Congleton Mayor's Charity Fund - Kay Wesley

This fund is for my Mayor's Charities, which I will be raising money for until May 2025. I have chosen organisations that each in their own way promote equality and inclusion in Congleton - myCWA, Ruby's and Congleton Pride.

myCWA is a Cheshire-based charity that offers support to anyone affected by domestic abuse. The team supports hundreds of families in Congleton and offers a local peer support group and advice clinic. Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that affects all the family, and often requires complex solutions including housing, financial, legal, psychological and practical support. The charity also supports perpetrators who want to change their behaviour, and in doing so helps prevent future crimes. MyCWA works in partnership with Cheshire Constabulary and other agencies and its services have been called a 'lifeline' by Congleton residents.

MyCWA's motto is 'Live Free' from abuse and their services do just that - set people free to live their lives in safety.

Ruby’s is an award winning Congleton-based charity supporting children and young people aged 0-18 years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families and carers in Cheshire East. They provide high-quality facilities on site in Congleton and outreach sessions at partner venues and onboard their mobile sensory bus.

They offer person-centred support, by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, who are equipped with a wide range of knowledge, expertise and lived experience. They provide coordinated support and action to improve the quality of life and wellbeing to individuals and groups in Cheshire East with some of the most vulnerable and complex needs.

Congleton Pride's Mission is to make LGBTQIA+ people feel welcome and safe to be open and celebrate who they are in Congleton. In addition to an annual Pride event, the Pride team runs events throughout the year including informal socials such a weekly 'Caffeine Connections' coffee-and-cake event and evening events that welcome everyone. The team works with the police to challenge and combat hate crime and with organisations like local churches to promote inclusivity.

As a result of Congleton Pride's work over the past 5 years, LGBTQIA+ people now feel much more comfortable living in Congleton, but there is still work to do and we do still have instances of homophobia and hate crime. I hope that making Pride a Mayor's charity will draw attention to their work and help demonstrate that respect, kindness and inclusivity are for everyone in our town.