Thursday, 2nd May
We know that people and the communities they live in are best-placed to solve the problems they face.
The role of councillors is to enable and empower everyone to take action and get things done.
Our communities are at their best when they are empowered to use their voice, and to share perspectives and experiences on any given issue.
As your representatives, it is our mission to create safe and accessible spaces in which everyone feels free to speak.
We are open and clear about how we make decisions, encouraging collaborative decision making and co-creating how we share our news.
We are directly accountable to the community we serve. We believe in participatory democracy where everyone has a voice.
We are an independent network of local councillors: activists and community leaders from across Stroud district, who are here to put people before politics.
We believe that local government has the potential to make a big difference to everyday life for everybody.
We are standing as councillors because we want to bridge the gaps between our communities and political power.
We want to turn this experience into political action and use our understanding of everyday life in our area to shape the decisions that are made for all of us.
This means we are free to speak up for the people we represent, make decisions that consider everyone’s interests and prioritise work that helps our communities.
Between us, we have built up a comprehensive understanding and lived experience that we can bring to the discussion.
We create opportunities to learn from everyone we work with.
There are three Ward Councillors for Cainscross. If you live there, we are asking you to trust ONE of your THREE votes to our independent candidate — Charlie MITCHELL.
Charlie MITCHELL [she/her] works tirelessly on inclusivity and has pioneered a number of initiatives that bring people together, finding practical solutions to help meet their needs.
Charlie is keen to make all of our public spaces more accessible and has also launched a programme of support for parents of children who see the world differently.
Rodborough has two Ward Councillors. Robin LAYFIELD is currently one of them and plays a key role on the Co-operative Alliance Leadership Team.
We are asking you to pledge BOTH YOUR VOTES to keep Robin on the council and help us to bring Helen ELLIOTT-BOULT onto the district council for Rodborough too.
Helen ELLIOTT-BOULT [she/her] cares deeply about the environment, women’s rights and social justice.
Helen has been a Parish Councillor since 2021. She helped to lead Rodborough right through the pandemic, co-ordinating volunteer networks and establishing many of our street-based Whatsapp groups.
Robin LAYFIELD [he/they] has been a Stroud District Councillor representing Rodborough since 2021.
Robin is passionately committed to inclusion, a fair chance for everyone and a grassroots politics based on actions and not just words.
Robin always puts the needs of our close-knit community first.
Stroud Slade will be electing one Ward Councillor and we are asking you to vote for Thea PILIKIAN.
Thea PILIKIAN [she/her] is a teacher and works at Kid’s Stuff at Brimscombe Mill.
Thea believes that community hubs like Middle of the Hill and Top of Town are vital for local resilience.
Thea is friendly and approachable, above all she really cares and she is standing to represent Slade Ward on May 2 to be your voice on the district council.
Thea is also standing for Stroud Town Council as an independent, alongside Dee NOLSON and Laurie DAVIES. There are three Town Council places and we are asking you to support all three of these independent, community-minded women for the town council.
- Housing Committee
- Environment Committee (Vice-Chair)
- Members Development Working Group (Chair)
- Alliance Leadership Team
- 🏳️🌈 Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Member Champion
- Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Working Group
- Regeneration & Investment Board
- Stroud Regeneration Board
- 2030 Community Engagement Board
- Strategic Planning Advisory Board
- Community, Services & Licensing Committee (Vice-Chair)
- Leisure oversight board
- Unite the Union rep
- Chair of Council
- Audit & Standards Committee
- ✊🏽 Migrants Member Champion
- 🎖️ Armed Forces Champion
The Co-operative Alliance that leads the district council was established in 2012 and is one of the longest running cross-party administrations in the UK.
In that time, Community Independents have sat on key committees and have occupied senior roles at Ebley Mill: demonstrating that independent councillors can make a serious and meaningful contribution to the work of the district council.
At the council-level, Community Independents have lived by their values to stand up for equitable employment practices for staff working at the Leisure Centre.
Community Independents participate in Stroud’s Neurodiverse Universe, Rodborough Sunday Social and Stroud Imagines.
This includes establishing Repair cafés to reduce wastage, attracting new investment into walking & cycling and accessible town centres, promoting the canal as a nature haven and supporting better flood mitigation, as well as championing e-bike hire schemes, along with improvements to public transport.
We are passionate about the protection of outdoor space including the commons, parks and recreational spaces.
*Third spaces are places where people can gather to socialise or create or entertain, that are open to all and where there is no expectation of payment or cost.
If you are an independent local councillor — or — a community leader that feels strongly aligned with our values and would like to bring your voice to the work we do, let's talk.
Send a message to our WhatsApp number 07404546064 with the name of your ward (CAINSCROSS, RODBOROUGH or SLADE) and we'll check back in with you on Election Day