The Local Councils of Wiltshire and Swindon play a vital role in the effective management of local community affairs and in encouraging and supporting locally based community initiatives.

Community First helps Local Councils by providing low cost insurance, as well as key advice, assistance and secretariat support to the county-wide Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC). WALC is a membership organisation with over 85% of Local Councils in Wiltshire & Swindon in membership.

Community First helps WALC provide specialised support services to Local Councils including;

• Providing support and advice to council clerks and chairmen in the day-to-day business of running a council, this includes a direct-line service for members and access to legal advice from the National Association of Local Councils
• Providing training for council members and clerks on a wide range of administration, legal, procedural and community topics
• Producing and disseminating a county circular, which includes a newsletter, legislation and policy updates, information on consultations and other issues relevant to the sector, to local councils in WALC membership
• Organising conferences and seminars on new legislation and best practice
• Lobbying regional and national government in support of local issues
• Providing the secretariat to the County Accreditation Panel for Quality Town and Parish Council Status
• Working with local councils to develop beneficiary services such as cost saving insurance
• Providing the secretariat to the WALC Executive Committee