Mayor of Worcester

This week has offered two very different but equally meaningful opportunities to reflect on community, inclusion and the richness of life in Worcester.

Together with the Mayoress, Cllr Zoe Cookson, I had the honour of attending a deeply significant occasion alongside local MP Tom Collins and representatives of Worcestershire’s faith communities: the first Shabbat to be held in Worcester in 53 years.

This service, led by Rabbi Anna Gerrard and organised by the Three Counties Liberal Jewish Community, marked a historic return of Jewish worship to the city.

A Shabbat service traditionally includes the reading of a portion of the Torah, and on this occasion the Torah scroll itself was generously provided by Hereford Museum.

Worcester’s most recent Jewish community, which dates back to the First World War, ceased meeting in 1973, meaning that for over half a century Jewish residents have had to travel to nearby cities to practise their faith.

That made this moment all the more powerful. At a time when many Jewish communities across the country are facing challenges, including rising incidents of verbal abuse, it was especially important to stand together in solidarity and friendship.

Following the service, we broke bread and shared lunch. The atmosphere was one of warmth, respect and shared purpose, and it was moving to see such a strong show of interfaith support. This was not just a religious service, but a meaningful step towards renewing a visible and valued part of Worcester’s community life.

In a different but equally important context, I also had the pleasure of visiting ShopMobility Worcester this week.

There, I met dedicated volunteers and service users before taking to Broad Street myself on a mobility scooter. Experiencing the city centre from this perspective was both enlightening and humbling.

ShopMobility provides a vital service, enabling residents and visitors with mobility challenges to access our shops, services and public spaces with independence and dignity.

As I navigated the pedestrianised areas, it became clear just how important accessibility is – not as an abstract principle, but as a practical necessity that shapes people’s everyday lives.

I would like to thank Tony Stockham and the entire team for their warm welcome and for the invaluable work they do.

Their commitment ensures that Worcester remains a city that works for everyone. ShopMobility Worcester is located at 54 Friary Walk, Crowngate Car Park (Level 6, WR1 3LE), and is open Monday 10am- 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9am–4pm, and closed on Sundays and bank holidays. They are always looking for willing volunteers.

These two experiences, though very different, share a common thread: the importance of inclusion. Whether through fostering faith connections or improving physical accessibility, both remind us that a strong city is one where everyone feels they belong and can participate fully in community life.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting Surviving the Matrix, a mental health support group that meets every Thursday from 11am to 2.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House on Sansome Walk.

Stepping inside felt like entering a warm harbour in the week – a place shaped by kindness, routine and shared understanding.

I met the volunteers whose steady commitment keeps the doors open, and members who come for conversation, company, reading, art, games or simply a filling hot meal that carries its own quiet comfort.

What stayed with me was the ease of the space: people free to talk, create, laugh, reflect, or simply sit with a newspaper, all held within a gentle sense of belonging. Their trips, celebrations and year-round support radiate community at its most human. My visit reminded me how vital groups like this are in helping people feel seen, supported and never alone.

The Mayoress, Zoe, and I were delighted to join the Malaysian pop-up evening at Mix Café – a night that felt like stepping into a bright swirl of flavour, warmth and community spirit.

The café was alive with the energy of volunteers whose generosity makes these events possible, and with diners gathered around shared tables, discovering dishes that carried both spice and story.

Mix Café hosts these pop-up nights not just to celebrate great food, but to shine a light on the wider work of ONSIDE across Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Every plate served helps raise awareness and vital funds, supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health challenges to build skills and confidence in a nurturing environment.

It was wonderful to see how food can become a bridge: bringing people together, supporting a brilliant charity, and showcasing the café’s inclusive ethos. We left full – of both flavour and admiration.

I was also proud to host our Veterans’ Conference at the Guildhall – a gathering that filled the Assembly Room with purpose, reflection and resolve.

Bringing veterans, charities, service organisations and community partners together under one roof reminded us that support works best when it is shared, honest and practical.

