Introduction

All organizations, from small community groups to corporate multi-national companies require information. Information provides both organizations and individuals with the ability to:

		Find solutions.
		Attempt to predict events.
		Inform our position or support our argument.
		Seek compromises.
		Provide evidence to base our actions upon

For example - we may believe passionately that a belief or opinion we hold dear is true, but to convince and persuade others we may well need to provide evidence to support our position.

Information can therefore be a key to success as it can:

		Inform argument.
		Open doors to get our case heard.
		Convince others to join our cause.

Now with all this in mind we have developed this toolkit to help local communities access or find information for themselves.

Remember - if you cannot directly find the information you are looking for from what seems an appropriate website look for a contacts page. Do not be afraid to email the site directly asking for the information you are seeking. It may be that the site owners themselves do not hold the information you seek but they may well be able to signpost you on to an organization or website that does!

All the sites in this guide have been published to serve and inform the public so do ask if you can't directly find what you require!