Thank you.

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, that’s the message I most want to share with the hundreds of Liberal Democrat members who give their time to support our candidate approval and selection processes.

As Chair of the Joint Candidates Sub-Committee, I see first-hand every week the extraordinary contribution our volunteers make. Whether you sit on approval panels, help organise assessments, support candidate development, serve on selection committees, provide mentoring, stand as a candidate or any of the other ways volunteers keep the whole process running behind the scenes, you are helping to build the future of our party. 

Every approval conducted and every selection completed is only possible because volunteers step forward to make it happen. Your efforts ensure that local parties across the country can put forward strong Liberal Democrat voices in their communities. 

So, to everyone who has played a part – thank you. Thank you for the evenings spent on Zoom, the weekends given up for assessments, the paperwork, the interviews, the mentoring conversations and all the countless hours that most members never see. 

As we look ahead to the next General Election, our work is far from finished. We will need more approved candidates, more selections completed and more support for those stepping forward to represent our party. That means we will once again be asking members to volunteer their time and expertise. 

I know that many of you already give many hours to the party and yet time and again you answer the call. The professionalism, fairness and care that you bring to the process reflects the very best of our party. 

So, on behalf of the Joint Candidates Sub-Committee, thank you. 

We couldn’t do it without you.

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now is a great time. Whether you have years of experience or are looking for a new way to contribute, there are a range of roles available and training and support will be provided. 

If you would like to find out more about volunteering, please get in touch with the Candidates Office at [email protected] with your phone number, and we’ll give you a call. We’d be delighted to hear from you and discuss how you can help us build the next generation of Liberal Democrat candidates.

* Baroness Alison Suttie is a Lib Dem member of the House of Lords and Chair of the Joint Candidates Sub-Committee (JCSC)