Brighton and Hove’s loneliness charity Together Co is among those to be supported by the city’s Mayor this year.

Councillor Alan Robins announced his chosen five non-profit organisations when he was elected as Mayor of Brighton & Hove on 14 May 2020.

With a focus on the local community, the mayoral charities were chosen to support the recovery process of Brighton & Hove in the months after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, for a year partnership.

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Alan Robins, said: “I’m really looking forward to supporting Together Co as there is a real need for the services that they provide in our city. Health and Wellbeing relies so much on having someone to talk to, and Together Co is there to help those that feel isolated, something that has really come to the forefront during Covid-19.”

Together Co has been providing telephone befriending services and delivery of essential supplies during the pandemic, to help keep the city’s most vulnerable people socially active during lockdown. The charity has seen more than seven times more demand for its services during the covid-19 crisis, when compared with the same time period in previous years.

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“We’re thrilled to have been chosen by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Alan Robins, as one of his charities for the next two years. Working with both the council and other local charities is so positive in raising awareness of the combines, vital work we’re doing across our city’s communities.”

– Jo Crease, CEO at Together Co

The four other charities supported by the Mayor are Brighton Fringe, Leo House at Home, Sussex Heart Charity, and Off the Fence.

The mayor will be supported in his duties by his partner Val Cawley, who takes the role of Mayoral Consort, while Councillor Mary Mears was elected as Deputy Mayor.