Recruitment resources 1

Use our Make A Change communications pack to promote local elections. It includes ready-made posters, flyers, media releases, email copy, social media posts and visual assets that can be adapted and shared through your communication channels and local community networks. For example, Stapleford Parish Council promoted the campaign using our recruitment video encouraging residents to consider becoming councillors.

Contact your county association to find out whether it has promotional materials to support local elections, such as posters, leaflets, candidate guides and social media content. Using existing resources can save time and help ensure residents receive clear, consistent information. For example, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils and Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils have developed toolkits to help parish and town councils promote elections and encourage residents to stand.

Organise an informal event in your village hall, community centre or online to help residents find out more about becoming a councillor. Invite existing councillors to share their experiences, explain the difference they have made locally and answer questions from prospective candidates. Promote the event through your website, social media and local newsletters, and offer attendees the opportunity to stay in touch for further information. For example, Totnes Town Council held an informal drop-in event ahead of its elections, and Woughton Community Council organised an information evening to explain the councillor role.

Reach out to local charities, residents' associations, sports clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations to explain the role of a parish or town councillor. Offer to attend their meetings, share election information and encourage members to consider how their skills and community experience could benefit the parish or town council. Our councillor stories showcase how councillors use their community connections to make a change.

Ask existing councillors to share why they stood for election, what they enjoy about the role and the difference they have made locally. Use short videos, written interviews, photographs and quotes across your website, newsletters and social media. Feature councillors from different backgrounds and experiences to show that anyone with an interest in their community can consider standing. For example, the Cumbria Association of Local Councils invited councillors to contribute written and video blogs as part of its campaign. We also regularly publish councillor stories, featuring councillors from across England.

Invite residents to attend a parish or town council meeting or open evening to find out what the council does and how decisions are made. Give them the opportunity to meet councillors and the clerk, learn about local projects and ask questions about the role. You could also offer informal opportunities to shadow an existing councillor. For example, Borden Parish Council has encouraged residents interested in councillor vacancies to attend a monthly meeting to see how the council works.

Use your parish or town council's social media channels to highlight local projects, services and community initiatives that councillors help deliver. Share photographs, short videos and examples of achievements, explaining how the council made a difference and encouraging residents to get involved. You could also share councillor stories, answer frequently asked questions and use the #MakeAChange hashtag. For example, Upper Hardres Parish Council provides an example of using social media to strengthen the council's digital presence and make parish activities more accessible to residents.

Display posters and distribute flyers in places where residents regularly visit, such as libraries, community centres, village halls, cafés, shops and sports clubs. Ask local businesses and community organisations to help share them. Include a QR code linking to information about becoming a councillor so interested residents can find out more. Our Make A Change communications pack includes ready-made posters and visual assets.

Think about whether your parish or town council reflects the community it represents and how you could reach people from a wider range of backgrounds and experiences. Work with community organisations, local employers, business networks, colleges and universities to share information about becoming a councillor. Emphasise that no previous experience or particular qualifications are needed and that everyone aged 18 or over who meets the eligibility requirements can consider standing. For example, Long Ashton Parish Council has a dedicated recruitment webpage welcoming people with different skills, backgrounds and experiences and highlighting its ambition to increase diversity on the council.

County associations can help parish and town councils promote elections by coordinating a county-wide campaign and providing ready-made posters, social media content, press releases and newsletter articles. They could also create a dedicated webpage bringing together information about becoming a councillor, including eligibility, responsibilities, training, support and frequently asked questions. Other activities could include organising online information sessions, sharing councillor stories, working with local media and encouraging neighbouring councils to run joint events. This is particularly helpful for smaller councils with limited resources. For example, the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils has created a dedicated webpage bringing together resources and guidance for prospective candidates.