'Make a difference' – tools to encourage participation

LG Improvement and Development (formerly the IDeA) has developed a range of materials that your council can use as part of a promotional campaign to encourage participation in local elections.

'The Councillors Commission Report 2007' stated that councils had a duty to encourage participation. It recommended that they actively attract and encourage potential candidates irrespective of political allegiance – and from as diverse a range of backgrounds as possible.

Many councils already work hard to attract candidates, as do the political parties and local organisations such as residents’ associations. To support this work, we have developed the following materials for you to download and use.

Download printable versions of the materials

Do you want to make a difference?

This is a brief leaflet intended for wide distribution through libraries and other public outlets.

Do you want to make a difference? – printable version (PDF, 2 pages, 456KB)

How you can make a difference

This is a more detailed guide aimed at people who have expressed some initial interest, and can be used as a follow-up to the first leaflet. It provides information about the role of the councillor and signposts people towards further information on the electoral process.

How you can make a difference – printable version (PDF, 4 pages, 2,15MB large file)

Make a difference for business

This leaflet is aimed at small and medium-sized employers to encourage them to support staff who are already councillors, or who are thinking of standing for council. It  has been produced in consultation with and is supported by the British Chambers of Commerce. 

Make a Difference for Business (PDF, 10 pages, 560KB)

Download editable versions of the materials

If you wish you can tailor the materials for use in your council's campaigns, for example by adding your council’s own logo.

Do You Want to Make a Difference? – editable version (Word doc, 1,73MB large file)

How You Can Make a Difference – editable version (Word doc, 1,99MB large file)

Please note that the materials are intended to be folded to A5 size, so you should print them out double-sided and set your printer to two pages per sheet.

The 2008 survey of local election candidates

This report aims to highlight the motivations, perceptions, and experiences of election candidates for English and Welsh councils. It features the views of more than 1,000 local election candidates.

The 2008 survey of local election candidates

A presentation on preliminary findings from the 2008 local elections candidates survey was delivered by Professor Michael Thrasher, from the University of Plymouth's LGC Election Centre, in July 2008.

The 2008 local election candidates survey presentation (PDF, 30 pages, 934KB)

Councillor's guide 2010/11

Intended for new councillors, this guide provides more detailed information about the role of the councillor and how a typical council works.

Councillor’s guide 2010/11

Votes and voices

A joint LG Association and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) publication that brings together a wide range of views from across local government, the voluntary sector and academia. It presents a flavour of the range of thoughts, views, opinions and differing perspectives that there are on the subject. 

Votes and voices – on the LGA website

Council initiatives

A number of councils already provide information to potential candidates through their websites.

Becoming a councillor: Q and A – on the Kirklees Council website

Want to be a councillor? – on the Swindon Borough Council website

Become a councillor – on the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council website

Lincolnshire County Council have a webpage and a leaflet promoting the role of the councillor. The webpage also has a link to a webcast. This includes interviews with members of the public and with councillors.

Lincolnshire County Council leaflet (PDF, 2 pages, 861KB)

Become a county councillor – on the Lincolnshire County Council website

London Councils, the cross-party organisation representing all London boroughs, is running a 'Be a councillor' campaign. This aims to get more people to stand as councillors in the next London local elections in May 2010.

Visit the 'Be a councillor' website

Contact us

If you have any questions about our materials and how to use them, please contact:

email: makeadifference@local.gov.uk.

Page updated July 2010.