Developing skills and building networks
At the LGA, our political leadership programmes support councillors to develop leadership skills and enhance their effectiveness as councillors.
We understand the value of providing councillors with learning opportunities alongside peers with shared experience, and we are committed to supporting under-represented groups in local government.
It is estimated that 25 per cent of the UK population has a disability. However, disabled people are consistently under-represented in local government, including in positions of leadership.
The number of councillors declaring a disability or long-term impairment has varied from 10.9 per cent in 2006 to 16.1 per cent in 2018.
In 2022, we launched the LGA’s Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme, in partnership with the charity Disability Rights UK. The programme was shaped in co-production with disabled people and councillors, ensuring it responds to the specific needs of disabled leaders.
Now in its fourth cohort, the programme has helped disabled councillors to accelerate their leadership skills and build networks with peers from across the country and from different political parties, and supported them to be resilient and confident local leaders.
Find out more about this programme. To express an interest in joining a future cohort, please contact leadership@local.gov.uk
Embedding lived experience in policy-making
Councillor Tracey Rawlins (Lab) is Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council
‘Imposter syndrome’ is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, but it absolutely describes me. It’s something I have always struggled with.
I took up an executive member role in 2021. There was a lot to learn of course, as there would be in any new job, but that imposter’s voice was back louder than ever.
When the LGA’s Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme came up in 2022, I thought – well, maybe there are people like me in other councils, if not my own. Let’s see if I can learn how to do this better. So, I applied.
For most of my life, I’ve tried to ignore my disabilities and just get on with things – you know that phrase ‘there are people worse off than me; I’m not that disabled…’.
The programme has enabled me to embed my disability and lived experience into the way I lead and shape policy.
Support and adjustments were embedded throughout the course and were not an add-on. I didn’t have to adapt to someone else’s space or meeting; everything fitted around me and I realised that, when the right enablers are in place, I thrive – and can achieve more and perform even better.
So now I am much more able to say what I need to be the best I can be.
The course has given me a network of peers across the political spectrum with different lived experiences, and I am richer for that. We continue to be in touch, sharing our wins as well as our challenges.
I now see my disability as an asset, and it is very much the heart of me. I was very pleased in late 2024 to be appointed as the first Disability Advocate for the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated transport scheme.