Celebrating young leaders

This year’s International Youth Day theme – ‘From clicks to progress: youth digital pathways for sustainable development’ – highlighted the opportunities for young people to bring their lived experience to creating positive outcomes for communities.

Their insight into using technology every day can contribute to digitisation and the benefits of embracing and embedding technology.

In local government, this topic resonates in various service areas, from creating efficiencies in corporate processes and engaging with residents, to driving innovation in data-informed decision-making for local transport, or considering the ethical use of artificial intelligence in improving adult social care services and outcomes.

The LGA’s Be a Councillor campaign aims to inspire more young people and other underrepresented groups to contribute to their communities by standing for election as a councillor. It also encourages councillors to recommend the role to others who might not have considered it. 

This is mirrored in the following young councillors’ stories. Most were mentored and encouraged to put themselves forward for election – which is an action we can all take to help build the pipeline of talented candidates that local government needs. 

Check our website to find out more about the Be a Councillor campaign and recommend the role to others who could make great councillors.

‘Turning passion into action’

I became a councillor because I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, no matter how big or small. 

Ensuring the voices of young people are heard and represented in our community has always been close to my heart, and being elected at 22 gave me the opportunity to turn that passion into action.

I joined the Labour Party at 18, and quickly immersed myself in local politics. Work experience for my local MP deepened my understanding of the political processes, and becoming the Women’s Officer for Redbridge Young Labour allowed me to advocate and connect with other young activists.

A key influence on my journey was my mentor, former councillor Varinder Singh Bola, who encouraged me to become more active in Redbridge Young Labour and, ultimately, pushed me to apply to be a councillor. 

While studying at the University of Birmingham, I organised a visit to Birmingham City Council, where I learned that the average age of councillors is 60, which shocked me. I couldn’t understand why more young people were not involved in local government. This realisation, coupled with my mentor’s encouragement, motivated me to stand for election. I knew that young people needed a voice in politics, and I wanted to be that voice.

As the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, I’m deeply committed to improving the lives of our residents, particularly those facing difficult circumstances. The role comes with its challenges, but the satisfaction of knowing that our efforts can lead to real, positive change makes it all worthwhile.

However, I’ve learned that trying to tackle everything at once isn’t effective. My mum always reminds me that Rome wasn’t built in a day, so I focus on two or three key issues at a time, ensuring I address them thoroughly before moving on to new challenges.

‘Bringing tangible improvements to my community’

I was elected in 2023, aged 19, and I’ve really enjoyed getting stuck into my role.

As well as handling issues such as housing and planning, I’ve helped our local football club secure £7,500, assisted a group with funding for tree planting, helped with getting a new community defibrillator, successfully campaigned for inclusive playgrounds, and represented residents experiencing issues with maintenance of open spaces.

I’ve also enjoyed other opportunities to contribute to my community, including as a trustee of a youth charity and a school governor, which have allowed me to grow my skills and knowledge in a range of areas.

Being a councillor is an opportunity to bring tangible improvements to my community – not just to be something, but to do something – and my aim going forward is to bring greater youth provision to my town.

Before standing, I kept myself well-informed about local issues, learned how my local councils operate (I attended some public meetings), and built relationships with existing councillors. Once elected, I attended the LGA’s Young Councillor Weekend, which was a great opportunity to network and learn from other young councillors from across the country and political spectrum. 

Within my political group, there are plenty of experienced fellow councillors to seek advice from – the key is to ask, ask, ask!

I work full-time alongside my role, which can be challenging, but I’m lucky to have a supportive employer – and if you’re able to manage your time (and inbox!) efficiently, and prioritise, it’s manageable.

As a young councillor, it’s easy to feel a sense of imposter syndrome, but remember: you’ve been elected and entrusted by your community to represent and speak for them. 

It’s a big responsibility, but an immense privilege, where you can turn ideas into action and truly make a difference. 

‘So rewarding it doesn’t feel like work’

I first got involved with my local party in 2019, and haven’t looked back. 

With a lot of convincing, I stood and got elected as a councillor in May 2023. One of my main hesitancies was that I wouldn’t have the time. 

I’m currently doing a two-year, full-time MSc in radiography, and I worried that being a councillor on top would be too much. However, I have found it to be the complete opposite! 

It’s nice having something to do on top of my MSc that is so rewarding that it doesn’t feel like work. It also helps to have such a supportive local party, never allowing me to feel that I am on my own or to get overwhelmed. 

Something else holding me back was feeling like I wasn’t qualified enough to take on such an important role. I feel this is an issue many people face when thinking about getting involved in politics. 

I’m sure anyone who knows me will agree that I’m not involved in politics for the policy debates. However, I love Liverpool, and I really enjoy being able to make a little positive difference in my city and community.

I think women and young people especially shy away from political roles because the bulk of what we see in the political arena is adversarial policy debates or ‘tit for tat’.

Local government does have elements of this, but it can be much more collegiate. Being a councillor, to me, means standing up for local communities, helping at a local food bank, supporting vulnerable residents in times of need, or speaking up on a planning application that local people are concerned about. 

You don’t need to be a political anorak to be a councillor, you just have to be passionate about making a difference. 

‘Drive to take action’

I’ve spent much of my life being the youngest person in the room. From starting my career as a software engineer at just 15, to being a general election candidate at only 20, I always seem to be in a hurry. 

So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that, in May 2022, I became the youngest councillor elected in Newham. But I didn’t see it coming. 

Despite having joined the Green Party before ever voting, attracted to its anti-poverty and pro-climate policies, I had no grand plan to build a political career. I still don’t.

But I have never been the kind of person who, when they see a problem, waits for somebody else’s permission to fight it. 

I’m learning that this drive to take action is exactly the perspective so often missing in local government – and this is a trait that is frequently (but not exclusively) found in younger councillors.

Prior to being elected, I was already active in the community – organising food bank and winter coat collections, protesting a new road tunnel, campaigning for stronger protections for LGBTQIA+ communities and against racism. 

But it took the encouragement of other Green Party members for me to understand that being elected could be a platform to increase the impact of the work I was already doing. 

You can do the role your own way, and limited time will force you to prioritise and focus your attention where you can make the difference only you could have made. 

Local government has an outsized impact on the life experiences of young people – more than most of us realise. Just a few more young councillors in your community (or any at all) could go a long way to ensuring your council delivers for everyone.