NALC adds AI to its ReadyMembership platform with ReadyIntelligence

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has extended its use of ReadyMembership by adopting ReadyIntelligence, bringing trusted AI capabilities to its 9,500 members across England's parish and town councils.

NALC has been a ReadyMembership client since November 2022, using the platform to manage its membership, website, events, and resources. After trialling ReadyIntelligence in early 2025, NALC formally selected it in July 2025, with configuration completed in January 2026.

Why NALC selected ReadyIntelligence

A key driver was the behaviour NALC was already seeing among its members. As Lisa Stockdale, Data and Systems Manager at NALC, explains: " Our members are already using AI tools, but often without reliable source information. That creates a real risk, both in terms of accuracy and how sector-specific information is being used."

Security and control were central to the decision. NALC was conscious of the risk of its guidance being uploaded into third-party AI tools outside its control, and wanted a solution that would protect its intellectual property while allowing AI to work directly with its own knowledge base. ReadyIntelligence met that requirement by connecting AI securely to NALC's approved resources, giving the organisation full control over what information is surfaced and how it is used.

Flexibility also played a role. AI models are the engines that power tools like this, and new, more capable ones are released regularly. Rather than being tied to a single engine, ReadyIntelligence gives NALC the freedom to choose which model powers their tool and update it as better options become available, meaning the technology can keep pace with their needs without having to change platform or start from scratch.

Crucially, NALC's AI working group felt strongly that the tool should be free for members to access. As Lisa puts it: "We wanted this to be an added but core benefit of membership. Members don't always know the exact terminology they need when searching, so being able to ask a natural question and still be directed to the right source material is incredibly valuable."

Introducing NORA

The result is NORA, the NALC Online Resource Assistant. Rather than returning a simple answer, NORA provides responses alongside links back to the original source material, helping members understand where information comes from and explore topics further.

NALC's guidance library includes legal advice notes, financial guidance and comprehensive resources covering how local councils operate. Much of this content is highly specialised and not available elsewhere, making the quality and trustworthiness of AI responses particularly important.

NORA has completed a trial phase with a small group of experienced members, with positive early feedback informing how the tool develops going forward.

AI built on solid foundations

NALC's journey illustrates how a well-implemented membership platform can create the conditions for AI to succeed. By having its data, content and member experience properly structured within ReadyMembership, NALC was able to layer ReadyIntelligence on top in a way that is secure, controlled and genuinely useful for members.

For membership organisations considering AI, NALC's approach offers a practical model: get your foundations right, know what problem you are solving, and make sure any AI tool works with your data rather than around it.