Watford Borough Council’s new chairman has revealed the charities she will support in her 12 months in the hot seat.

Councillor Kareen Hastrick will raise funds for Watford New Hop and the Watford Food Bank during her tenure as chairman.

She said: “I am looking forward to finding out what Watford residents do for each other and themselves – be it volunteering, charity work, sports clubs, and generally being community-minded. It is such a diverse community.”

“These charities support people, not spoon-feeding them.

“It is really important to have charities like that in Watford. New Hope has been going for 25 years.”

She has been a council member since 2006 and a Hertfordshire County Councillor for three years.

She represents the Meriden ward on Watford Borough Council and the Meriden Tudor division of Herts County Council.

Councillor Hastrick replaces Councillor George Derbyshire as Chairman, who raised £1,583.71 for the Watford and District branch of Arthritis Research UK and Herts Inclusive Theatre.

He said: “What one realises when one takes on the role as the civic face of the council – and begins to visit varied community organisations with which Watford is blessed – is the enormous contribution they make to the health and well-being of the town.

“It is the volunteers of these organisations, supported in varying degrees by paid staff, who are at the heart of their activities.

“I have never ceased to be impressed by the commitment and dedication of these volunteers and have done my best in my visits to let them know the council is fully conscious of their contribution to the life of the town and appreciative of what they do.”