Salford City Council Councillor

Salford’s new Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Karen Garrido has launched a new charity as she begins her year of office.

The Ceremonial Mayor’s Community Chest will provide grants of up to £500 for local people and groups alongside plans to refurbish a new family room at Salford Royal hospital and raise funds for Salford kidney patients.

Each year the Ceremonial Mayor chooses a number of local charities to support and carries out a series of fund raising initiatives during their year of office. The Ceremonial Mayor is supported this year by her husband and consort Councillor Robin Garrido and friend Mrs Beryl Henson as mayoress.

Councillor Garrido said: “I’ve always done my best to make a difference in the community and for my Mayoral charities I wanted to continue with that.

“The Community Chest could be used for things like providing play equipment or refurbishing a community facility or helping someone take part in a sports or dance competition or pay for tuition or equipment.

“I’m also aiming to raise funds to refurbish and furnish a family room at in the haematology department at Salford Royal hospital for relatives of patients to have some quiet, private and comfortable space and, through Kidneys for Life, to provide equipment for kidney patients.”

And, continuing the community theme, Councillor Garrido has invited 200 community representatives to join her for afternoon tea on Worsley Green on Sunday.

The event, which Councillor Garrido has part funded herself, is part of the traditional ceremony to launch the mayoral year which begins with a church service and blessing. Previous mayors have chosen Ordsall Hall and the Royal British Legion for their inaugural afternoon tea.