Gil Paterson MSP urges disabled people stand for council elections with new grant

DISABLED people in Clydebank have been encouraged to stand for election as councillors next year. 
Gil Paterson MSP welcomed the grants the Scottish Government is giving to people with additional needs. 

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP insisted there should be fairer representation of people with disabilities in elected office. 

The fund will help cover additional costs for accessible transport and communication support. 

The application process was announced at the beginning of August by the Scottish Government.

Mr Paterson said: "Disabled people are significantly under-represented as local councillors — and this has to change. We need our elected bodies to represent society as a whole. 

"This fund will help address the problems disabled people face in the practicalities of an election campaign, which requires attending events, street work and a lot of traveling around the constituency, among many other duties. 

"I encourage people living with a disability who would perhaps worry about standing in an election due to the concerns I mentioned to apply for this fund and participate in our democracy." 

The £200,000 is be used to help to cover additional costs for accessible transport or communications support for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in the 2017 local government elections. This also includes £40,000 delivery costs. 


For further information and details on how to apply - http://inclusionscotland.org/information/employability-and-civic-participation/access-to-politics/aeofs/ 
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Gil Paterson MSP urges disabled people stand for council elections with new grant 

Gil Paterson MSPDISABLED people in Clydebank have been encouraged to stand for election as councillors next year. 

Gil Paterson MSP welcomed the grants the Scottish Government is giving to people with additional needs. 

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP insisted there should be fairer representation of people with disabilities in elected office. 

The fund will help cover additional costs for accessible transport and communication support. 

The application process was announced at the beginning of August by the Scottish Government.

Mr Paterson said: "Disabled people are significantly under-represented as local councillors — and this has to change. We need our elected bodies to represent society as a whole. 

"This fund will help address the problems disabled people face in the practicalities of an election campaign, which requires attending events, street work and a lot of traveling around the constituency, among many other duties. 

"I encourage people living with a disability who would perhaps worry about standing in an election due to the concerns I mentioned to apply for this fund and participate in our democracy." 

The £200,000 is be used to help to cover additional costs for accessible transport or communications support for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in the 2017 local government elections. This also includes £40,000 delivery costs. 


For further information and details on how to apply - http://inclusionscotland.org/information/employability-and-civic-participation/access-to-politics/aeofs/