Mayor of Reading to host first online auction for chosen charities
- A range of local businesses and other organisations have donated items, with a catalogue of over 100 to be available
- Proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s chosen charities for 2020-21: No5 Young People, Royal British Legion and Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Friends of Reading Abbey.
THE Mayor of Reading is urging communities across the borough to come together virtually for good causes in the first-ever online Mayoral Auction.
The online auction, which will open to bids on Monday 10th May, will have themes of ‘Life after Covid’ and ‘Community Cohesion’. A range of local businesses and other organisations have generously donated items to be auctioned and the proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s chosen charities for 2020-21: No5 Young People, Royal British Legion and Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and Friends of Reading Abbey.
An online catalogue will be open for viewing a week before the action opening on Monday 3rd May, to allow everyone a chance to browse and choose the items to bid on. Bidders will then have between Monday 10th – Friday 21st May to place their bids. The auction will close on Friday 21st May 2021 when successful bidders will be notified.
Over 100 items will be up for auction, with over 35 already pledged. These range from tickets to the Mountbatten Festival of Music held at the Royal Albert Hall, a boat trip around the Reading Forbury Loop with a cream tea, fly fishing tuition and a private performance of operatic arias or classical solos.
Cllr David Stevens, Mayor of Reading, said:
“We wanted to do something to celebrate the progressive lifting of the Covid restrictions, support our local businesses and organisations, and raise funds for our charities. So I’m thrilled to be holding the first Mayoral online auction this year. The dreadful impact of Covid-19 has been felt by us all. We are hoping the timing will coincide with the majority of the population having been vaccinated, and life returning to ‘normal’.
We want to remind people of the incredible range of activities and experiences that you can undertake in and around Reading. I’d encourage bidders to get involved in this great opportunity to try something new, help our named charities, support local businesses and doing something memorable to mark the passing of the dreadful Covid pandemic”
Not-for-profit Charity auction specialist, Superstars, will be working alongside the Mayor’s team to run the auction.
More details are available from the Mayor’s office at mayor@reading.gov.uk.