Wandsworth mayor backs three local charities

Wandsworth’s new mayor, Southfields councillor Emmeline Owens, will use her mayoral year to raise funds for three borough charities supporting families, mental health and youth crime prevention.

Cllr Owens was formally elected as Mayor of Wandsworth at the council’s annual general meeting, where members of the new Cabinet were also confirmed. The Deputy Mayor for the year is Cllr Kirsten Botting, who represents Trinity Ward.

Three charities chosen for mayoral support

The mayor’s chosen charities are Wandsworth Home Start, Sound Minds and Battersea Crime Prevention Panel.

Wandsworth Home Start supports parents in the borough. Sound Minds works with people experiencing mental health issues through art and creative activities. Battersea Crime Prevention Panel works with young people to help stop them becoming involved in crime.

Cllr Owens said she wanted to highlight services that help hold local communities together, with a particular focus on children and young people.

“I am passionate about celebrating the quiet services that sustain communities across Wandsworth, especially support for children and young people,” she said. “These charities all do wonderful work in our borough and I’m proud to have the opportunity to support them.”

Emmeline Owens’ Wandsworth background

Cllr Owens has lived in Wandsworth for 20 years and is raising a family in the borough. She has a career in the business and finance sector and has also been closely involved in local education.

Her education work has included a decade as chair of governors at a Wandsworth state school, giving her a long-running role in one of the public services most closely connected to families in the borough.

Kirsten Botting named Deputy Mayor

Cllr Kirsten Botting, the new Deputy Mayor, has lived in the borough for more than 35 years.

She is chair of the Tooting Bec Safer Neighbourhood Team and Neighbourhood Watch Panel, and has also served on the Tooting Commons Management Advisory Committee. Her local volunteering includes work as a tree warden and with the Friends of Tooting and Wandsworth Commons.

Wandsworth Council said residents and organisations can find details through the council on how to invite the Mayor of Wandsworth to community events.

Source: Wandsworth Borough Council