Useful links

Accenture

Delivering strategy and planning, voter registration and election management services to local, state and national governments around the world.

AccountAbility

AccountAbility is an international, not-for-profit, professional institute dedicated to the promotion of social, ethical and overall organisational accountability.

Advantage West Midlands

Regional development agency.

Arts Council England

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the prime distributor of public support for the arts in the country.

Association Of Scottish Community Councils

News and advice relevant to the work of community councils, and links to community councils across Scotland.

Audit Commission

An independent body responsible for ensuring the best use of public money.

Beacon Council Scheme

Kitemark identifying excellence and innovation in local government. Allows authorities to learn from each others' successes.

Big Lottery Fund

The largest distributor of National Lottery funds.

British Waterways

Organisation responsible for maintaining 2,000 miles (3,220km) of the inland waterway network.

Cabinet Office

Government office supporting the prime minister, cabinet and civil service.

Children In Scotland

Children in Scotland is the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)

The government's design watchdog. Offers guidance and reviews major schemes.

Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT)

An independent advisor to the government on transport policy, encompassing transport's relationship with economic prosperity, health, social inclusion and the environment.

Commission for Racial Equality

A publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Will be replaced in October 2007 with the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

Commissioner for Local Administration in England

Local government ombudsmen's Home Page

Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales

Website of the Local government ombudsman for Wales

Committee on Standards in Public Life

The government's ethics workshop, charged with examining public concerns and making recommendations to parliament.

Communities Scotland

A Scottish Executive agency, which aims to regenerate disadvantaged communities and help deliver better housing.

Community Planning Website

Aims to help residents get involved with professionals in shaping their local environment.

Community Relations Unit

Aims to increase cross-community contact and co-operation in Northern Ireland.

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

The representative voice of Scottish local government. Acts as an employers' association on behalf of all Scottish councils.

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe seeks to develop common and democratic principles. Sections on social cohesion, education and human rights.

Crime Reduction Website

Provides information and resources for people working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods.

Department for Constitutional Affairs

Information about the newly-created department.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Department for Education and Skills

Department covering schools, universities and further education.

Department for Employment & Learning, Northern Ireland

Devolved department for skills, jobs, further education and higher education.

Department for Regional Development, Northern Ireland

Maintains a range of essential infrastructure services and shapes the region's long-term strategic development.

Department for Transport

Covers air, rail, road and sea.

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department concerned with farmers, the countryside, the rural economy and air and water quality.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland department whose aims include the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries.

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland

Responsible in Northern Ireland for arts and creativity, museums and libraries, architecture, sport, inland waterways and language diversity.

Department of Education, Northern Ireland

The department responsible for education provision in Northern Ireland.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

A department of the Northern Ireland executive.

Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland

Department that prioritises the use of funds available to the Northern Ireland government.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland

The department's mission is to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland.

Department of Trade and Industry

Promotes enterprise, business growth, export and inward investment.

Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland department covering environmental protection, land use planning and local government reform.

Directgov

The central portal for information from the government.

Disability Rights Commission

An independent body created by parliament to promote equality for disabled people. Will be folded into the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in October 2007.

East Midlands Development Agency

Regional development agency.

East of England Development Agency

Regional development agency.

Education Action Zone

Government programme to tackle a range of problems including low educational achievement, truancy, exclusion and youth crime in deprived urban areas.

England's Northwest

Promotional site inviting tourists and investors to the region.

English Heritage

Protects and promotes England's historical environment.

English Partnerships

Focusing on sustainable regeneration, housing, strategic brownfield development and best practice.

Environment Agency

Public body responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales.

Euro Info Centre for Scottish Enterprise

European issues and opportunities affecting Scottish startups. Operates as part of the Business Gateway.

European Foundation for Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Set up to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions, through research and advice.