Ledbury’s new mayor has chosen her mayoral charities for the year ahead.
And Helen I’Anson is taking the lyrics of a classic Bill Withers song as her inspiration.
Cllr I’Anson was elected mayor by Ledbury Town Council earlier this month and says her vision for the coming year is ‘Lean on Ledbury’.
“The words of the song 'Lean on Me' are the inspiration for the mayor’s theme for 2023/24,” she said.
“The hope is that every Ledbury resident does not have to face their particular problem alone but will be able to call upon somebody from Ledbury, whether it be from its churches, voluntary organisations, clubs, councillors, or from neighbours, who will step up to help carry their load.
“Many fundraising events are being planned throughout the year, which hopefully will help raise money for the mayor's nominated charities.”
The two charities for the year are Megan Baker House in Ledbury and Close House Youth Centre in Hereford.
Megan Baker House, which is based in Orchard Lane, helps children and adults overcome movement difficulties caused by neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, Parkinson’s, stroke, multiple sclerosis and acquired brain injury.
It does this by using a technique called Conductive Education and has helped hundreds of people over the past 21 years.
Close House is a youth centre in Hereford that specialises in working with young people who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or socially excluded.
READ MORE: Helen I'Anson is new Ledbury mayor as town searches for councillors
The charity has been going since 2004 and has run art, music, poetry, filmmaking and storytelling projects as well as its regular drop-in sessions.
There will soon be a chance to find out about many more charities and voluntary organisations as Ledbury Community Day takes place on Saturday, June 10.
The day also marks the start of Great Big Green Week, which is being supported in Ledbury by the town council through its Climate Change Working Party.
The event is designed to give green and environmental groups the chance to get their messages across.
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