Carol Francis – former Labour Councillor, Gloucester City Council

Carol Francis was the first black woman to be elected to Gloucester Council and served for seven years holding a number of roles including chair of the scrutiny committee and vice chair of the Labour group.

She currently works part-time for Gloucestershire County Council as well as being a local magistrate and one of the directors of a local community radio station aimed at the BAME community.

She says: "I became a councillor because I wanted to make a difference; I had worked in the voluntary sector since 1977 and this felt like the next step. Also I wanted to do something about the fact the BAME community was not represented."

"The most difficult thing about being a councillor is living up to the expectations of the community."

Carol is Black British.