FOUR councillors have been chosen to champion equality, The Armed Forces, mental health and climate change in St Helens.

The roles will see the chosen member champions lead on promoting the importance of these issues and track the council’s progress in each area and how it can work with residents, partners, community groups and volunteers to help raise the profile of the area they will champion.

The following members who will champion each cause are:

Equalities – Councillor Jeanie Bell

Armed Forces – Councillor Lynn Clarke

Mental Health – Councillor Michelle Sweeney

Climate Change – Councillor Mancyia Uddin

Councillor David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: “The role of our champions is to offer focus on these areas and make sure that as a council we are doing all we can to address these issues. Councillor Lynn Clarke has long been a champion for our Armed Forces and I’m delighted that she will be continuing to build on the great links we have with both our serving officers and veterans.

"Councillor Uddin will help us to continue our focus on climate change and is passionate about the impact climate change will have on us as a borough. She will help support the work our new Climate Change Commission will do both for the council and wider community.

“We have also created an equalities champion role which will see Councillor Bell continue her work as Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities by making sure that our communities also recognise the importance of inclusivity for all. In this past year mental health has been a real focus for many and Councillor Sweeney will look to make sure that our communities are given the support to be resilient and as we emerge from more than a year of change throughout the pandemic. These Champion roles will make sure that these areas which matter greatly to our borough will be given the proper recognition that they can make a difference to people’s lives.”