THE new Mayor of Reigate and Banstead has issued a rallying call for more voluntary work and your newspaper has answered.
In her inaugural address on May 30, the new mayor, Councillor Lynne Hack, challenged all residents and councillors to carry out 150 hours of voluntary work each over the next year.
The scheme is part of plans to mark the 150th anniversary of Reigate and Redhill becoming a municipal borough.
Staff here at the Surrey Mirror are taking up the challenge and this week we kicked it off with two hours' work at the Children's Trust's store in Reigate.
Mirror editor Deanne Blaylock said: "We always like to take any opportunity to get involved with the local community. The borough's 150th anniversary is a big milestone and when the mayor issued this rallying call, we couldn't say no."
To rack up our first hours of voluntary work, this week, reporter Chris Madden went to Bell Street, in Reigate, to visit the Children's Trust, where he arranged window displays, organised clothes hangers and sorted and bagged donations.
Rachel Turner, voluntary services manager at The Children's Trust, said: "We really do value the people who selflessly give up their time to help and I feel especially proud of how much they contribute."
We will be looking to do as much as we can over the coming months, so if you know a charity or group which needs a few hours' help, e-mail editor@surreymirror.co.uk or call 01737 783869.
