LGA programme provides peer support
Disabled councillors bring invaluable lived experience and perspectives to local government, yet many face barriers in public life.
The LGA’s Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme provides a supportive environment where councillors can learn, grow and develop alongside others with shared experiences.
The programme combines residential and online learning experiences, bringing members of English councils together to explore leadership, build networks and develop practical skills that can be applied within their roles and their communities.
Leadership development, personal reflection and peer learning help participants to build their confidence and understand how their experiences can help improve public services.
The programme is underpinned by the social model of disability and aims to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment.
Participants are encouraged to discuss any support requirements so that everyone can engage fully and get the most from the experience.
Participants benefit from:
- leadership development and personal growth
- peer support and networking with disabled councillors from across the country
- greater confidence in their councillor role
- time to reflect on their experiences and future ambitions.
Applications close on 16 October for the next cohort of the LGA Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme, with a residential event in November, and workshops taking place between then and March 2027.
If you’d like to find out more before applying, we’re happy to arrange an informal conversation to discuss the programme and any support or reasonable adjustment requirements. Please contact catherine.banks@local.gov.uk.
Otherwise, to learn more and apply, visit the LGA website.
‘An empowering experience’
Councillor William Shortall (Lab) is Lord Mayor of the City of Liverpool
The Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme was a genuinely empowering experience.
It gave me the confidence to embrace my disability as a strength and to lead with authenticity.
One of the greatest benefits was connecting with disabled councillors from across England, sharing experiences, and learning from one another.
The programme helped me develop my leadership skills, challenge self-doubt, and better understand the unique value disabled leaders bring to public life.
The support provided throughout the programme ensured that every participant could engage fully and get the most from the experience.
I came away with greater confidence, stronger networks, and practical tools that have supported me throughout my leadership journey.
As a councillor, it is easy to focus on the barriers we face. The programme encouraged me to focus on opportunities, resilience, and the positive impact we can have in our communities.
I am proud to have been part of an LGA programme that champions greater representation and inclusion in local government.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the programme to any disabled councillor looking to develop their leadership skills, expand their network, and grow in confidence.
It is an excellent opportunity to learn, reflect, and realise that your lived experience is not a limitation but a powerful asset in leadership.
For anyone considering applying, my advice is simple: do it. The programme can be transformative, both personally and professionally.
- See a video featuring Lord Mayor Shortall discussing accessibility improvements within Liverpool’s council chamber