Getting to grips with the FOI Act: practical training

The Freedom of Information Act has been in force for over a year. Thousands of disclosed documents have revealed previously secret information about election fraud, restaurant hygiene, PFI projects, surgeons' success rates, deaths in Iraq, farming subsidies, nuclear safety, CJD, illegal waste dumping, the police shoot to kill policy, commercial lobbying, MP's expense claims, the shortcomings of academy schools and many other topics. If your work involves journalism, campaigning, research, lobbying for change or advising people on their rights, you cannot afford to ignore the Act.

The Campaign for Freedom of Information which played a leading part in securing the Act, is running training courses to help serious users make effective use of this important but complex new legislation.

using the FOI Act to challenge decisions or uncover stories
lessons learnt from the Act's first 14 months
cracking the first secret - what's in the files?
how to draft an effective request
potential pitfalls and how to avoid them
navigating your way round the exemptions
using the Act's most powerful feature - the public interest test
the role of the FOI officer - your new friend in government?
why an authority that obstructs you is breaking the law
how to challenge refusals
the Information Commissioner's early decisions

They also cover the new Environmental Information Regulations, which provide a separate right of access to environmental information.

More than 100,000 public authorities are covered by the UK Act and the parallel Scottish Act: government departments, the devolved assemblies, local councils, the NHS, the police, the armed forces, schools and universities, regulators, advisory committees, museums, quangos, the BBC, Channel 4 and Parliament itself. Even some private bodies will later be covered.

The courses are led by the Campaign’s director, Maurice Frankel, a leading expert in the field who has worked with the Campaign since it was established 20 years ago.He has considerable experience of overseas FOI laws and UK access rights. He helps to train public authority staff on freedom of information and was a member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Implementation of the FOI Act.

Although primarily aimed at users, the courses are open to public authorities and others who may find that it widens their perspective as well as providing practical guidance on the legislation.

Ł50 for individuals,* freelance journalists and academics
Ł95 for media/NGOs
Ł130 for public authorities/others

*This category applies to individuals other than those with an academic, professional or commercial interest or those working for NGO's, public authorities or other organisations.

We may be able to offer some reduced price places for individuals on limited income - please ask us.

To book a place on this course, download & complete the booking form below and send to:

Campaign for Freedom of Information
Suite 102, 16 Baldwins Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ
Fax: 020 7831 7461

If you aren't able to make this course but would be interested in future courses, please email to admin@cfoi.demon.co.uk and we will keep you informed of new dates.