COSLA’s Why You? campaign aims to encourage people to consider standing for office ahead of next year’s Local Government elections.
This page showcases the experiences of current Councillors to give potential candidates a better understanding of the role. You can also find more on our Twitter account and Facebook page.
The Why You? campaign will also highlight some of the successes of COSLA’s Barriers to Elected Office Special Interest Group.
Support and information for people considering standing as a candidate
Localcouncillor.scot – A joint Improvement Service/COSLA website with information about the councillor role in Scotland and the process of standing for election, plus a Preparing for Elected Office worksheet for prospective candidates.
The Electoral Commission – Guidance for candidates in Scottish local elections, including information about eligibility criteria to stand as a candidate.
Elect Her – An organisation working to support more women to stand for elected office across the UK, including training sessions and peer support circles.
Inclusion Scotland – As part of their work as a disabled people’s organisation, Inclusion Scotland provides support and advice on accessing politics and challenges barriers to political participation faced by disabled people.
Access to Elected Office Fund – This fund (managed by Inclusion Scotland) is available for the 2022 Scottish local elections for disabled people who are running for selection or standing as candidates to cover reasonable adjustments to enable equal participation.
Equal Representation in Politics Toolkit – This is a free resource designed for members of political parties who want to assess and improve their party’s practice around diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
For more information, contact Alexis Camble – alexis@cosla.gov.uk