ADSO
banner
adso-uk.bsky.social
ADSO
@adso-uk.bsky.social
We’re the Association of Democratic Services Officers. ADSO is a community of over 1,500 people who work in local democracy roles in councils and other organisations - and we’re growing from strength to strength. www.adso.co.uk
Pinned
Hello 👋. We’re the Association of Democratic Services Officers, a community of over 1,500 people who work in local democracy roles in councils and other organisations. We'd love to connect with our members, partner organisations & anyone who is interested in local democracy.
🎙️ How do you make sure that council priorities genuinely reflect what really matters to local citizens? Emma Silverton, Test Valley Council's Democratic Services Manager, told us how councillors are at the heart of their corporate planning.

▶️ 🎙📖 Watch, listen or read
https://ow.ly/HJwI50XHmWP
Democracy Conversations with Test Valley Council - ADSO
Listen to our conversation with Andy Ferrier, Emma Silverton & James Moody from Test Valley Council. Citizen engagement, Councillors & more.
ow.ly
December 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
💬 What would you like to see as part of the programme for our ADSO Conference 2026?

We’re keen to hear what would make our next conference even more welcoming, productive & unmissable. What learning sessions or other content would you like to see?

Share your suggestions:
https://ow.ly/NrLx50XGaUi
December 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
▶️ Webinar: What does it mean to be a 21st Century Councillor?

Join our webinar with Catherine Mangan to explore the 10 characteristics that help a councillor to thrive & discuss the rapidly changing context councillors are working in.

📅 Tues 20 Jan 2026
🕤 11am-12 noon

https://ow.ly/k2Hy50XGafU
December 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
⚛️ Want to find out how to be your own career coach? Our new course for Senior DSOs can help. Become Your Own Career Coach is a new approach for ADSO. It's not a traditional classroom course - it's a structured space to think, plan and act.

Katherine's blog & more info:
https://ow.ly/lH5Q50XBgks
December 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We're reflecting on a great LLG Conference 2025, including the launch of the Association of Monitoring Officers.

▶️ Watch ADSO Chief Exec Charlotte Eisenhart in conversation with LLG Chief Exec Deborah Evans, and read Charlotte’s reflections in full, on our blog:
https://ow.ly/I6V850XABBK
December 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
▶️ 🎙️ 📖 We're thrilled to share episode 2 of Democracy Conversations, featuring Test Valley Council. Our chat with Andy Ferrier, James Moody & Emma Silverton is packed with insights about citizen engagement & democratic renewal.

Watch, listen or explore bite-size highlights:
ow.ly/w6ze50XyBlZ
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by ADSO
▶️Webinar: Mind the Talent Gap: Building Careers in Democratic Services

Our ADSO webinar with James McLaughlin is a chance to think about your future and explore what career pathways are available, both within Democratic Services and beyond.

📅 4 Dec 2025
⏰ 12.30- 1.30pm

https://ow.ly/bJsO50XqaZr
November 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The Government has recently announced plans to introduce a new statutory framework to strengthen standards in local government. This will include a mandatory code of conduct and a national appeals function.

🗨️ Our statement from Charlotte Eisenhart, ADSO Chief Executive:
https://ow.ly/5qvV50Xtov6
November 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
▶️Webinar: Mind the Talent Gap: Building Careers in Democratic Services

Our ADSO webinar with James McLaughlin is a chance to think about your future and explore what career pathways are available, both within Democratic Services and beyond.

📅 4 Dec 2025
⏰ 12.30- 1.30pm

https://ow.ly/bJsO50XqaZr
November 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by ADSO
▶️ Webinar: The Principles of Public Life

Join Ewen Fergusson, an Independent Member from the newly formed Ethics and Integrity Commission, as he takes a look at the impact of the Nolan Principles and their relevance today.

📅 Thurs 13 Nov 2025
⏰ 11am to 12 noon

https://ow.ly/qC9c50XiYku
October 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
▶️ Webinar: The Principles of Public Life

Join Ewen Fergusson, an Independent Member from the newly formed Ethics and Integrity Commission, as he takes a look at the impact of the Nolan Principles and their relevance today.

📅 Thurs 13 Nov 2025
⏰ 11am to 12 noon

https://ow.ly/qC9c50XiYku
October 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
🗨️ ADSO recently hosted a roundtable event on the evolving role of the Monitoring Officer, in partnership with Penna. Charlotte’s blog includes insights on:

⭐Adapting to transformation
⭐Developing the next generation of governance leaders
⭐Building stronger governance

👉https://ow.ly/4n6m50XiYPG
October 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Looking for a new role in local democracy? Jobs available now:

✅ Solihull
✅ South Derbyshire
✅ Swale
✅ Test Valley & more…

See all our current vacancies 👉
https://ow.ly/iko050XicWt
October 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
📣 We're proud to be part of the National Digital Democracy Partnership. Together, we’ve written to the new Minister of State for Local Government. We’re calling for remote and hybrid council meetings to be prioritised in new legislation.

📰 Our full letter:
https://ow.ly/JiVW50XftfA
October 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
#LocalDemocracyWeek is a celebration of citizen participation in democracy. It’s a way of helping people to get involved, learn about democracy & have a voice in the decisions that matter for our everyday lives.

🎉 We'd love to hear what you're doing, so we can share your work with our members.
October 16, 2025 at 1:44 PM
We're thrilled to share episode one of our new Democracy Conversations series, featuring the wonderful Tim Davies from Connected by Data.
▶️ 🎙️ 📖 Watch, listen to or read our full conversation now.
www.adso.co.uk/democracy-co...
October 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
▶️ Webinar: Multi-location (Hybrid) Meetings

Join Gary Jones and Hans Rijs to hear direct experiences of the challenges and unexpected outcomes of hosting remote council meetings.

📅 21 Oct 2025
⏰ 10.30 to 11.30am
https://ow.ly/TZko50X9ChT
October 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
❓ What are you most excited about for #LocalGovernment, for the coming year? When we asked this question of our #ADSOConf25 participants, we discovered that our members are looking to the future with positivity.
https://ow.ly/bGtC50X4fGc
October 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM
📸 Huge thanks to everyone in our ADSO community who helped to make #ADSOConf25 happen.

If you're a member of ADSO, check out our recent edition of Democracy Matters for a bumper selection of special photo galleries, celebrating the ADSO Conference and Awards 2025.
September 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Hello 👋. We’re the Association of Democratic Services Officers, a community of over 1,500 people who work in local democracy roles in councils and other organisations. We'd love to connect with our members, partner organisations & anyone who is interested in local democracy.
September 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM