Councils can only be as effective, relevant and vibrant as the people elected to run it.

That’s the inspiration behind the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Be a Councillor campaign, encouraging different kinds of people to put themselves up for election, so that councillors better reflect the communities they serve.

But what do councillors actually do? Simply put, being a councillor lets you make a real difference to the quality of people’s lives. From early years and education to housing and regeneration, community safety, the environment, roads, care for older people, sport and culture, helping local businesses to thrive and a whole lot more, the decisions made by councillors affect everyone in their local area.

Councillors need to use their excellent diplomacy skills in order to balance the needs and interests of residents, their political party (if they represent one) and the council itself. Needless to say, being a councillor requires a lot of hard work and commitment.

If you are looking for a worthwhile and rewarding way to help your local community we need plenty of talented, high-quality candidates. The role of a councillor is in addition to the everyday commitments in your personal life, so it’s really important when considering standing in a local election that you have the consent of your employer and family, ensuring both are fully aware of what the additional time commitments will be.

If you care about the area that you live or work in and the issues facing local people, be a councillor.

Find out if being a councillor is right for you at www.beacouncillor.co.uk @beacouncillor