The Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund will be extended to the local (parish and town) council sector for the first time. The money will help with the additional costs, such as extra transport or sign-language interpreters, that a disabled candidate may face in standing for election as a local parish or town councillor.
NALC Chairman, Cllr Ken Browse, welcomed the announcement, saying “NALC welcomes the extension of this fund to support disabled people to run for local (parish and town) council elections. We are a sector committed to diversity and strong community representation and it is critical that everyone has the ability to run for election at local council level.”
“This fund works alongside our own local democracy campaign, highlighted in our ‘It Takes All Sorts’ publication to encourage more diversity within the local government sector.”
Minster for Equalities, Helen Grant, said:
“Disabled people are still under-represented in politics and I believe a strong democracy is an inclusive one. That’s why we need to do more to encourage a diverse mix of candidates and role models to better reflect the society we live in.
“Disabled candidates can often be faced with additional costs that make standing for election more difficult than their non-disabled counterparts. That’s why I’m delighted that we are extending the Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund, so even more people can benefit.”
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