Oldham mayor to use own allowance as part of fund awarding up to £500 for deserving residents

Oldham’s new mayor says he will use his own allowance as part of a fund awarding up to £500 each to ‘deserving’ residents in the borough.

Councillor Zahid Chauhan, who represents Alexandra ward, and has served on the council since 2013, has been handed the Mayoral chains of office for the coming year. He takes over from the retiring Mayor Elaine Garry, who has also now stepped down as a councillor in Failsworth West.

In a break from tradition, Coun Chauhan has opted not to raise money for mayoral charities – instead, he is launching a special fund which aims to give back directly to the people of Oldham. Through the ‘Truly Wished’ fund, which will go live in June, people across the borough will be invited to nominate someone they know, who they think deserves to have a wish granted.

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Coun Chauhan said this could be as small as something as getting a bike for someone who would not otherwise be able to afford one.

Every nomination must explain why the person was nominated, what their wish would be and how it would make a difference to that person’s life.

Examples could include someone who has raised a large amount for charity, a person who is really struggling and is deserving of a long overdue pick-me-up, or someone who cares for the needs of others before their own.

All wishes up to a maximum value of £500 will be eligible for consideration, with the final decision on which ones are granted being made by the Mayoral Committee – with no involvement from the Mayor himself.

Coun Chauhan is also donating his own Mayoral allowance of £16,495 to the cause, and he told his inaugural full council meeting they already have pledges of more than