Over £28,000 Raised for Charities During Mayoral Year

Published on: 7 May, 2016
Updated on: 8 May, 2016

In one of her last duties as Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Nikki Nelson-Smith hands a cheque for £23,513 to SATRO CEO Beccy Bowden. The presentation took place at St Peter’s School.

Nikki Nelson-Smith raised £28,000 during her mayoral year, most of which is to go to her chosen cause, SATRO, an educational charity based in Guildford.

Over £5,000 of the total will go to the Mayor’s Guildford’s Local Distress Fund which grants small sums, up to £250, to those in genuine need.

Beccy Bowden, the SATRO’s CEO, said: “We were delighted to be selected as the Mayor of Guildford’s Charity of the Year for 2015/16. Cllr Nelson-Smith chose SATRO as it fitted with her vision of, ‘Inspiring Guildford’s Future Innovators’.

“Nikki is passionate about local young people being inspired by the vast range of innovative companies offering employment opportunities available to them in the borough.

SATRO has close links to schools, colleges and the University of Surrey as well as to local employers so it was considered that there was potential for an excellent partnership.

Ms Bowden continued: “We have enjoyed being Mayoral Charity of the Year. Nikki brought such energy, passion and drive to the role and pushed forward the importance of a debate on skills, particularly with the Innovate Guildford Science and Arts Festival in March.

“But she also raised awareness of our charity and put on fun events to raise funds such as a wine tasting, a Bridge Drive and a quiz, to name but a few, and all of this, on top of a very full diary of Mayoral commitments.”

“We are thrilled with the amount raised; it is just incredible. We are a small charity and the money raised will make a huge difference to the young people we work with. We are absolutely thrilled with the donation and the exposure. Thank you Nikki!”

Civic Secretary Kate Foxton accepts a cheque for £5,030 for the Mayor’s Local Distress Fund.

Cllr Nelson Smith commented: “The skills debate is so important at the moment, particularly as the science-arts divide is disappearing as the advent of technology increases the overlap all the time. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths are central to all our lives now and inspiring more young people to get the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow is vital.

But to know what those skills might be requires discussion and co-ordination so what SATRO does is key – their bank of industry based volunteers bring a real world perspective to the workshops and challenges that they put on in the classroom. I really do hope that during my year I have indeed inspired some of Guildford’s future innovators!”