Chairman Councillor Sue Wilson, has revealed her chosen charities for the year.
She will raise money for Colne Valley Railway Preservation, based in Castle Hedingham, Friends of Flitch Way in Braintree and Home-Start Essex.
Cllr Wilson, who is the ward member for Witham Central, was elected as Chairman for Braintree District Council for the civic year 2021/22 at an Annual General Meeting in April 2021. Cllr Wilson has been a councillor since 2010. Cllr Andrew Hensman was elected as Vice-Chairman.
Cllr Wilson said: “I look forward to raising money during my civic year and have chosen three fantastic organisations. The past year has been tough one for many charities so I hope I can go some way to highlight the great work carried out by Colne Valley Railway Preservation, The Friends of the Flitch Way and Home-Start Essex and help support their fundraising efforts.”
Paul Lemon from Colne Valley Railway Preservation said: “We are very grateful to have been chosen as one of the chairman’s charities. Any money raised will help us maintain our educational activities and community history museum including the restoration and operation of a demonstration railway so that our visitors can continue to learn about the history of the railway and its effect on the community together with joy of train travel.”
Stan Davies from The Friends of the Flitch Way said: “We are delighted that Cllr Wilson has chosen us, we work hard to maintain and improve the Flitch Way, Blackwater Rail Trail and Essex countryside areas for the benefit of the community. We set out to bring together local like-minded people keen to keep active and with an interest in the outdoors and conservation who want to maintain and improve the environment for the benefit of the community.”
Bryan Burrough from Home-Start Essex said: “We are a family support charity working to build the confidence and skills of vulnerable parents to achieve healthy and positive outcomes for pre-school children. We use trained volunteers to visit parents every week. We are often the only contact the parents receive each week. The parents are often suffering mental health issues and isolation and the pandemic has worsened those issues. By giving support to the parents we can help early year’s development for their children. We also run Family Groups which help tackle isolation.”