- 01273 282111
- hello@breakthroughcomms.co.uk
Introducing Council Connect
Giving parish and town councils the ability to learn new skills, discover best practice, get access to templates, tools, resources and advice to communicate and engage with your community.
It can be hard to learn new skills and keep on top of ideas and best practice from across the sector and beyond.
Council Connect provides your council with the how-to guides, training, tools, resources and advice to make council communication easy
Local councils want to communicate and engage with their communities, yet many struggle to find the time and resources to do so effectively and sustainably. We want to change that.
Getting your council’s messages across to residents – and finding out what residents think – has never been more important, and there has never been a better time to step up your council’s communications.
That’s why Breakthrough Communications have created Council Connect from the ground up, to give your council the skills, tools and resources to communicate with ease.
We are on a mission to take the burden away from local councils by bringing our decades of experience in local government and communications together to support councils to get their messages out there and engage with local people.
With Council Connect, your council can stay ahead when it comes to developing new skills and keeping up-to-date with latest communications techniques.
Our secure, online Council Connect hub gives your council on-demand access to an ever-growing library of video how-to guides, tools, templates, and resources when you need it most, covering all aspects of council communications.
We’ll also post you our quarterly magazine, Councils Connected, giving you best practice examples, case studies and useful hints and tips to improve your council’s communications even further.
Download our Council Connect Brochure
We’ve put together a PDF brochure that explains the features and benefits of Council Connect.
Click the photo to download your copy of our brochure now.
If you have any questions, you can send us an email or you can book a free demo of Council Connect.
Tailored communications support and advice when your council needs it
Keeping on top of communications and engagement best practice is a challenge that parish and town councils of all sizes face. Council Connect gives you access to the tools, resources and expert advice you need to ensure your council's communication is set up for success, both now and in the future.
You can also get access to group and one-to-one support for your council’s communications, without large consultancy costs.
Our communications clinics are open to all Council Connect subscribers. We also offer optional one-to-one support for councils, which can be accessed at any time of the year, giving you peace of mind.
What others are saying about Council Connect:
"As a Clerk, I know that good communication is important but it can often be a challenge to know where to start! Council Connect has given me confidence to get our council communications right every time."
What’s included in Council Connect?
Council communications ‘how to’ guides, tools, resources and templates
Council communications covers a vast number of subjects. That's why we've broken down our how-to guides, templates and resources into manageable, bitesize chunks.
As a Council Connect subscriber, you get on-demand, 24/7 access to all of our online content. Our growing content library includes really useful, video-based ‘how to’ guides, to help you learn new skills and refresh existing skills across all aspects of council communications. We also provide you with access to tools, templates and other communications resources to make your work easier.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Step-by-step video guides to improve your council communications
As communication best practice evolves, it's important to be able to keep up to date with the latest thinking, best practice and advice on getting communication right in your council.
That’s why Council Connect also comes with a growing library of on-demand training, ensuring you can develop your skills as the needs of your council evolves. From communications strategy to case studies, best practice advice, we’ve got you covered.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Regular, live Masterclasses
As well as access to our on-demand content, Council Connect also gives you the opportunity to access a range of in-depth live masterclasses throughout the year.
Throughout the year we hold a range of live, virtual masterclasses, where we ‘deep dive’ into a range of communications topics and issues for councils of all sizes. From how councils can best communicate their work on climate emergencies, to managing online platforms effectively, to best practice for print and digital surveys – and so much more. You’ll also get access to the recordings afterwards!
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Access to our regular Communication Clinics (COMING SOON)
Got a question? We've got answers!
Every month, we hold group communications clinics for our member councils, where you are free to come along and ask any communications-related question you like! It’s also a great opportunity to hear from other councils and get new ideas and share best practice and advice.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Private Communications Consultations & Support Sessions
When you need tailored, in-depth advice, a private communications consultation with a senior member of our team is just the thing to help your council be successful.
Our optional private communications consultations are just the thing when your council needs in-depth advice or support. We’ll (virtually!) meet with you at a time to suit you, discuss the issue you’re facing and help you devise a way forward.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Communications Audits for your Council
Councils rightly want to ensure their communications are up to scratch, making use of best practice and delivering on their communications objectives. This is where our Yearly Communications Audit can help.
Our optional Yearly Communications Audit gives you peace of mind. One of our senior team will personally work with you to audit your council’s communications, analyse what’s working, what could be improved and identify any relevant gaps. We’ll also benchmark you against councils of a similar size and produce a report for you to take to your councillors on recommendations for improvements.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Exclusive access to service discounts from selected partners
As a Council Connect member, you get access to a range of exclusive discounts to help your council communicate and engage even more effectively with your community.
As well as discounts on Breakthrough Communications’ services, you’ll also get access to a growing range of discounts on commercial tools and services, designed to help your council be even more effective in its work.
More questions? Read our FAQs below…
Explore forthcoming Masterclasses
provided within Council Connect
A key benefit of Council Connect for many councils is the range of communications Masterclasses on offer. In these masterclasses we will 'deep dive' into different communication topics, strategies and tactics, providing case studies, examples and best practices for you to implement in your council.
We'll be announcing new masterclasses every month, but here's a sneak peak at Masterclasses already announced:
Climate emergencies: communication and engagement
Parish and town councils across the country are rightly declaring climate emergencies and taking innovate steps to combat climate change locally, as well as building awareness of the issue within their community. Many councils are then looking at ways at which they can improve their own operations as a council, and improve their local environment at the same time.
