor in England, Wales or N Ireland, please take part in our Councillor Survey or Focus Groups. ✅ If you work with cllrs, please share this. How to get involved 👉 ow.ly/cqs450YsBgc