Party conference is a great time to take part in training to help you succeed as a Liberal Democrat campaigner and councillor. We're all learning to operate in the different circumstances of campaigning as a Party that's in Government, so keeping up with new skills and ideas is more important than ever.
Training in Birmingham is all free and available to all Party Members. Most of it is just outside the conference "secure area" so you don't event have to be registered for Conference to attend
Download and print out ALDC's Conference Planner for our full guide to training and fringe events for this year's September Conference.
Thanks to Jonathan Swift for kindly giving permission to use this photo.
Here's just some of our 50 hours of training.
Make the most of Saturday!
On Saturday afternoon we have two workshop sessions which take up the whole afternoon.
Winning Elections for Beginners
This workshop is for people just starting out, it will give you the basics you will need to start campaigning in your ward, area, with practical ideas and examples to take away. Ideal for local election candidates and new campaigners.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Andante – Saturday – 2-30 to 5-30
Why should anyone vote for me in May?
This special session workshop will work through developing your message for next year's local elections. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Allegro – Saturday – 2-30 to 5-30
Winning Ways!
We've developed a set of six training modules, each of which are being repeated twice during conference which identify areas of campainging which we we need to see more of, or need to be improved or changed.
Winning Ways 1: Campaigning in your Community
In communities across the country there are improvements just waiting for a successful campaign to bring them about. If you are a candidate, campaigner, councillor or Member of Parliament this is your chance to update your knowledge and skills needed to work with people to bring about change.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 9-15 to 10-45 and Tuesday 2-30 to 3-45
Winning Ways 2: In Touch All Year Round
It's never been more important to communicate effectively with the residents in your ward. Get an overview of the different techniques ranging from Focus to social networking, via direct mail and the local media. Find out more about the advantages of each approach and how to choose the best technique for your different messages.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 11-00 to 12-30 and Monday 2-30 to 3-45
Winning Ways 3: A Record of Action – Delivering on Community Politics
This session looks at how we use Community Politics to get the best for our residents and our area. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 2-30 to 3-45 and Monday 9-15 to 10-45
Winning Ways 4: The Best Person for the Job
How can we build and sell the profile of our candidates, make the electorate see that our candidate is the best person for the job, and how you can do this between now and polling day. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Sunday 4-00 to 5-30 and Monday 11-00 to 12-30
Winning Ways 5: Voter ID
Most pre-2010 historic voter ID data is now less reliable and many canvassers in May found it harder to get accurate information from voters. This course will go over the basics of voter ID and look at how to approach it in the new environment.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Monday 4-00 to 5-30 and Monday 9-15 to 10-45
Winning Ways 6: Targeting Voters
You have lots of data you have collected about your electorate; this session will give you ways to use that data to target your voters throughout the year. Ideal for all local election candidates, councillors, agents and campaign organisers.
Jury’s Inn room 112 – Monday 2-30 to 3-45 and Tuesday 11-00 to 12-30
Getting Candidates Right
Finding Council Candidates
More than ever finding the right candidate to WIN elections is critical. Use this programme to identify new and different potential candidates including from people who may not even yet be Party members.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Sunday 4-00 to 5-30
Candidate Approval and Selection
Approving and selecting council candidates properly is vital in ensuring we have candidates that will represent the party well to the electorate and reducing potential for embarrassment later. This training course will tell you what you need to do as well as good practice from elsewhere.
Jury’s Inn room 114 – Monday 11-00 to 12-30
ALDC's full Training Programme consists of over 50 hours of training - Download and print out ALDC's Conference Planner for our full guide to training and fringe events for this year's September Conference.
