Promoting Diversity In Gwynedd Public Life
A new initiative launched by Gwynedd Council aims to encourage more women, young people, ethnic minorities and member of other under-represented groups to consider standing to become councillors.
The campaign that is being launched this week includes a short animated video which explains the ‘how’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ of the work of Gwynedd councillors.
The video, which the Council will be promoting through its Twitter and Facebook feeds, urges anyone with an interest in getting involved in local democracy to access an online information pack and short questionnaire on the Council website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/beacouncillor
Councillor Tom Ellis, Chairman of Gwynedd Council’s Democratic Services Committee said:
“Over the past few years, it has been good to see more young people and women getting involved in the Council’s work. However it is a fact that the Council Chamber is far from being representative of the county’s communities.
“This project aims to explain what councillors do, and raises awareness of the steps that have been taken to remove some of the barriers that might have prevented people from considering becoming a councillor in the past.
“For example, many residents who are parents of young children may be put off from standing to become a councillor because they are worried about childcare issues. As the information pack makes clear, as is the case for all Welsh councils, Gwynedd is obliged to support parents or carers to become councillors by helping to cover the costs of childcare or the cost of caring for a dependent who cannot care for themselves.
“Crucially, we are eager for as many local people as possible to fill-in the short questionnaire so that we can identify and address any remaining barriers that stand in the way of Gwynedd residents considering becoming a councillor.”
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