Back in 2012 myself and Carl Haggerty founded LocalGov Digital. A peer network for those working in local government on building better public services.
At the time we were( pretty much) lone disrupters in our respective county councils and were finding ways online to connect with each other and those like us. The Government Digital Service was just setting out, and we wanted the amazing work in our part of the sector to be amplified and accelerated. A small group of us (with a great deal of help from Sarah Jennings, then at the Local Government Association) created LocalGov Digital.
In the years since the network has swelled with peer-to-peer support on the strategic and operational challenges we’re all facing. It has hosted unmentoring schemes to help us connect and step outside the ‘thing we do’ to connect with others in the sector. It seeded what went on to become the Digital Declaration, and set up Pipeline to work on the collaborative creation of shared digital tools or services (under the leadership of Phil Rumens). It picked up the running of LocalGovCamp and expanded this out (under the wing of Nick Hill) to all kinds of events.
On a personal level I can say that LocalGov Digital was nothing short of transformative to my thinking, and to my career. I’ve made great friends, I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a person and a professional, and I know there are others in the sector grappling with similar challenges always willing to support or team up to tackle things together.
Activity from the network has focused on a self-governing online community and on the brilliant LocalGovCamp events. But, it’s time for a reset and a refreshed look at what LocalGov Digital needs to be now and in the near future, for local government practitioners.
Taking up the role of Chair
I’m really pleased (and slightly nervous) to take up the role of Chair as LocalGov Digital enters this transitional phase.
I follow on from previous chairs Carl Haggerty, Phil Rumens, and most recently Dave Briggs with Carl stepping in as Vice Chair to support in the reboot work. Nick Hill will be continuing to run events under the LocalGovCamp umbrella – this includes LocalGovCamp North on 13 November in Leeds – you should definitely come.
I take up the position with big thanks to all these people and to Kat Sexton too – a vice chair of LocalGov Digital and my colleague at Birmingham City Council. Her support is invaluable, and her open work is exactly the sort of thing we think LocalGov Digital can play a part in amplifying.
What now…?
There’s a few practical things we need to get sorted to help us support the network better. A shake down of the website, understanding more about who is in the Slack channel and how they’re using it, and sorting out the governance / shaping the entity that is LocalGov Digital generally. So, if you’ve previously been appointed to the steering group we’ll be contacting you soon – and if you haven’t been involved that way before but might like to be now then there will be chances to express your interest too.
We’ll be continuing the conversations with Local Digital, and the Local Government Association, as we all believe LocalGov Digital (really, the practitioners within it and what they do individually and together) are a key part of solving challenges and both seeding and embedding change.
Beyond this, we’re shaping some ideas around which you can gather. We’ll be making more of regional support and work, as well as looking at how we give focus both strategically and operationally. Importantly we’ll be working with you – those who are and will be LocalGov Digital – on what you need in your council, your region, and for your sector.
Join LocalGov Digital
LocalGovDigital is free to join for those working in local government – whether your role is as a digital practitioner or not.
The main place to get involved right now is our Slack channel. If you’re not already signed up, and you work in local government, then let myself or Nick Hill know and we’ll send you an invite. We can also help if you have already joined, lapsed and now need help to get back in.
More ways to express an interest in joining us – whether you want to help with the reboot or want access to the community for collaboration and support – will be along shortly.