Claire Douglas
Councillor for Heworth
Claire was elected a Labour Councillor representing Heworth Ward on City of York Council in 2019, the same area of York she has lived in for many years. She became Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Labour Group of councillors on the City Council in May 2021, and Leader in May 2022. She is also the Labour spokesperson for Economy and City Development.
She has been involved in campaigns to bring better working conditions to York workers through the ‘Pay the Living Wage’ Campaign and pushing the council to adopt a city-wide approach to good employment that resulted in the adoption of the Good Business Charter. She’s a member of the steering group for the York High Street Forum.
She continues to work extensively with Heworth residents, resident associations and other local groups to represent them to make sure the council upkeeps their social housing stock appropriately, pushing for local road safety improvements, making sure the no. 12 bus service is saved, holding developers to account in the ward, helping to bring youth services and cost of living support to our Heworth communities and get improvements to play areas and green spaces in Tang Hall and Bellfarm.
Prior to being elected Claire worked in a range of roles starting as a science teacher, before working in IT for a period in the US. She then carried her interest in IT into running a small international IT firm for 16 years based in York.
Claire also has significant experience in the charity sector having founded local children’s charity Big Futures Foundation (BFF), of which she remains the Chair of Trustees. BFF works with children from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them and their families improve their emotional wellbeing and life skills and help to close the academic attainment gap.
Claire is also Chair of Trustees of Tang Hall Community Centre, located in the ward she represents. The centre is a vibrant, active hub in the community which hosts various organisations, activities and events, promoting healthy eating and bringing the local community together for friendship, support, learning and leisure.
A passion for social justice and believing everyone deserves equal opportunities to succeed in life is what motivates Claire in the various roles she fulfils in the city. She is keen to work with organisations across our city to deliver the best possible outcomes for the residents of York.