Assessment panels

Our national and local assessment panels play a crucial role in the accreditation process for parish and town councils nationwide. This process ensures that councils meet high governance and community engagement standards. Our approach involves collaboration between experienced councillors, county associations and clerks, all dedicated to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of parish and town councils.

National panels

Our national assessment panels comprise a large team of seasoned councillors and clerks from parish and town councils. These volunteers are essential in assessing applications for the accreditation scheme, bringing their expertise and insight to the process. After the panels complete their assessment, they provide valuable feedback to the councils, guiding them toward improvement and excellence.

Every application undergoes a preliminary review by our Triage Team before the panel assessments. This light-touch review identifies potential issues early on and offers councils constructive feedback to refine their submissions. Parish and town councils then have the opportunity to revise and improve their applications before the final assessment by the national panel.

Local panels

In some regions, county associations operate their local assessment panels independently of the national panel scheme we manage.

Please check with your county association if you are unsure whether it participates in the national scheme. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at [email protected].

Reporting results

County associations operating local panels must report their accreditation results to receive the award certificate.

The coordinated efforts of national and local assessment panels are integral to the success of the accreditation process, supporting parish and town councils in achieving and maintaining high standards.