Sudbury-based charity Compassion to benefit from new chair of council

Babergh District Council’s newly-elected chair Ruth Hendry is supporting a charity close to her heart for her fundraising this year, having revealed she experienced domestic abuse as a teenager.

Councillor Hendry (pictured above) was elected to the post at the council’s annual meeting last week, with Elisabeth Malvisi elected as vice chair.

Each year the chair has the opportunity to select a charity to support during their term of office – with councillor Hendry choosing Sudbury-based domestic abuse charity Compassion.

She said: “My chosen charity for this year is a local domestic abuse charity Compassion. They run highly-praised programmes to support survivors of domestic abuse and also provide outreach to schools to empower young people to engage in healthy relationships.

“I myself was in an abusive relationship for four years from the age of 16.  I remember how ashamed and alone I felt and completely unequipped to resolve the situation.

“Domestic abuse has historically been a ‘taboo’ subject and by working with Compassion I hope to give more survivors a voice.”

Louise Richardson, Compassion project co-ordinator said: “Our thanks and gratitude to councillor Hendry for choosing us as her chosen charity helping to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the work we do to support residents who are affected by domestic abuse.

 “We rely on donations and fundraising to help us to make a difference, enabling us to run our weekly coffee morning and recovery programmes. We are excited to work with councillor Hendry and look forward to the year ahead.”