Following the local election results, it is definitely the case that there are a significant number of new council administrations, and a large number of new councillors.

Local councillors and councils are important to local VCS organisations in many ways - they influence funding, policies, and partnership arrangements all critical to the work of the VCS.

Urban Forum is currently carrying out a piece of work with bassac, looking at the experience of community organisations in working with councillors, and will be publishing a report of this in July 2010. Through this work we have seen that where there is a positive relationship between community groups and their local councillors, it is mutually beneficial.

The community organisations we spoke to stressed early contact with councillors, and good communication as key to achieving this.

Some top post-election tips for local VCS organisations are

• Write to every new councillor, introducing your work, inviting them to visit
• Put them on your mailing list
• Work with other local charities to arrange a joint meeting
• Seek early meetings with the councillors most important to your work - the leader, the cabinet holder for the VCS or other relevant portfolio holder, or the ward councillor for the neighbourhood you are working in