FAQs

What do you do?

We provide free, bespoke programmes of support women at every stage of their political journey through live workshops and self-led resources, from Just Getting Started by providing political literacy, to guiding them through choosing the right role for them and how to get there when they’re Ready to Get Involved. Once they’re Getting Ready to Stand, we provide everything they need to run their own election campaign, including expert advice and peer-support for all candidates, and grants to support women on no or low income with the personal costs of standing. Finally, once they’re In Elected Office, we provide peer-support and coaching to allow them to thrive during their term. Within all of this work, we listen deeply to the experiences and feedback from communities who are currently underrepresented, such as Women of Colour and d/Deaf and Disabled women, to ensure they have the specific support they need. All women in our community (or those exploring if they want to dip their toe in) have the opportunity to also book a 1:1 Ask Her appointment with a member of our team and gain personalised advice and support. On top of all of this work, we’re also working with partners in the ecosystem to understand how barriers to women’s political participation can be dismantled to truly achieve equal representation in Britain. All that for a tiny team on part-time hours, it’s a lot!

How many women have you helped get elected?

It’s really hard to track overall, but we know that since 2021 at least 192 of the women accessing our candidate support have been elected! We have had conversations with thousands of women over the past few years. Some of those women have been elected and others are still on their journey. For us, success is a woman realising her potential in the world of politics or even envisioning herself as a leader in other sectors. 

What if I'm not sure about whether I want to stand for office? Do I have to commit to anything before getting started?

No! We encourage commitment-free exploration. You’re welcome any time for any training. We recommend Just Getting Started as a great place to begin.

Are your courses free?

Yes, always. And we always pay the women we work with, such as our course facilitators, fairly. Women have worked for free for far too long! Contributions to help us continue to pay these wonderful women are always appreciated, so please do donate if you can.

Do I have to attend live, or can I watch a recording?

We run live workshops alongside plenty of self-led resources, including recordings of past webinars that you can watch in your own time. See all of our upcoming live workshops in Events + Workshops and our self-led resources, including recordings, in the Resource Hub.

I have a lot going on right now - what's the expected time commitment for getting involved?

There is no expected time commitment at all. Our live workshops average 1.5 hours in length. Sign up for as many or as few as you can, however you want to fit them into your schedule. If you’re tight on time but want to receive personalised support, our 20 minute Ask Her sessions are a perfect way to gain advice without having to commit too much time. We also have plenty of self-led resources that you can explore at your own pace, whenever you can fit it into your schedule. See what’s available in our Resource Hub.

I'm not a UK citizen. Can I still get involved?

Yes! Your voice matters, too. We’d love for you to learn more about how UK politics works. Please keep in mind however that there are limits on who can stand for elected office depending on your citizen status, but we can help you explore this through our programme of support, alongside other ways you can make change in politics outside of becoming an elected representative.

I don't have very much money or political connections. Does it make sense for me to consider getting involved in politics?

Absolutely. There’s a myth that you need to have gone to law school or to be a businesswoman in order to stand for office. That’s not true; you’re already qualified, just as you are. We need more authentic women from all backgrounds to get involved in every sphere of government. We provide grants for women on low-to-no income to support with the personal costs of standing, to enable more women from all backgrounds to put themselves forward. Have a look at Fund Her to find out more.

I'm only 16. Do you have an age requirement?

You’re more than welcome to join a workshop. You can only stand for election once you turn 18, but we are all about encouraging you to get ready to stand so you can do it as soon as you’re allowed!

I hate being in the spotlight, but I'm passionate about political issues in my community. Are there ways for me to make a difference without campaigning for office?

Definitely. You can join a political party, or support another woman who is standing for office. Joining our Just Getting Started workshops is a great way to explore these options.

Do you include trans women in your work?

Yes. We are a fully inclusive organisation. All women are welcome to register to access our activities. We acknowledge that non-binary people do not fit into the binary categories of women and men, but we recognise that some non-binary people’s experiences or identities intersect with women’s and if you feel you would benefit from accessing a women-centred space, we want to welcome you.

Can you teach me how to win an election?

We run workshops, courses and provide resources teaching you how to stand in an election. We aim to give you the tools so that you can stand for election - whether you win or not is up to the voters!

Why don’t you support men?

There are many barriers faced by women who are politically active that are not faced by men – we exist to change this. We adhere to our belief that our workshops are best delivered as women-only spaces where women can come together to share, collaborate, and support one another.

Do you support individual candidates?

We support all women who stand for office. In our commitment to non-partisanship, we do not publicly champion individual candidates. We do provide grants for women on low-to-no income to support with the personal costs of standing for election through Fund Her.

Can I get involved?

Yes! If you are a woman, sign up to the programme that best aligns with what stage of your political journey you’re currently on. If you’re not sure, take our quiz to help you decide! We are always looking for women to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas on our blog too. If you’re passionate about our cause, we’re always grateful for financial contributions to keep this work going - so please do donate! If you are involved in an university society or community group, or if you work at a local authority, we’d love for you to access our free workshop toolkits to encourage others to learn more about women in politics and consider standing themselves. Email us to access our toolkits.

I’m interested in standing for election. Where do I start?

Join our community below! We advise signing up for Just Getting Started if you’re at the start of your political journey, or if you’re sure what role is right for you and want to explore how to get there, sign up for Ready to Get Involved. If you’re in the process of putting yourself forward for an upcoming election, sign up for our candidate training through Getting Ready to Stand, or if you’re In Elected Office we’re ready to provide you with personalised advice and peer support too.