Agenda

09.30 Introductions and outline

10.00 Why bother lobbying and talking to politicians and the civil service?

10.30 How Government works - covering Parliament, local authorities, devolved administrations, Europe and the Civil Service

11.15 Coffee

11.25 Ways to work with politicians - practical exercise

12.30 Lunch

13.15 What makes a good meeting with a politician - practical exercise

14.30 Break

15.00 Examples of lobbying in action from the sports world

15.20 Action planning

16.00 Close

About the Trainers

Alison Goldsworthy

Alison Goldsworthy has over a decade of experience in working with Government; first working for Ed Davey MP n Parliament and then for Kirsty Williams AM in the Welsh Assembly. She went on to work for a range of charities campaigning to influence government policy winning a number of awards for her work. An active Liberal Democrat, Alison is deputy chair of their Federal Executive, meaning she was heavily involved in the decision to form the coalition government in 2010 in Westminster.

Alison regularly comments on political issues for the media. She has appeared on BBC News, BBC Radio Four’s PM programme, the Politics Show, ITV News and BBC World Service.

A Business graduate from the University of Bath with a postgrad in Management from the Open University Alison is also a member of the British Council’s future leaders network the Transatlantic Network 2020.

Ruth Polling

Ruth Polling is the former executive member for Culture Leisure and Sport on Islington Council. As such she was involved in the plans for London 2012 and managed the authority’s relationship with groups as large as Arsenal to small community groups.

Prior to her election, Ruth worked for a Local Authority providing strategic advice to the leadership team. She also worked in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Ruth has a degree from the London School of Economics.

Ruth and Alison are both experienced trainers. They have worked in the UK and abroad specialising in influencing politicians and explaining how politics work. Their previous clients include the Liberal Democrats, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action.

Price: £40+VAT for Sport and Recreation Members
         £70+VAT for non-members