Diversity Guidance

Find information, guidance and opportunities to ensure your local party remains diverse, inclusive and accessible to all here.

If you have any further questions, contact information can be found below.

Looking for something specific? 

You can use the links below to jump to the relevant section.

• Become a Diversity Officer
• Party Wide Diversity
• Racial Equality
• Accessibility in the Lib Dems
• Gender Equality
• LGBT+ Lib Dems
• Social Media
• Important organisations in the Lib Dems
• Key contacts

Become a Diversity Officer

This is a very fun role as you get to learn about your local community and the many different groups that give it its diversity. This role can also be a great help to your local party’s fundraising and campaigning activities, as well as working alongside your party’s Membership Officer when it comes to organising events. You can find out more about being a local party Diversity Officer as well as tips and best practices here.

Party Wide Diversity

The Liberal Democrats are proud of their belief in openness and inclusivity. You can find out about the opportunities we have for underrepresented groups and how you can help people of diverse backgrounds in your local party get more involved here.

Racial Equality

Reaching out to ethnic minorities is a key role of the diversity officer, we have plenty of advice and resources to engage all groups. Lord Alderdice’s report on Race, Ethnic Minorities and the Culture of the Liberal Democrats, highlights how important engaging BAME communities is and includes plenty of advice to make sure the outreach is genuine and respectful.

View the report here.

From Lord Alderdice’s report, the Lib Dem Campaign for Race Equality is a strong movement, fighting for racial equality within the Lib Dems and the cultural change he calls for. You can see the work they do here.

Accessibility in the Lib Dems

Accessibility in the Lib Dems There is also the Liberal Democrat Disability Association who fight for awareness for the disabled, both within the Lib Dems and wider society. If you have any queries, you can reach them at info@disabilitylibdems.org.uk You can view their website here.

Gender Equality

Lib Dem Women is an SAO which aims to ensure women have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. They have resources and expertise to help all diversity officers with gender equality. Learn more on their website.

The Campaign for Gender Balance fights for equal representation of women in parliament and promotes an increase in women represented in all fields across the country. Find out more here, or you can find them on Facebook here.

LGBT+ Lib Dems

LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is the Lib Dem group fighting for LGBT+ rights in the party and in wider society. They also have a role in ensuring Lib Dems remain at the forefront of fighting for LGBT+ rights. You can follow them on Twitter for updates and advice or have a look at their website here.

Social Media 

Liberal Democrat Local Party Officers – this is a forum where all local party officers can get feedback and support from each other. The group includes new and veteran LPOs, so they can answer almost any question.

Lib Dem Digital Campaigning Forum – This is to help all party members with digital campaigning. This includes everything from online ads to Facebook posts.

Diversity Officer Facebook Group – this is a forum where all Diversity Officers can get feedback and support from each other. The group includes new and veteran LPOs, as well as HQ staff so you can get almost any question answered.

Important Organisations in the Lib Dems

The State Parties

Click on the links below to find each state party website.

The English Party

The Welsh Party 

The Scottish Party 

The English Party is divided into 11 Regions, which tak on similar responsibilities to the state parties, but at a more local level. Find out more about the geographic structure of the party here.

Committees

The Party is governed by a series of committees, each taking on responsibility for a different part of the party. The most senior committee is the Federal Board, which is chaired by the President. Learn more about the different committees here.

There are also Associated Organisations (AOs) and Specified Associated Organisations (SAOs), that are guaranteed to exist by the constitution. Many of these exist to be the voices of underrepresented groups, like women and young people. These organisations are great contacts to reach out to communities your local party might not be so good at engaging. Learn more here.

Key Contacts