Today’s marks the Council’s Annual General Meeting where my time as Deputy Mayor of Reading comes to an end. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my town in this special way. These past 7 months have seen me support the Mayor Cllr Rachel Eden in her 5 ambitions for her term; Creating a sustainable Reading, Giving children the best start in life, Supporting those at the end of their life, Helping the community recover from the pandemic and Supporting Reading’s diverse community.

I looked through my calendar over the past 7 months and I am pleased to have met with many charities, businesses and communities’ groups.

– I had a visit to the Saint Laurence church for the installation of a The Revd Chris Jones

– I joined the Mayor and Councillor to celebrate 50 years of the No5 Young People, a charity who provide free mental health support for young people in Reading

– I welcomed delegates to Reading for the Association for the Preservation of Roman Mosaics (ASPROM) – UK leading organisation for Roman’s Mosaic – Winter Symposium

– I joined the Reading Eagles FC – a football club using football as a tool to foster community cohesion and integration for their third annual event.

– I visited the Parenting Special Children Whitley Community Support Group for parents who children have additional needs as they received a grant by the John Sykes Foundation

– I joined Parenting Special Children alongside the Mayor as we celebrate 15 years of the charity with special guest, Countess of Wessex

– I joined Dingley’s Promise a great charity that deliver support to under 5’s and their families with special educational needs and disabilities for their fundraising event

– I joined the Cowshed –  a charity that support people of all backgrounds in their time of personal crisis for the opening of their new location where I met those who had being personally helped by the charity

– I joined Queen Anne School as they hosted a Reframe Pain conference with Royal Berkshire Clinical leader of Pain Medicine where I got to present the prizes to the winners of the challenge.

– I stood with Ukraine and spoke at the ‘Artists for Ukraine’ fundraiser, an event put together by local artist to raise funds for Ukraine

– I attended the screening of the Untold Oxford Road Chronicles documentary a project sponsored by Reading Council and HAZ to tell the diverse tales of those living, working and growing up on Oxford Road.

– I attended the Reading Windrush Alliance meeting to promote the windrush documentation and compensation scheme

– I welcome the release of the Fantastic Beast movies in Reading with the students of the hill schools and the choreographer of the order of the phoenix.

– I attended the Air Ambulance Charity Concert with Reading and Kendrick School to raise funds for Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

– I joined Haslam estate agent in welcoming Reading Foundation for art and bishopland education at their fabulous event.

– I attended the Caversham court garden AGM to listen to the fantastic presentation from Richard Bisgrove on the Impact of climate change on gardens and particularly historic garden.

– I attended the Reading business network discussing about the promotion of a circular economy and more sustainable development