The Lord Mayor of York has announced support for two new charities this year as part the Lord Mayor's and Sheriff's charity fund.

Lord Mayor Councillor Irene Waudby will be visiting one of her chosen charities this week - Martin House Hospice- as she launches a new year of fundraising. She will be supporting two local organisations  Martin House and the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society.

During her year of office Cllr Waudby will be supporting the two charities through fundraising events and encouraging donations.

Martin House in Wetherby is Yorkshire's first hospice for children and young people, providing family-led care for those with life limiting conditions. The hospice is currently supporting the families of 300 children from the Yorkshire region and over 100 bereaved families receive regular support from the hospice's care team.

Stuart Andrew, Martin House's fundraising manager, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have been chosen as one of the Lord Mayor's charities this year. We rely on the generosity of the public to help provide the much-needed care the children and young people and their families deserve, so we're very grateful to this support and we're all really looking forward to working with the Lord Mayor's charity in the coming year."

The York Blind and Partially Sighted Society is an independent local charity providing services for people with little or no vision. As around 100 people a year are newly registered blind or partially sighted, there could be as many as 3,000 people in York in need of this type of service.

Deborah Eade, fundraising manager, said: " The society is delighted to have been chosen as one of the Lord Mayor's charities. This funding will directly help blind and partially sighted people in York."

If you would like to make a donation to either of the above charities via the Lord Mayor's and Sheriff's charity fund, please contact the civic office by telephone or e mail on 01904 551049 or civicenquiries@york.gov.uk

ENDS