Stroud District Community Independents

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Our values

We stand for grassroots democracy and community organising

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.

We practise inclusive and compassionate politics

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.

Local democracy has to be transparent, open and accountable

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.

Who are we? Why are we different?

Charlie MITCHELL, Helen ELLIOTT-BOULT and Robin LAYFIELD in the Prince Albert, Rodborough

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 share a long track record of working for the people in our wards

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.

We are not aligned to any political party

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.

We are here because we care

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.

Our team

CAINSCROSS

Charlie MITCHELL

“I’m standing up for what really matters: giving local people a say in the decisions that affect us all”

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.

“Being a parent of children with different needs gives me a real understanding of what matters most for our families”

RODBOROUGH

Helen ELLIOTT-BOULT

“I believe that community leaders, not political parties, are best placed to represent us”

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.

In 2022, Helen called for a public conference to challenge the police and local government to do more to prevent violence against women and girls.

Robin LAYFIELD

“I believe in a politics based on representation, on empathy, kindness & compassion”

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.

In 2023, Robin helped set up an internet drop in centre at the Rugby Club after a major outage cut off 300 households for a week

Stroud Slade

Thea PILIKIAN

“Hi, I’m Thea, you’ve seen me around. I’m often at the Middle of the Hill Community hub.”

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.

“I’m an Independent because I can do more for the community that I love without having to follow a party line”

Thea PILIKIAN and Dee NOLSON

Community Independents in Stroud

History

From July 2022 — May 2024, Community Independents were part of the leadership of Stroud District Council - working collaboratively with the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and other independents to give strength and purpose to the Co-operative Alliance.

The Co-operative Alliance that lead 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 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.

Policies

Economy & Cost of Living

Community Independents have been active in helping residents to cope with the increased cost of living, by supporting and running Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) schemes, helping to fund warm spaces and asking for additional council investment into community hubs: an area that we see as absolutely key to building up local resilience in the face of repeated crises.

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.

Thea PILIKIAN working at Kids Stuff in Brimscombe Mill

Wellbeing

Community Independents have played an active role in protecting the wellbeing of our community and championing our values of compassion and inclusion.

Community Independents participate in Stroud’s Neurodiverse Universe, Rodborough Sunday Social and Stroud Imagines.

Charlie MITCHELL leads a talk on Neurodiversity for Stroud Imagines at The Long Table

Environment

Community Independents are focused on protecting our environment and empowering people to make environmentally-conscious decisions for the love of the living world.

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.

Helen Elliott-Boult with the proud owner of a fully functioning toaster

Local resident shows off his newly repaired toaster at the Rodborough Repair Café, with Helen ELLIOTT-BOULT

Social Justice

Community Independents have played a leading role in standing up for workers’ rights, community organising, awareness raising and in directly challenging the police to take real action on women’s safety in Stroud.

Robin LAYFIELD stewarding at the GCHQ strike 40th Anniversary

Land Justice

We are proud that this council has social housing stock. We are committed to supporting the community hub network and the development of free and accessible third spaces^* across the district.

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.

We have a presence on many different social media platforms as well as a mailing list that you can sign up to, so you can interact with us in the way that best suits you.

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