As council’s develop and evolve their climate change strategies, it’s really important that councils also think through how they will engage with their community, other councils as well as other stakeholders on this vital issue at each stage of the process. Our Climate Emergency Communication & Engagement Masterclass will provide insights into how to do this effectively, drawing on best practice from across the sector and giving thought to building a resource-appropriate communications plan to support the implementation of a climate emergency declaration.
Available as part of Council Connect Professional and Premium service.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Crisis communications masterclass for councils.
We never know when a crisis will break, but we can be as well prepared as possible for when it does. The recent high profile experience of Handforth Parish Council's online meeting going viral around the world has reminded us all that knowing how we will communicate in a crisis situation is an indispensable part of any counci's toolkit.
From building your crisis communications plan to recovering post-crisis we will look at all aspects of dealing with a crisis.
You will come away from this masterclass with a clear understanding of how to plan for a crisis, what to do during a crisis and how to recover and learn from one.
Get your council's message to the right people using Facebook and Instagram advertising
There are 42 million Facebook users in the UK which means that most people in your community have a Facebook account. With many councils needing to reach specific groups within their community, Facebook offers a unique opportunity using its advertising function.
We will deep dive into the use of Facebook advertising and how it can hugely improve your council’s reach into key groups. We’ll look at ways to use it and also explore the financial side and how it relates to your budgeting.
Facebook advertising offers an exciting opportunity to reach new audiences without breaking the bank.
Accessibility throughout your council's communications
Accessibility is key to effective communication, both for people who have specific needs, but also in order to boost engagement with your content.
Accessibility should be considered across all council communications: from formal reports, agendas and minutes, to digital and social media content, virtual meeting, as well as website accessibility standards – and more besides. This Masterclass will walk you through best practice across different communications channels, signpost to tools and resources as well as helping you develop a communications accessibility plan for your council.
Available as part of Council Connect Professional and Premium service.
Using Google's MyMap and MyBusiness to support the work of your council
3.5 BILLION searches on Google every day, yet residents say they can't find our council! Optimise and supercharge your council's use of Google to make you stand out.
We will look in depth at all aspects of using Google relevant to your council including optimising your search profile, making use of Google My Business and Google MyMaps, and other key aspects of Google functionality.
Find out how making effective use of Google can transform your council’s digital profile.
Join Council Connect today
and secure our pre-launch discount pricing
Council Connect
Essentials£395
£ 345
yearly subscription, plus VATand a one-off setup fee of £49 plus VAT
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24/7 secure access to Council Connect. Access our how-to guides, tools, templates and resources to turbo-charge your council's communications
-
Access to our growing library of step-by-step video guides on how to handle all aspects of council communications
-
Access to our regular Communication Clinics, to get advice, tips and get your questions answered
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Exclusive access to discounts on our done-for-you council communication services, as well as discounts from our selected partners
-
Delivery of our quarterly printed magazine, Councils Connected, giving you access to best practice examples, case studies, communication strategies and ideas
Council Connect
Professional£645
£ 495
yearly subscription, plus VATand a one-off setup fee of £49 plus VAT
-
24/7 secure access to Council Connect. Access our how-to guides, tools, templates and resources to turbo-charge your council's communications
-
Access to our growing library of step-by-step video guides on how to handle all aspects of council communications
-
Access to our regular Communication Clinics, to get advice, tips and get your questions answered
-
Exclusive access to discounts on our done-for-you council communication services, as well as discounts from our selected partners
-
Delivery of our quarterly printed magazine, Councils Connected, giving you access to best practice examples, case studies, communication strategies and ideas
-
PLUS access to ONE private communications consultation sessions each year with a member of our senior team, where we can help and advise you on any aspect of your council's communications
-
PLUS access to THREE half-day communications masterclasses of your choice, held remotely throughout the year
Popular!
Council Connect
Premium£885
£ 695
yearly subscription, plus VATand a one-off setup fee of £49 plus VAT
-
24/7 secure access to Council Connect. Access our how-to guides, tools, templates and resources to turbo-charge your council's communications
-
Access to our growing library of step-by-step video guides on how to handle all aspects of council communications
-
Access to our regular Communication Clinics, to get advice, tips and get your questions answered
-
Exclusive access to discounts on our done-for-you council communication services, as well as discounts from our selected partners
-
Delivery of our quarterly printed magazine, Councils Connected, giving you access to best practice examples, case studies, communication strategies and ideas
-
PLUS access to TWO private communications consultation sessions each year with a member of our senior team, where we can help and advise you on any aspect of your council's communications
-
PLUS access to UNLIMITED half-day communications masterclasses of your choice, held remotely throughout the year
-
PLUS access to a YEARLY COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT, with our team of experts working to produce an in-depth report and analysis of your council's communications, including benchmarking of similar councils and recommendations for improvements
FAQs
As described in the pricing matrix above, we offer three plans for councils to choose from, each with different features and benefits. Prices are subject to VAT.
Council Connect launches on Monday 15th March. All Councils who sign up before this date will get access on Monday 15th, and councils that sign up afterwards will get immediate access.
All masterclasses can be booked from within Council Connect, on your dashboard.
Council Connect is designed for Clerks and other local council officers. We’re very happy for a council to share their login between Officers, but please note that Council Connect is not designed for Councillors.