This year’s 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day cast a long, thoughtful light across the event, grounding our discussions in the courage and sacrifice of those who secured peace and of all who have served since.

I spoke of the enduring responsibilities we carry as a society, and of the need to ensure that gratitude is matched by action in mental health support, housing, employment and the transition to civilian life.

Special thanks were due to Cllr Pat Agar, whose dedication made the conference possible. Together, we reaffirmed Worcester’s commitment to valuing veterans not only in ceremony, but in everyday support.

 

 

As my favourite band, The Smiths, sang: “There is more to life to books you know, but not much more.”

As a confessed bibliophile (as well as 1980’s indie music fan) it was a great pleasure to open Worcester’s new Alchemy of Words Festival – a vibrant celebration of literature, creativity, and community in the heart of our city.

Books have always meant a great deal to me. Growing up in the 1970s, I often found comfort and meaning in stories, starting with Enid Blyton and Anthony Buckeridge, and later discovering Orwell, Greene, and Hemingway.

The festival was a chance to honour that magic – and Worcester’s proud literary tradition – with writers, poets, publishers, and our wonderful bookshops like Script Haven leading the way. It was wonderful to meet Leena Batchelor (owner, spoken word artist, published author, poet and former Worcestershire Poet Laureate) from Script Haven who helped make it all happen. We also crowned our first Worcestershire Literary Champion, Pete Thompson. This is a role designed to inspire a love of reading and writing across the county and I look forward to working with Pete. With panels, performances, workshops and debate, there was something for everyone. We came together to celebrate the voices that challenge and inspire us – and the books that open our minds. Watch out Cheltenham and Hay: there is a new literature festival in town!

The festival also fitted in with my mayoral theme for the year which is learning. Part of my goal for the year is to promote learning in all its forms and across all ages.

Therefore, it was great to do my first guided tour of the Guildhall and the Mayor’s parlour with a group of 24 German students from Stuttgart on an exchange visit to Worcester.

The Guildhall is a literal treasure trove of historical artifacts housed in a beautiful building. Even though I have lived in Worcester for 24 years there were things about our city that I learnt for the first time doing my homework.

I really enjoyed showing our visitors round the building and explaining all the aspects of our rich and varied history which make Worcester such a special place. If you fancy having a tour, please apply via the council website.

In recent years, the term “fast fashion” has become synonymous with affordable and trendy clothing, churned out at lightning speed to meet consumer demand. However, behind the facade of convenience and low prices lie a host of negative issues that have far-reaching consequences for both people and the planet.

The industry is notorious for its excessive use of resources, including water, energy, and raw materials. From the cultivation of cotton to the dyeing and finishing processes, each stage of garment production contributes to pollution and environmental degradation.

Equally troubling are the human rights abuses that pervade the fast fashion supply chain. In pursuit of ever-lower production costs, many companies outsource manufacturing to countries with lax labour regulations, where workers are subjected to long hours, low wages, and unsafe working conditions. Reports of child labour, forced labour, and exploitation are all too common, highlighting the human toll of the industry’s relentless drive for profit.

Maybe that sounds all a bit too worthy? Thankfully, there are so many alternatives of which Worcester can be proud. There is a fantastic local group called the Social Sew In which, in their words, “is encouraging the public to be inspired to rethink, reuse, repair, and rework items of clothing and textiles to reduce carbon emissions and the colossal wastage and pollution of fast fashion”. For those that need a bit of professional help step forward Lucy Akehurst, the owner of Worcester’s The Zip Yard. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Lucy to recognise her achievement of reaching her 30,000th customer.

Thursday saw the culmination of months of hard work to create the Mayor’s Charity Fashion Show in aid of Age UK. Nunnery Wood High School, Christopher Whitehead Language College and Heart of Worcestershire College made an incredible fashion show out of donated second hand clothes. The students sourced their materials, made their designs and produced clothes that were then shown, often by themselves, on a catwalk as the culmination of the charity dinner. What an experience for some of Worcester’s most talent young people – I’m so proud of you.