1. Members’ Council Elections 2016 Your chance to get involved and make a difference!

2. Join us! We are looking for enthusiastic members to represent our community and help build a membership which has a real influence. By standing for election to our Members' Council, you can help make a difference and play a key role in the development of Locala. Do you want to get more involved with Locala? Do you want to have a direct link to Locala's Board of Directors? Do you feel your views would be representative of Locala's values and community? Do you have the experience and skills which you believe would benefit the Council? Do you want to be involved in Members’ Council Working Groups and influence decisions at Board?

3. Our Members’ Council have achieved a huge amount over the last five years, here’s just a few examples: Interviewed and appointed the Chair and Non-Executive Directors. Played a leading role in developing the Volunteer Strategy and securing support for a Volunteer Services Manager role. As a result, we now have 124 active volunteers carrying out over 250 hours of volunteering each week. Have been involved in ‘Values Based Recruitment’ interview panels for the Director of Workforce and Director of Operations roles. Influenced the organisational values Locala has today. Have the final say as to which local voluntary organisations are funded by the Locala Community Fund. Have developed actions to address issues that have arisen in quarterly colleague surveys. Made recommendations that have shaped the Quality Priorities that we have today. Have been involved in the organisation of the Annual Members’ Meeting.

4. Our expectations of you as a Council Member: As a Council Member you will be expected to attend three development sessions and four formal meetings throughout the course of the year. We may increase this slightly in 2016/17 to reflect our desire to grow the influence of Members’ Council and enhance employee ownership. You will hear first-hand information on how Locala is progressing and have the opportunity to make recommendations about the areas discussed at our development sessions, which are a great opportunity for you to learn more about the organisation, contribute to its future development and really feel ‘part of it’. Our formal meetings provide an update on what has been happening across Locala on a broader scale, working group and member activity and provide the opportunity to approve the latest policies and forward plans. You will also be expected to get involved in at least one of our Members’ Council Working Groups, which previous Community Members have found very rewarding and have been provided with the opportunity to make a difference.

5. The Charities Working Group review applications for the Locala Community Fund and the votes of the wider membership, to decide which projects they think are most deserving of financial support. Through the Locala Community Fund we’ve supported 60 local community groups and we hope to support many more groups in the future. The Colleague Survey Working Group identify priority areas arising from Locala’s annual Colleague Survey and quarterly Pulse Surveys. Alongside analysis of the results, the group decide on a list of actions going forward and agree on the theme for future Pulse Surveys. The Nomination and Remuneration Working Group was created to form an independent view of how to progress in terms of Non-Executive Director (NEDs) appointments, reappointments and remuneration. The group were involved in the appointment of the NEDs and Chair in 2011, and more recently have been involved in the reappointment of the NEDs in 2016. The group continue to review how best to keep in touch with the work of the Chair and NEDs and identify how they are progressing. Our Members’ Council Working Groups include…

6. The Membership Development Working Group look at ways of defining and spreading key messages about what it means to be a member of Locala, the benefits of being a member and how to develop community and colleague membership in the future. The Volunteering Working Group were involved in the development of a Volunteering Strategy in 2013 and contributed to the processes and design of the volunteering programme. Following the recruitment of a Volunteering Services Manager, the group monitor the actions of the Volunteering Strategy and discuss future developments to the programme. We want our members to ‘be part of it’ and get the most out of their membership, by getting involved in the working groups outlined above you really can make a difference. Our Members’ Council Working Groups include…

7. Our commitment to you as a Council Member: By nominating yourself for election to our Members’ Council you will have the opportunity to represent your local community and really make your membership count. We value your contribution therefore we will make sure that you are well supported throughout your time on the Members’ Council; receive regular updates and communications; are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses; and above all are made to feel welcome.

8. How do I find out more? Drop-in Sessions: We will be running two drop-in sessions so that you can come along to ask questions and find out more. Look out for the Elections stall on the following dates: Thursday 14 th July, 12-2:30pm outside the Poppies Café, Holme Valley Memorial Hospital, Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3TS. Monday 18 th July, 4:30-6:30pm, ‘Young Dewsbury’ Room, Dewsbury Town Hall, Old Wakefield Road, Dewsbury, WF12 8DG.

9. How do I find out more? Members’ Council Video: Look out for our ‘Locala – The Story So Far’ Members’ Council episode coming soon! The video features information about why our current Council Members ran for election, what they have achieved and advice for anyone thinking of nominating themselves. Visit the Membership pages of the Locala website and the Membership Facebook and Twitter pages for regular updates.

10. How do I nominate myself? There are THREE vacant Community Member seats available for election this year. If you would like to stand for election to the Members’ Council, please complete a nomination form (attached to the Membership Team email, or on the Elections page on the website) and return with a head and shoulders photograph by noon on Friday 29 th July. Details of how to submit your nomination are enclosed on the form. Alternatively, you can email: membership@locala.org.uk, or call 030 3330 9802 for further information.membership@locala.org.uk Please note, voting for the Members’ Council Elections will open on Friday 12 th August and the results will be announced at our Annual Members’ Meeting on Tuesday 6 th September.

11. To download a nomination form … Visit the ‘Elections’ page on the Membership section of the Locala website.