Your City Needs You: Birmingham Launches Drive to Inspire New Local Leaders

The Be a Councillor Birmingham campaign aims to raise awareness of what councillors do, demystify the role, and support a new wave of local leaders who reflect Birmingham’s rich diversity. With all 101 seats across 69 wards up for election, this creates an opportunity to strengthen democratic representation and support the Council’s improvement journey. 

As part of the campaign, a tailored programme of events and resources — including community workshops, a dedicated webpage, mentoring support and outreach to under-represented groups — will help residents explore whether local leadership could be their next step. Alongside this, residents are invited to attend one of four free taster sessions at the Council House to inspire and support them in creating change in their communities and to understand more about the role of a councillor. Interest for taster sessions can be registered here.  

Councillor John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "Birmingham is a diverse city — vibrant, youthful and rich in talent. We want our council chambers to reflect the people who live here and understand their lived experiences. Through this campaign, we’re inviting residents to see themselves as local leaders — whether they've been active in their communities for years or are just beginning to think about public service. We want to open the door wider, remove the myths, and support people from all backgrounds to step forward and help shape the future of our city." 

The Be A Councillor campaign also offers insight into key areas like council finance, community advocacy, legal responsibilities, and how to campaign — making it easier than ever for residents to get informed, get involved, and take action. 

The Council will work with political parties, independents, and community organisations to ensure the campaign reaches every corner of the city. 

For more information about the campaign visit: https://www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor. 

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

• The campaign officially begins in Spring 2025 and will run up to the 2026 local elections. 
• Birmingham is home to 187 nationalities and over 50% of the population are from ethnically diverse backgrounds. 
• The current cabinet is 60% female, reflecting a commitment to diverse leadership. 
• Further information, event listings, and resources will be available via the campaign webpage at https://www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor.