Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

I cannot believe it is the end of January already! Also it really is countdown time for being Mayor. Although the Annual meeting is not till 23rd May, there will be less activity between March 27th and May 5th because of the local elections, and rules say that I cannot do any engagements in my own ward or the Consort's ward - so if you were planning on anything get it organised quick!

Voluntary work this morning after I had dealt with numerous e-mails and mobile phone calls, and a quick dash back to the Mayor's Office at lunchtime. There is something of a last minute dash on 31st January as it is the last date for submitting various funding applications for voluntary organisations for some funders, and I had a number of applications to sign that needed a signature from an independent person. I wish them luck.

One organisation I backed last year - The Teesside Drummers who played at my Mayoral Installation, won funding last week, and I was delighted. They started as a group of asylum seekers and now do a lot of valuable work with schools and other organisations where drumming is a real therapy for people.

I then met a lady of African origin who is offering to do a little fashion show at my coffee morning on Saturday (9.30 till 12 at Stockton Parish Church Hall, entrance only 50p) so we can see some of the magnificent and colourful dresses from different parts of Africa, probably at around 10 to 10.30 a.m.

If you are reading this, and in Stockton Borough, do try to come along please to support my charities.

Then it was time to dash back to the voluntary work where we were having some training. Instead of biscuits our organiser had prepared a large bowl of fruit, all peeled and seeded for us - how is that for looking after your workers!!

I had to sneak off before the end though to fit in a site visit in the ward before going home for a meal and going out to another meeting.