Mayor of Worcester

The “Faithfuls”

Our splendid Worcester Cathedral hosted the City Civic Service on Sunday. Traditionally run at the start of the Mayoral year in Spring, last year the 2024 General Election put paid to the event. All Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral duties were suspended from the May to July!

With busy schedules, Remembrance in the Autum and Christmas at the end of year, January became the next available slot. Being very British about the weather I did not foresee January as a problem and despite a wet and windy run-up, the procession from the Guildhall stayed dry and the skies cleared.

It was lovely to see so many in the Guildhall afterwards and I just wish there was more time, as there is never enough, to spend with everyone!

The service was excellent, the choir sounded beautiful and thank you to Jatinderpal Loyal, for the reading and being my chaplain for the service.

It is heartwarming to see different faiths represented in our Cathedral.

Reverend Canon John Paul Hoskins talked about our faithful city and the series The Traitors. I have not watched but it was fascinating to pick up on the analogy between the series and real life and be reminded of all those faithful around us.

Nestled on the journey between our Cathedral and Guildhall, is St Helen’s Church, with its entrance on Fish Street. Reordered, repaired and reopened in October 2023, this church is an elegant light space inside and with under-floor heating there is no need to wrap up in the winter.

On Thursday evening, I attended with the High Sherriff of Worcestershire to support the Trustees of The Trussell Trust in thanking the volunteers of the Foodbank. Not all were able to attend and whilst the volunteers far from expect a thank-you, they certainly more than deserve one.

My theme for this week’s column is ‘Anniversaries and New Beginnings’.

The High Sherrif of Worcestershire, Charles Moyle and I went out visiting charities on Wednesday.

Charles’ theme for the year is Life Chances, focusing on some of the most vulnerable young adults in society.

This fits with my theme, Youth Matters and we visited my charity, Perdiswell Young Peoples’s Leisure Club (PYPLC), Worcester Food Bank, Headway and ASPIE.

First, we went to Worcester Food Bank which is part of the Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity and we took part in the volunteer daily meeting.

Next, we visited Headway Worcestershire which is a local and independent charity for adults affected by acquired brain injury (ABI).  We took part in a mindfulness session and ate lunch together.

Worcester Male Voice Choir came and sung, as brilliantly as ever.

One of their relatively new recruits is working with Headway and I was absolutely delighted to be able to open Mark’s Blind Craftsman’s Workshop, with nothing less than a saw!

In the afternoon we visited PYPLC and had a chat with two of the community groups using the facilities, it is very well kept and flexible enough to accommodate a multitude of activities.

Our final visit was to ASPIE, a social support and therapy group for adults with Asperger’s/autism.

Open every single Wednesday and Saturday, the Lowesmoor facility is a real haven, there is also ASPIE Avengers team for the footballers amongst us.

On Thursday it was a real treat to open Rotary Club’s 100-year anniversary project.

Gheluvelt Park is now home to new planters, a landscaped area with benches and a friendship group in the Sons of Rest Building. Scissor were used to cut the ribbon this time!

Friday evening was the Kays Theatre Group’s 70th anniversary panto the Glass Slipper.

It was a feast for the eyes and if like me, Christmas came and went too quickly, go book a ticket and recapture. The panto is taking place at the Swan Theatre until 2 February.

To book tickets, visit www.worcestertheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 01905 611427.

My theme for this year is Youth Matters.

Young people face an ever challenging and complicated environment.

Young people can be too easily forgotten and being less likely than older age ranges to speak up, they need support and they need a voice.

My charity for the year is Perdiwsell Young People’s Leisure Club.

Formed in 1976 in an old wartime asbestos Nissen hut, it gained charitable status in 1986 and is now in a much more modern building and known to many simply as the “blue roof”.

Keeping with its original objectives, “blue roof” provides educational and leisure time activities and facilities and supports charitable purposes in the local community.

Inclusion groups, musical groups and the skate park are good examples of activities on offer.

“Blue roof” is the largest provider of youth services in our city.

This year, I am hosting a Pride and Prejudice Charity Banquet in the beautiful Assembly Room at the Guildhall on Friday, 28 March at 6.45pm.

Organised in collaboration with the Mayor’s Charity, Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Club, the evening will include a drinks reception with entertainment in the Lower Hall, a three-course dinner in the Assembly Room with a full programme of live music and entertainment, a silent auction, live auction of donated items and a raffle.

Please check your calendars and if available, tickets can easily be purchased by email to civicoffice@worcester.gov.uk