New Telford mayor pledges to crack down on domestic violence

Councillor Rae Evans said she wants to raise funds and make more people take notice of violence against women in the home.

After taking up her new role this month, she said she will spend her year in office holding events to support the cause.

Councillor Evans started in politics with an active role as a school councillor aged 11 and has remained active in the community ever since.

Originally from Oxfordshire, she moved to Telford following a teacher training course in 1977.

She was a teacher for a short time before moving on to youth training for Shropshire Council.

She now lives in the south of the borough and works full time as head of human resources for Bethphage, a local charity that provides support for people with learning disabilities.

Councillor Evans said: "It was a bit of a surprise to me really. I was approached by the new leader of the council to consider the role, I was very flattered.

"While it wasn't the best time for me I could see it was the right time for the council, Telford is flourishing."

She added: "I don't think of myself as political. I think I have strong values about the importance of people who are less able getting support and being supported than those who are more able."

Councillor Evans, who was previously chairman of Madeley Town Council three times, said she wants to focus on raising awareness of domestic abuse. She said: "I'm delighted to find out Telford & Wrekin manage its own refuge for women, and I'm hoping to promote any of the things that they do.

"Some of my work will be fundraising, some will be awareness raising.

"It's one area that makes people feel uncomfortable, it's a difficult area and I realise it is not glamorous.

"I'm looking for wacky ways to fundraise, such as the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, where men walk a mile in women's heels to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes, and effects of men's violence against women."

Telford is a White Ribbon town and has been awarded that status for a further two years, which is a campaign which works to end all forms of abuse and violence against women.

Councillor Evans said: "It's about the town and the people of the town pledging to reduce violence against women in a domestic setting."

She said her aim is to understand more about the different communities in the borough, as that will add to her understanding of what needs to be done.

Councillor Steve Reynolds is deputy mayor, of three elected representatives for Oakengates and Ketley Bank ward.

Councillor Evans said: "I'm very pleased that he's my deputy."

The launch of Councillor Evans's charitable work will be at the Carnival of Giants at Telford Town Park on July 16. She said: "I'm looking forward to seeing the event. It's dinosaurs this year. They've got these huge dinosaur puppets."

Councillor Evans's hobbies include travelling, gardening, medieval history, foreign television series, DIY and Formula One.

She said: "I'm certainly trying to visit all of the battle fields of the Wars of the Roses. I've done about five now.

"I'm also an attender at the Telford Quaker meetings and although not technically a Quaker, they've got a set of values that I very much respect."

Councillor Evans said throughout her year as mayor she is expecting to act as an ambassador for the borough and to support firms and communities.