As Town Mayor of Haywards Heath, Cllr Duncan Pascoe has the honour of selecting a charity to support during his civic year, helping to raise both awareness and vital funds for a cause close to the local community. For his second term, he has chosen Kangaroos Mid Sussex, a well-established local charity supporting children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities, along with their families.
“I’m really excited to announce that local charity Kangaroos will be the charity I’m supporting this year. Their core service is providing activity clubs to young people with learning disabilities.
Young people deserve to have fun, have good experiences and make friends, irrespective of learning disabilities and complex needs. Kangaroos enables that by connecting young people who have additional needs and provides support and enrichment through activity clubs. These activities are delivered by a fantastic team that are passionate about supporting young people and helping them be the best they can be.”
To mark the beginning of this new partnership, the Mayor visited a Kangaroos session on Saturday 16th May, where he spent time meeting families, participants, and staff. The visit offered an opportunity to see first-hand the breadth of activities delivered by the charity and the positive impact these services have on the wellbeing, independence, and social inclusion of those who attend. The Mayor was warmly welcomed and took part in activities, experiencing the friendly and inclusive atmosphere that Kangaroos is known for across Mid Sussex.
Speaking on behalf of the charity, Chief Executive Emma Hunt expressed her gratitude for the Mayor’s support:
“Kangaroos is absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the Mayor’s charity for this year. Kangaroos does such vital work at the heart of the learning disability community in Mid Sussex. We provide a lifeline for children, young people and adults, providing social opportunities many take for granted – from shopping trips, days out and the simple joy of a night at the pub.
Every penny raised through the Mayor’s fundraising campaign this year will help Kangaroos support families in Haywards Heath and beyond that would like to access our service. Thank you to Duncan and the team for recognising the importance of what we do helping us make a difference to the local community.”
The Mayor’s fundraising partnership with Kangaroos will run throughout the civic year, with a programme of engaging and community-focused events planned in collaboration with Haywards Heath Town Council. These will include the much-anticipated ‘Kanga Trail’ during the summer holidays, designed as a family-friendly activity encouraging participation across the town, as well as a fundraising Quiz Night scheduled for Friday 16th October. Further details, including how to take part and support the events, will be released in due course via the Haywards Heath Town Council website and official social media channels.
In addition to public participation, the Mayor is also seeking sponsorship partners to help make the fundraising programme possible. A range of sponsorship packages are available at different levels, offering local businesses and organisations the opportunity to support a meaningful cause while gaining visibility within the community. Anyone interested in supporting the campaign or learning more is encouraged to contact [email protected]
By Kelly Lewis
