Where can I find further help?
There are a number of organisations that can be of help to you when considering becoming a councillor.
Electoral Commission – The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. You can find out what elections are happening in your area, guidance on becoming a candidate, and more. Further information and links on what they provide is on the next section.
Local Government Association - Be a Councillor is a campaign funded by the UK Government to explain what councils and councillors do, what you will need to do to take your first steps towards becoming a councillor, all about the role and the support you can expect. You can sign up to their newsletter, access guides and case studies from councillors across the country that have shared their experience being a councillor and the journey they took to get there.
Elect Her – Elect Her is an organisation looking to motivate, support and equip women in all their diversity to stand for political office. They provide free workshops and training programmes, online resources and community spaces for women to learn and connect in their political ambitions.
My Life My Say – My Life My Say is a youth-led, non-partisan movement on a mission to change the culture of democracy and get every single young person voting.
Shout Out UK (SOUK) – SOUK is a multi-award winning creative social enterprise aiming to defend and amplify democracy by ensuring all citizens understand how their government functions. They run some of the largest city-wide voter registration and voter awareness campaigns in the democratic world.
Operation Black Vote – Operation Black Vote exists to ensure we have greater racial justice and equality throughout the UK. Their work spans a number of areas including voter registration, lobbying politicians, mentoring schemes and political leadership programmes.