Action plan for a more diverse membership

Each Constituency Campaigns Action Group will need to develop their own priorities for a more diverse membership based on their locality.

Three strands are suggested as the basis in moving towards a more diverse local membership:

a) Developing a local recruitment process, focusing on the more diverse parts of each constituency. Advice from London Region and LD HQ can be sought, and the Executive will need to regularly monitor our recruitment campaign.

Consideration should be given to developing specific welcome leaflets for minority groups, which guide them to other national Lib Dem support/campaign groups (e.g., women; LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; disabilities). Providing welcome letters that are written wholly or in part in the preferred language of particular households (e.g., Polish, Bengali; Hausa; Arabic).

b) Ensure policies which benefit minority groups, is better publicised in our campaigning. This includes our social media, literature, and press releases. You might decide to write specific messages in the language used by particular ethnic minority organisations and residents.

It is essential that the social media of each constituency party represents the wide cultural diversity in the local community.

c) Engage more with local organisations which provide services for minority groups, religious organisations, charities and specialist services.

In Wandsworth these range from borough wide organisations (e.g., Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network – BME Mental Health Forum) to specific local community groups including temples, churches, and mosques.

Commitments made by the Executive Committee.

There is an expectation at a national level that the Executive Committee will make specific commitments as regards the actions that are needed, to facilitate the actions taken by each campaign action group, and monitor the actions taking place. The Executive Committee will need to:

a.) Look towards incremental increases in diversity activity (e.g., Year 1 take part in Pride; Year 2 promote Pride and take part; Year 3 organise our own Pride event).

b.) All members of the executive to undertake annual diversity training.

Party officers at all levels should receive unconscious bias and disability awareness training, to ensure that everything we do at every level is accessible and inclusive.

c. Guest members attending the Executive committee.  On a regular basis have guest attendees from our party membership; invite representatives from organisations we are developing a relationship with, and individuals that are leaders in the community who speak for underrepresented and marginalised groups.

d. Social media needs to reflect our Borough wide diversity.  

e. Set up an advisory and support group of 4-6 party members who can offer guidance and support on diversity and inclusion to each campaign group.