SWINDON’S new mayor, Rex Barnett, has offered volunteer work placements to two college students to help him with his fundraising ahead of his mayoral year.

And it will provide them with hands on work experience in event management, fundraising and public relations.

The two students will be organising and planning a number of charity events to be held over the year.

Coun Barnett has planned several charity events to take place to raise money for CALM, the Willows Counselling Service and Prospect Hospice. The new mayor will also be donating some of the money to other charities through these events.

The students are Stacey Hibberd and Chantelle Durrant, from New College.

Chantelle , 17, is doing a business, administration and finance diploma and law. She said: “This is a great opportunity for me to get some experience under my belt. I am hoping to study management at Bristol University and this experience will help me with that.”

Stacey , 18, is an ex-farrier apprentice who is also studying a business, administration and finance diploma and psychology. She said: “I’m looking to attend Thames Valley University after my course. After this I hope to run my own business. The work I will be doing here is the biggest opportunity for me to gain the experience that I need to do this.”

The students will be attending regular meetings at Swindon Council’s Civic Offices, will be working from the office and meeting many of the charities and people involved during their placement.

Coun Barnett said: “The Mayor’s year in office is such a busy one and we really wanted to make sure that the charitable part of it was running well before I started all the civic engagements in May. The help that Chantelle and Stacey are going to provide will be invaluable.”

Among the charity events planned are a ladies networking lunch at the Marriott Hotel on June 18, and an Armed Forces Concert at Christ Church on July 15.

Ahead of his mayoral year, Coun Barnett last week held a fund-raiser at the Curry Place in Rodbourne for his fund-raising team. The Indian restaurant has been a regular supporter of the different mayoral charities in recent years.