For Parish, Town and Community Councils using all NetWise UK websites, your site isn’t just a place to publish statutory information — it’s an opportunity to bring your local community together, share valuable resources, and promote everything that makes your area unique.
All our council websites come packed with features that can turn your site into a useful, engaging hub for residents. Here are some ideas to help make your website a more valuable and vibrant resource for your community.
Build a Community Directory
All NetWise UK websites include a directory module — and it doesn’t need to be limited to local services. This can be fully customised to include listings and categories of your choice, such as:
- Clubs and societies
- Local walks and nature trails
- Places to eat and drink
- Community centres and venues
- Health and wellbeing services
You could even invite local groups and businesses to submit their details, keeping the directory fresh and up to date while strengthening community connections.
Promote Local Events
Your all NetWise UK website’s events calendar doesn’t have to be used solely for council meetings. You can create additional event categories and promote:
- Village fetes and fairs
- Local markets
- Fundraisers
- Sports club fixtures
- Workshops and classes
This helps residents stay informed about what’s happening in the area, all in one place. Community groups can be encouraged to submit their events for inclusion.
Showcase Local Life with a Gallery
The photo gallery feature on all NetWise UK websites is a simple but effective way to bring your community website to life. You could even run a regular photo competition, inviting residents to submit their favourite local images. All entries could be added to the gallery, with the winning photo displayed as the homepage image for a month or season.
This not only brightens up your site but helps foster community pride and involvement.
Share News and Announcements
All NetWise UK websites include a News and Notices section — and it’s worth making full use of both:
- News: Share updates on council projects, community initiatives, and local interest stories.
- Notices: Use this space for short, practical announcements like road closures, bin collection day changes, or public consultations.
Keeping this section active helps make your site a reliable, go-to source for local information.
Encourage Newsletter Sign-Ups
Your all NetWise UK website can help you build a stronger connection with residents through email newsletters. By embedding sign-up forms for services like Mailchimp, you can invite visitors to subscribe for updates on events, community news, and important council information.
Regular email updates are an excellent way to keep people informed and involved in local life.
Final Thoughts
By making the most of your all NetWise UK website’s features — like directories, event calendars, galleries, news sections and mailing lists — you can transform it from a statutory noticeboard into a lively, useful community resource.
A well-used, well-loved council website can help residents feel more connected, informed and proud of where they live. It’s a simple but powerful way to make local government more accessible, relevant and supportive of everyday community life.
