BROMSGROVE District Council’s chairperson has chosen their civic charity for the year.

Cllr Sam Ammar has chosen Age UK as her charity to support for the upcoming year.

She said she will be helping to raise funds for the charity at civic events across the district this year with the support of her colleagues in the council chamber.

“While asking people to go out to vote on May 4 I came across a man, John, who shared with me his profound upset over the recent loss of his wife,” said Cllr Ammar.

“Putting the election to one side, I decided to hear more about his wife, and his deep love for her over many decades left a lasting impression on me.

“I knew he must feel severe pain and loneliness after losing her and I said that I would pop round and see him for a coffee - which I did.”

Cllr Ammar said when she was asked to choose a charity, she knew ‘immediately' she wanted to support Age UK.

She added: “Age UK has many programs that support the elderly, including their brilliant Men in Sheds initiative.

“Men who have lost a loved one or have retired and need to fill the void can come to the shed and make woodworks that are sold in the Age UK charity shops.

“The men joke that at 12pm all the work stops and over a coffee and biscuits they put the world to rights!

"It is a brilliant initiative, and I am very thankful to the people at Age UK who help the elderly through difficult situations.”

Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest is an independent charity that supports older people, their families and carers.

The Men in Sheds group meet Monday to Thursday from 10am to 2pm at the Metal Ores Industrial Estate on Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior.