Mayor of Worcester

Worcester is a city which comes together for those in need.

I had the honour of attending Worcester Woods Countryside Park for a very special Family Fun Day fundraiser in support of Cancer Research UK and Fanconi Hope.

It was a joyful occasion, filled with games, face painting, and laughter, but above all, it was a celebration of community spirit and resilience.

At the heart of this event was Eluned Allen, whose courage and compassion in the face of personal loss inspired us all.

Her brother Stephen’s battle with cancer and Fanconi anaemia brought people together—not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness.

Eluned’s determination to create something hopeful out of heartbreak reminds us of the strength we can find in unity.

Events like this show Worcester at its best: people coming together to support a cause, to share kindness, and to offer hope.

Whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply showing up, every action made a difference.

Thank you, Worcester, for standing together—and for reminding us all of the power of community.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of Eluned the event raised £2,215.70 towards these worthy causes. You can still contribute here:  https://www.justgiving.com/page/eluned-allen-5

Each year, the Mayor of Worcester supports a local charity, and I’m proud to be championing Acorns Children’s Hospice during my term.

Based in Worcester, Acorns for the Three Counties provides essential care to around 260 children and families living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

In a warm, home-like environment, children can experience moments of joy through arts, crafts, hydrotherapy, and therapeutic play — bringing comfort and normality to their lives.

But Acorns does more than care for children; it supports whole families with bereavement counselling, advocacy, and dedicated groups for parents, siblings, and grandparents.

Their extraordinary work is mostly funded by donations and community fundraising — a true reflection of our region’s compassion.

Through my mayoral year, I aim to raise not just money but also awareness, helping ensure Acorns can continue to be there for families when they need it most.

Together, we can show that no family should face such a journey alone.

This week, I had the great honour of seeing first-hand the incredible work our city’s volunteers do.

On Sunday, I attended a fantastic fundraising tombola in support of New Hope Worcester, a brilliant children’s charity based in Ronkswood.

Founded in 2010 by Jean Wilson, after she struggled to find suitable care for her daughter Emily, New Hope has become a lifeline for many families.

It offers weekend respite care for children aged six to 18 with disabilities and complex health needs, providing a safe, nurturing environment with facilities like a multi-sensory room, soft play zone, and outdoor play area.

The tombola was fun and full of energy, but more importantly, it helped raise funds for a truly vital cause.

It was inspiring to see our community come together in support. I’m proud to champion charities like New Hope and incredibly grateful to everyone who took part and showed such generosity.

The wonderful work done by volunteers was also celebrated in the City Council’s annual Volunteer Celebration held at the Guildhall on Wednesday night.

Now in its 11th year, it was a great opportunity to thank volunteers from across the city for all the brilliant work they do.

The evening recognised a whole range of resident’s associations, horticultural volunteers, those who support events, environmental sustainability activists, community volunteers and friends groups.

As Mayor, I had the honour of opening the evening and speaking about the huge contribution volunteers make to Worcester.

Across our city, volunteers are quietly transforming lives—offering their time, energy, and compassion not for recognition, but because they care.

Whether it’s supporting vulnerable families, protecting green spaces like Laugherne Brook and Cripplegate Park, or helping run our cultural events, volunteers are truly the beating heart of Worcester.

I also spoke about how volunteering is evolving. We’re seeing more flexible roles, younger people getting involved, and digital volunteering making an impact.

What hasn’t changed is the spirit—volunteers continue to build a kinder, more connected city. Thank you to each and every one of you.