What we are doing

The Taskforce had a busy work programme, takeing forward some 16 outreach events across the Britain.  

Its objectives were to identify and take practical action to increase the numbers of BAME councillors.  They did so by;

• Increasing awareness of the roles and responsibilities of councillors and building confidence and skills among potential candidates;
• Reaching out into communities to encourage women to step forward to become councillors;
• Identifying and working to overcome barriers within political parties that prevent BAME women being supported to become councillors;
• Reducing disadvantage and stereotyping both within and outside communities.

A key part of the activity was the outreach campaign into communities to bring alive the role of councillors to audiences of BAME women.  The Taskforced  worked closely with partner organisations such as the Local Government Association, Operation Black Vote and the Fawcett Society to promote and deliver the campaign (for a full list of partners, view our Taskforce Partners and Useful Links page).

Operation Black Vote in partnership with the Taskforce, developed a mentoring scheme scheme funded by the Government Equalities Office to demystify the functions of local government. The programme provides tailored support to BAME women who are taking the first steps to become active in political life. In addition to this work, BAME women were given the opportunity to gain a Certificate in Community Leadership. The course is being delivered by SOLACE.

A total of 60 women have been selected nationally for the mentoring scheme.  Regular updates will be posted on the OBV website.  An evaluation report on the overall Taskforce programme which will cover both the mentoring and the leadership course will be published in Spring 2010.

We want to work closely with the political parties in supporting potential candidates and we will track and monitor the numbers of BAME women who are put forward for selection, publishing the success rates and celebrating achievements. Click here for a link to Useful Political Contacts.

Vitally important to encouraging women to see themselves as community champions is the promotion of positive role models.  Taskforce members have agreed to be ambassadors and will continue to support this work.