Wandsworth mayor backs three local charities: local...

Contents

Three charities named for the mayoral year
Emmeline Owens’ Wandsworth background
Deputy mayor confirmed at council AGM

By the Beehive Web local news desk

Published: May 2026

Emmeline Owens has been elected as the new Mayor of Wandsworth and will use her mayoral year to raise funds for three borough charities supporting families, mental health and youth crime prevention.

Wandsworth Council confirmed the Southfields councillor’s appointment following its annual general meeting, where members of the new Cabinet were also confirmed. Cllr Owens has lived in Wandsworth for 20 years and is raising a family in the borough.

Three charities named for the mayoral year

The charities chosen by the new mayor are Wandsworth Home Start, Sound Minds and Battersea Crime Prevention Panel.

Wandsworth Home Start provides support for parents. Sound Minds offers art and creative activities for people experiencing mental health issues. Battersea Crime Prevention Panel works with young people to help prevent involvement in crime.

Cllr Owens said she wanted to recognise local services that often work quietly in the background, particularly those supporting children and young people.

Wandsworth mayor backs three local charities: local impact

“I am passionate about celebrating the quiet services that sustain communities across Wandsworth, especially support for children and young people,” she said. “These charities all do wonderful work in our borough and I’m proud to have the opportunity to support them.”

Emmeline Owens’ Wandsworth background

Before becoming mayor, Cllr Owens had a career in the business and finance sector. She has also been closely involved in education locally, including a decade as chairman of governors at a Wandsworth state school.

The mayoral role is largely civic, with the mayor attending community events, representing the borough and supporting chosen charitable causes during the year.

Deputy mayor confirmed at council AGM

Cllr Kirsten Botting, who represents Trinity Ward, has been named Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth.

She has lived in the borough for more than 35 years and is chair of the Tooting Bec Safer Neighbourhood Team and Neighbourhood Watch Panel. Her local roles have also included membership of the Tooting Commons Management Advisory Committee, work as a tree warden, and volunteering with the Friends of Tooting and Wandsworth Commons.

Source: Wandsworth Borough Council