Useful Links
Twenty-first Century Councils
Date Posted: Monday 11th March 2019
A toolkit enabling and supporting women, parents and carers to stand and serve in local government
Purpose of this toolkit
This toolkit has been developed to help councils create the underlying policies, procedures, ethos
and environment that encourages and empowers women, parents and carers to become local
councillors and take on leadership positions.
The LGA encourages councils to consider their existing practices, celebrate what is working, share good
practice and take action to support councillors who are women, parents and carers.
The equal participation of women and men in local politics, as our elected councillors and as our
leaders, is an important condition for effective democracy and good governance. Representative
councils are best able to speak to, and for, their communities and to support the effective business
of local government. Democracy and decision-making are strengthened when councillors reflect
the people they seek to serve and represent.
The focus of this toolkit is women, parents and carers. You will also find it useful to consider other
characteristics including disabilities, BME groups and LGBT+ and how these interact with the
participation of councillors who are women, parents and carers.