ABOUT KICKSTART
Kickstart is the name of our highly regarded residential training weekend. We bring together the party’s most experienced and successful campaigners to train campaign teams from across the country.
Come along to get tailored, professional advice, training and bespoke mentoring for your team from experienced Liberal Democrat campaigners and councillors.
The weekend caters for everyone; whatever your role in a campaign. We have training for Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. You’ll leave with improved campaigning skills and with a well-developed campaign plan ready for your next set of elections.
At Kickstart weekend you can meet and network with like-minded Lib Dems, who want to campaign hard to get the best deal for their community.
ABOUT COUNCILLOR WEEKEND
The Councillors Weekend is one of the most popular training programmes for Lib Dem councillors.
It is an annual event hosted by LGA Liberal Democrats and ALDC alongside our Summer Kickstart. Over the years it has helped thousands of local councillors develop in their role both in the Town Hall and in the ward.
Each Councillor weekend provides training sessions, workshops and fringes to help you be the very best councillor you can be – no matter what your level of experience is.
ABOUT AFFINITY WEEKEND
Looking to take your literature design skills to the next level? Our Affinity Weekend provides you with a comprehensive weekend of training dedicated to taking you through the ins-and-outs of everything Affinity Publisher, from complex mail-merges to designing your next set of winning campaign literature.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE:
- Please arrive from 5pm on Friday 20 June 2025
- Departure is after lunch on Sunday 22 June 2025
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 30+ hours of training with courses for new or experienced campaigners.
- Time to work, as a team, with an experienced mentor to develop and improve your plans.
- Drop-in sessions on more specialist campaign techniques and skills.
- In-depth strategy and review sessions.
- Two-nights full board accommodation in a dedicated training centre with bar and leisure facilities.
WHERE:
- Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre – near Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0NL (map and directions).
COST:
ALDC members
- Single room – £200 early-bird, mid-rate £250, final-rate £300
- Twin and double rooms – early-bird £170, mid-rate £220, final-rate – £270 (all per person)*
*Twin and double-rooms bookings must be made with two people at the time of booking.
Non-members
- Single room – £310 early-bird, mid-rate £350, final-rate £390
- Twin and double rooms – early-bird £280, mid-rate £320, final-rate – £360 (all per person)
Group bookings
- Four or more people please email hello@aldc.org.
Please let us know any dietary or access requirements when booking.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Please email hello@aldc.org
BOOK
Cancellation policy
Our event has limited capacity, and for this reason we request you to cancel at least 2 weeks before the event. This will allow us to make necessary adjustments and inform the venue. Cancellations made 2 weeks or more before the event will receive a full refund minus a £10 administration fee.
We also offer the possibility to rollover to the next event. Please note the rollover is applicable only once and to the closest next event, e.g. cancelling Summer Kickstart and rolling over to November Kickstart.
However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can occur, and if you need to cancel your Kickstart booking at short notice, we will do our best to resell your ticket. If we are able to resell your ticket then we will give you a refund or rollover as above. If we are not able to resell your ticket we will not be able to refund any part of the cost. An administration fee of £10 will apply for short notice cancellations.
