Cllr Arif Hussain - Wycombe District Council

I came to England when I was eleven, unable to speak a word of English. I attribute my achievements to kind and wonderful people, such as my Headteacher, who devoted time and gave me assistance and direction.

As a result of this, I have always believed that you need to give something back to the community that you have extracted so much from. I strongly believe that we all have a responsibility to create an environment conducive to integration, respect and friendship amongst all communities. We can not always leave it to others.

I put myself forward to become a councillor, hoping to make a tangible difference to the community, having worked diligently in the background for many years as a local magistrate.

I thoroughly enjoy Group discussions and Council meetings, though they are often very heated - but this is only because everyone involved is very passionate about where we live and we all want the best for the people in our respective wards. It is also extraordinarily rewarding when one is able to assist local people and they go away smiling.

My advice to anyone interested in helping their local area would be to consider becoming a councillor - you can make a real difference to your local community.

Arif Hussain is a councillor for Terriers and Amersham Hill ward, Wycombe. Arif is a local serving Magistrate, school governor and Thames Valley Probation Board member.

Cllr Vincenzo Capozzoli - Southampton City Council

I am originally from neighbouring Somerset but moved to Southampton to attend Southampton University in 2004. By the time I completed my course I had fallen in love with Southampton and decided to stay here and make it my home. I now work as a teacher in the area.

I wanted to give back something to the local Portswood community which has been so good to me during my four years living in the city and so I stood for my local council.

Like teaching being a councillor is really rewarding, they are two jobs where you meet and help hundreds of people every year. I enjoy helping people, helping them to access different services and supporting them when things go wrong. I also enjoy being able to influence council policy, fighting on behalf of residents to ensure that everyone gets the best possible service.

Southampton is an amazing place with so much brilliant work going on. As a councillor I have the ability to spread and promote that message.

Would I recommend standing as a councillor? Undoubtedly yes.

As local residents we moan and groan about the way local and national government is working; from the pot hole outside our house to the state of our local park. As a councillor you can actively do something about this, changing your local area for the better and helping hundreds of people along the way.

We should be proud to live in a democracy like the United Kingdom, becoming a councillor allows you to engage and promote that political institution allowing the continuation of our great democratic process.

Vincenzo Capozzoli is a councillor for Portswood ward, Southampton. He is 22 years old and a teacher. You can find out more about his work as a councillor by visiting his website http://www.capozzoli.co.uk/

Cllr Nicola Best - Blackpool Council

I am 34 years of age and have lived in the ward I represent for most of my life.

I was actively involved in my local association and when a councillor decided to retire at the last election two years ago, I decided to stand as a councillor because I wanted to make a difference and help people in my area.

I have two wonderful boys aged eight and four who are proud and supportive that their mummy is a councillor and helps people. Although I do have a busy life my children always come first.

I enjoy my role as a councillor as it feels like I am helping my local community, getting a streetlight bulb replaced, rubbish removed, helping voluntary groups or recommending a new traffic light scheme in an accident hot spot. I also enjoy being a member of council committees that I sit on. I believe I have good prior knowledge and experience with children and education and I feel fortunate to be involved with council committees related to this.

It is a busy life with family commitments, working, studying and council commitments, but if I do have any spare time I enjoy spending it with my family and friends. A councillor needs good time management skills and must be able to prioritise.

Even though some days you go from meeting to meeting and never see daylight, it is worth it as I know I am helping my local community.

Nicola Best is a councillor for Marton ward, Blackpool. She is 34 years old, a student teacher and has two young children.

Cllr Sabina Alam - Malvern Hills District Council

My name is Sabina Alam. I am 32 years old, a wife and mother to three beautiful daughters, a Magistrate, a part-time student at Birmingham University and a councillor on Malvern Hills District Council. Although I lead a hectic life, I love every minute of it.

I became a councillor because you need to be vocal about issues that are relevant to you, your family and your neighbours. Politicians in central government will not always be aware of the unique aspects of your community and so it is important to have people who represent these issues at a local level. There will always be challenges but if you don't ask, you don't get. I wanted to represent my patch and try and achieve the best for my local community.

I have no specialist qualifications, most things you learn along the way. The most important thing is time management. My commitment to my family always comes first but I am able to balance this with being a councillor - something I always wanted to do.

I possibly don't seem like the most likely councillor - female, under 35, and of Bangladeshi origin - but everyone can bring something different to their community. If I can, you can!

I promise, the sense of achievement when your community thrives really makes it worthwhile.

Sabina Alam is a councillor for Link ward, Malvern Hills. She is a local Magistrate and mother of three.

Cllr Tom Day - Rugby Borough Council

When I meet people and tell them I'm a Councillor people often respond 'you're far too young to be a Councillor, shouldn't you be out enjoying yourself?'

To an extent they are right, being a Councillor is a serious commitment, but I can genuinely say that being a Councillor has been a lot of fun and the skills and knowledge you gain from being a councillor can open a lot of doors.

Yes, it is nerve-wracking knocking on doors asking people to vote for you and yes, the Council meetings can occasionally be a little monotonous, and it is sometimes hard to keep a straight face when I am in ceremonial attire wearing a cloak and Nelson hat! But when things change and you know it's because of you, it's a great feeling.

There aren't many opportunities for young people which allow you to have a direct say in how millions of pounds are spent, or which give you the ability to make a phone call and get a problem sorted out for a local resident.

People say it a lot but it is true - all you need to be a good politician is the drive to make things better, and a little confidence to step forward.

Tom Day is a councillor for Earls Craven and Wolston ward, Rugby.

Cllr Becky Brunskill - Durham County Council

Until last year I was working as a check out girl at Woolworths to pay my way through my course at Northumbria University, I never expected that I would celebrate my 21st birthday at the County Council

I live and have grown up in an ex-mining village in County Durham. It's so true that all councils need a range of backgrounds, my experience as a young person has been vital when making decisions about looked after children in the County, transportation, education...the list goes on and on.

It was a daunting experience at first, but you have to dig your roots, keep asking questions and getting to know people whether inside the civic building or in your patch.

As a Councillor you put in as much work as you want, the harder you work - the more you get back. The first thing I achieved was getting a burnt sign replaced. It was a simple task but sometimes the smallest things can make a huge difference to community pride. It's an addictive job where every day is different.

Nothing compares to the experience of being a councillor, you get a real insight into people's lives across all sections of society. You come across selfless people who dedicate their lives to their community, a project, an allotment or even a street. You soon come to learn that these people are priceless. Imagine if everyone did just one thing!

Politics doesn't get me excited anymore, improving my community does.

Cllr Peter Chapman - Weymouth and Portland Borough Council

I got involved in local politics almost by accident.

I had in the past done some leafleting and small jobs for the local party in my home town of Plymouth. When I moved to Weymouth 3 years ago I signed up to help out in the same way but was persuaded to put my name forward for the local elections in 2007.

It was hard work canvassing and a bit daunting at first, not knowing the area well but the support I received from fellow candidates and party members kept me going and it must be the quickest way of getting to know an area, the geography, the people and the local issues.

There is of course a down side to being a Councillor in terms of the work and effort involved especially if you have other commitments. But the upside far outweighs the down.

You really do feel a part of the community and it's great when you can help people out, not just in your own ward but by influencing decisions that will have a positive impact across the Borough and affect how the community will evolve. There is also a great social side to life as a Councillor both with the people you work and the public you get to meet.

As a councillor you are a small cog in a large wheel, but it is the small cogs that give the council its momentum and direction.

I would recommend standing for your local Council, it is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made.