MAYOR'S CHARITIES
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The Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Hilary Bills, has chosen to support three charities during her Mayoral year.
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"It is a real honour to be Mayor of this borough and a wonderful opportunity to raise some much-needed funding for these incredible charities, and I will be doing everything possible to do that and raise their profile too.
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Without these charities people would simply not have access to help and support that they need, so I urge people to give and do what they can to help out.
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I am also really looking forward to meeting new people and flying the flag for the borough at a range of civic occasions."
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Access in Dudley
Access in Dudley is a disabled people’s user led organisation. It is a local Dudley charity, and is run by volunteers.
The group passionately believe that people with disabilities should be able to lead a full and active life in our local community and they work to remove the barriers that prevent this. The aim is to improve access to the built environment including parks and open spaces, buildings, services and information.
To do this Access in Dudley carry out access audits, disability awareness training and provide advice to members of the public who encounter access issues. They also work with the local authority, transport organisations and local businesses etc to improve access across the borough for both residents and visitors alike.
Diabetes UK
Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. Without the support to manage it well, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke. 
Diabetes affects more people than any other serious health condition in the UK - more than dementia and cancer combined. There is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes, but with the right treatment, knowledge and support people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life.
Diabetes UK’s aim is creating a world where diabetes can do no harm. The charity is working to tackle the diabetes crisis, prevent type 2, campaign for and support everyone affected by the condition, and fund research that will one day lead to a cure.
In Dudley, the charity works with local people, organizations and healthcare professionals to raise awareness, improve care in the area and provide support and information to local people living with, and affected by, diabetes.
Keep up to date with local activity by following the Diabetes UK Midlands team’s social media channels:
Instagram: Diabetes UK Midlands (@diabetesukmidlandsandeast) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: Diabetes UK - Midlands | Facebook
X: Diabetes UK Midlands (@DiabetesUKMidsE) / X
Friends of Dudley Performing Arts
The Friends of Dudley Performing Arts are a small voluntary non-profit organisation that supports the activities of Dudley Performing Arts.
Dudley Performing Arts delivers opportunities for school age children learning a musical instrument to perform with others in the presence of a public audience. DPA believes in great art for all and have an extraordinary track record of working across the art forms and developing a range of partnerships within Dudley.
The Friends group supports DPA events by stewarding, fundraising and offering moral support to the young people taking part. Our fund-raising occurs through programme selling and bucket collections at the concerts and performances by the young people in Dudley.
In March of 2024, DPA hired the Symphony Hall in Birmingham for a day to stage two concerts in which the students performed. For students performing at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham this was a once in a life-time opportunity. Fundraising by the Friends enabled the young people to receive this life enriching experience.
Fundraising by the Friends is a very important part of providing more exciting music making opportunities for the young people of Dudley especially in the current economic climate.
