Cllr Ludford was invested as the new Lord Mayor of Manchester on 18th May 2022, and has headed We Love MCR’s Trustees up until today.
The outgoing Lord Mayor had pledged to focus her efforts on the young people of this city, and in particular those in the Care and Leaving Care Service, drawing on her own experiences growing up as a looked after child in Manchester.
She did this with full enthusiasm, having a particular place in her heart for our Manchester's Rising Stars Fund, and she worked closely with us to achieve our shared aims of making Manchester a better place for the young people in its care through our Funds.
Just last month, Cllr Ludford hosted our first ever celebration Afternoon Tea, with successful Rising Stars recipients, since the Fund’s launch in 2021. She had an instant rapport with the young people, and made the day a success – we hope to make this an annual event!
In the time Cllr Ludford has been Chair, via the Stronger Communities Fund, The We Love MCR Charity has funded the delivery of 40 community projects with grants totalling over £150,000, and through the Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund, 84 brilliant young Mancunians’ life chances have been given a huge boost with grants totalling over £130,000.
And in her time as chair, Cllr Ludford has overseen the charity’s most successful fundraising year ever! She herself hosted numerous fundraising events for The Charity, including the Valentine’s cold water dip which raised over £20,000, Manchester’s highest top-to-bottom abseil raising over £41,000 and the charity's first ever black-tie event which raised over £170,000!
Cllr Ludford also oversaw the distribution of grants to support our Ukrainian community through The Ukrainian Welcome Fund, ensuring that Ukrainian people displaced to Manchester received the help, support and guidance they needed.
Thank you Lord Mayor for your time and commitment, thank you Donna for representing our Charity and City so well!