On Thursday 1 May 2025 residents across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire will head to the polls to elect the next Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
In the run-up to this important vote, BCfm in partnership with other local Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations hosted a Mayoral hustings on Tuesday 23 April.
The event provided an opportunity for residents and community leaders to hear directly from the candidates about their vision for the region and to ensure the voices of the VCSE sector are firmly part of the conversation.
The role of the WECA Mayor is a pivotal one, with significant influence over how funding is secured and invested across the region, including in transport, skills, housing, net zero initiatives, and economic development. The Mayor also plays a critical role in setting strategic priorities and ensuring joined-up thinking across our diverse local authorities.
As media partner, BCfm was proud to support the event, amplifying community voices and helping ensure that public engagement remains at the heart of regional decision-making.
A full recording of the hustings will be broadcast on BCfm (Thursday 24th April at 11pm, Friday 25th April at midday) and is available below as a podcast, giving more people the chance to hear directly from the candidates and encouraging wider participation in the democratic process.
Through the hustings, the organising VCSE partners sought to highlight the value of strong collaboration between civic leadership and the third sector. Candidates were invited to engage with key concerns from the sector, understand the depth of community engagement that VCSE groups facilitate, and reflect on how they would work in partnership to co-design a fairer, greener, and more connected West of England.
The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
- BANKS, Arron Fraser Andrew (Reform UK)
- GODWIN, Helen (Labour Party)
- HENMAN, Oli (Liberal Democrats)
- PAGE, Mary (Green Party)
- SCOTT, Ian Keith Mark (Independent)
- SMITH, Steve (Conservative Party)
