Advice

Advice FAQ Articles: We have a bank of answers to 200+ common campaigning and councillor related questions. They are split between 11 different topics – ranging from campaign tools to election law – and are only accessible to ALDC members.

Advice Service: Can’t find the answer to your query in our bank of Advice FAQ Articles? Or need further clarification? Call us on 0161 302 7532 or email advice@aldc.org – both are staffed, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm.

Toolkits and campaign packs: We have a series of toolkits and campaign kits, covering a range of topics, which feature everything you need to improve your campaigning – templates, helpful advice, guidance and best practice.

Resources

Templates: We have 100s of searchable best practice templates. The easy to use designs – from Focus to annual reports – will save you valuable campaigning time and they’re suitable for all, no matter your level of experience.

Campaign ideas: We provide ideas and inspiration to aid your campaigning on local and national issues. We feature our latest campaign ideas, in our weekly member email, Local Campaigner – which you’ll now receive.

MyCouncillor website: As an ALDC member, you’re entitled to a free website. You can tailor your site to your needs and time. Find out more + sign-up to get one.

Resources Library: The library contains different resources: from practical items such as logos and fonts; to specific items for agents, membership secretaries and to help you manage your council group. It’s searchable, split into six categories and is only for ALDC members.

Training

Kickstart: Our residential campaign training weekend which we run twice a year (summer and autumn). Come along to get tailored, professional advice; training and bespoke mentoring for your team from experienced and successful Liberal Democrat campaigners and councillors. As a member, you’ll benefit from discounted rates.  Find out about more about our 2020 Kickstart weekend

Motivate Training Days: We organise a range of training opportunities throughout the year, covering as much of Great Britain as possible. In 2020 we are running Virtual Motivate Days from 930am until 2pm on a Saturday.  Sign Up Now.  Open to all Lib Dems.

Webinars: We run weekly  webinars – live online training sessions – where we provide timely advice on a different topic. These sessions are free, last no longer than 45 minutes and are Open to all Lib Dems.

Our Website

Have you logged-in? You’ll need to log-in to access our member-only content. The sign-in tab is in the top right-hand corner on a desktop. On a mobile or tablet, it’s hidden behind the burger menu (the three horizontal lines). If you set a password whilst joining, you should be able to log-in. If not, you can reset or set one up.

Our core member services: Advice, resources and training (the ART of campaigning!) each have their own sections. The advice and resource section pages have a ‘featured’ box, where we profile our recently produced content, as well as the timeliest bits, such as get out the vote checklists during election time. The training section page profiles our future courses and events in the ‘upcoming’ box.

The homepage is where we profile important news, upcoming events and our latest fundraising. Our most recent – and most important – blog posts feature in the latest updates box. The blog is where all news and events are added. The by-elections tab is where past results and upcoming dates are listed.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Local Campaigner email: We send our weekly members-only email on a Wednesday. It features our latest advice, resources and training, as well as campaigning ideas and LGA Lib Dem news.  Please get in touch with us if you don’t receive these emails.  Dont forget to add us to your ‘safe sender’ list.  

Local Campaigner magazine: We produce a printed members’ magazine, which we mail to you quarterly.

ALDC members’ Facebook Group: This is a private group for ALDC members to discuss things in a safe space with over a 1,000 like-minded councillors and campaigners.

Our social media channels:

By-election alerts and results emails: You can sign-up to receive these – results on a Friday and alerts, as and when they are announced at 3pm – when you’re signed-in to the website (click your name and you’ll see the option to sign-up).

Contact your local development officer. They can help you use your ALDC membership to achieve your political or campaigning goals, put you in touch with fellow Lib Dems in your area or answer any questions you may have!

GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

We run the G8 grant scheme on behalf of the Federal, English, Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats including grants to fund squeeze letters, postal vote recruitment mailings and postal voter letters.

Our own major appeals are