The new mayor of Brighton and Hove Pete West aims to cycle and walk to as many mayoral engagements as possible and to back more charities.
Councillor West, the first Green to win a seat in Brighton and Hove 20 years ago, said that he was conscious of trying to maintain the dignity of the office – and that he would sometimes arrive by car.
He also plans to support 27 local charities by giving them a “seal of approval” – rather than focusing on just a small number as is usually the case.
At the Brighton and Hove City Council annual council meeting this afternoon (Thursday 12 May) Councillor West said: “Every year a large number of charities apply to be adopted by the mayor as the mayor’s charities. Under the approach taken to date only a handful of those charities could be adopted.
“I know that has been very frustrating for those charities that don’t get selected and I know former mayors have often found choosing some charities, above others, very difficult. I know I couldn’t manage it.
“So, we are going to try something a bit different this year, which will allow a greater number and breadth of charities to benefit from association with the mayor.
“Instead of adopting three or four charities, that I would then support by helping to organise special fundraising events, I am instead choosing to adopt 27 charities that will each be able to use the mayoral brand to promote events they organise, many of which I hope to be able to attend and support.
“This is quite a change but is not a leap in the dark as this is the approach taken by the Lord Lieutenant who has a record of using it to good effect.
“And I am pleased that the broadened selection of charities I will be working with have all responded with enthusiasm to the fresh opportunity this presents for them.”
The mayor’s charities for 2016-17 will be
- Action on hearing loss https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
- Albion in the community http://www.albioninthecommunity.org.uk
- Brighton and Hove Food Partnership http://bhfood.org.uk
- Brighton and Hove Impetus http://www.bh-impetus.org
- BMECP http://bmecp.org.uk
- Brighton Housing Trust http://www.bht.org.uk
- Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove http://www.thecarerscentre.org
- CCHF Action for Kids http://www.cchf-allaboutkids.org.uk/welcome.htm
- Cruse Bereavement Care http://www.cruse.org.uk
- Emmaus http://www.emmausbrighton.co.uk/who-we-are
- Family Support Work http://familysupportwork.org/contact-us
- Friends, Families and Travellers http://www.gypsy-traveller.org
- Friends of Brighton and Hove Hospitals http://www.attend.org.uk/membership/in-your-region/south-east-0/south-east-showcase/friends-of-brighton-and-hove-hospitals
- Greencycle Sussex https://trashnothing.com/brighton-greencycle
- Headway Hurstwood Park http://www.headway-hp.org.uk
- Martlets Hospice http://www.themartlets.org.uk/home/index.html
- Money Advice Plus http://www.moneyadviceplus.org.uk
- Moulsecoomb Forest Garden http://www.seedybusiness.org/index.shtml
- Resource Centre http://www.resourcecentre.org.uk
- Rise http://www.riseuk.org.uk
- Sussex Beacon http://www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
- The Clare Project http://www.clareproject.org.uk
- The Clock Tower Sanctuary http://www.thects.org.uk
- The Fed Centre for Independent Living http://www.thefedonline.org.uk
- The Sussex Heart Charity http://news.sussexheartcharity.org
- Sustrans http://www.sustrans.org.uk
- Sussex Wildlife Trust https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk
Thank you Frank and BHNews. I’m sure my Mayor’s charities will appreciate your coverage here. Pete