The LGA is producing a new package of support for disabled candidates and councillors, and for councils.
Councillors make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with. However, local councils can only be as effective, relevant and vibrant as the people elected to run them, so we need councillors who are capable, committed and fully engaged at the local level.
We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve – but, at the moment, there are many faces missing.
Becoming a councillor is a rewarding and privileged form of public service. As councillors, we are in a position to make a difference to the quality of people’s daily lives and to their prospects.
Starting on the route into elected office can be daunting, particularly if you feel you face barriers in taking part fully in your community. The LGA’s Be a Councillor campaign supports councils to engage underrepresented groups and is committed to improving the diversity of local government at all levels.
In response to the Government’s National Disability Strategy, the LGA is refreshing the Be a Councillor campaign and creating a new programme of leadership development and support for disabled councillors, including:
- A new Be a Councillor guide for potential candidates, answering the more complicated questions and providing information to support disabled people who are interested in becoming councillors.
- A checklist for councils, helping to proactively embed reasonable adjustments across the organisation.
- A new leadership development programme, ringfenced for disabled councillors, running on top of our existing leadership development programmes, which are open to everyone.
In addition, if you are an existing councillor with a disability, we are relaunching our one-to-one coaching offer and ringfencing this for disabled councillors. The coaching will be focused on personal leadership development and is open to councillors from any political party, including Independents.
“Starting on the route into elected office can be daunting”
There is no eligibility criteria – it’s for councillors at any stage of their political career – and any councillor who identifies as having a disability can benefit. For more information or to book, please contact [email protected].
So, if you are a disabled councillor, or are looking to improve the representation of disabled people in your council, the LGA has a variety of support already available, with lots of useful and exciting things to come. Watch this space!