The newly appointedThe Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Daniel De'Ath has announced thatWelsh Women's Aid and Bawsowill be the two chosen charities for his year in office.

Councillor De'Ath who was inaugurated last night, has vowed to work incredibly hard to fundraise for the two causes,hosting special fundraising events and key events in the charities calendars.He has also pledged to raise the profiles of both charities, as well as raising much needed funds which will be shared between the causes.

Welsh Women's Aid is the charity in Wales supporting a national network of local specialist services that help and support women, children and families impacted by violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Bawso is an all Wales organisation that provides specialist servicesto people from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds who have been affected by all forms of harmful traditional practices including sexual violence, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honour-based violence and human trafficking.

Bawso also support refugee individuals and families who have fled violence and abuse and have moved to settle free from harm, in Wales.

Cllr De'Ath said: "Domestic Violence is an area I feel incredibly strongly about and during my time as Cabinet Member I led the Council's successful bid to become an accredited White Ribbon Council in 2014.

"Through volunteering with BAWSO, I have experienced first-hand the vital work carried out to support victimsof human trafficking, modern-day slavery and domestic violence.

Cllr De'Ath added: "These charities do some incredibly important work and I intend to work incredibly hard for them over the course of this year. Previous Lord Mayor's have raised remarkable amounts of money for their chosen charities and I hope I can do the same."

Eleri Butler, CEO of Welsh Women's Aid said:"We are delighted the Lord Mayor of Cardiff has selected Welsh Women's Aid as one of his nominated charities for the year. Violence and abuse has a devastating impact on the lives of individuals and families and on our local communities. "This must be everybody's business, because everyone has the right to live free from fear and abuse. Please support this appeal and help us prevent violence and abuse, to make Cardiff the safest place to be in Wales, and to bring an end domestic and sexual abuse for good."

A spokesperson from Bawso added: "It is a great honour for Bawso to have been chosen as the Lord Mayors Charity this year. All funds raised will make a huge difference to the lives of those fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women including human trafficking/modern day slavery, forced marriage and FGM."

To find out more about Welsh Women's Aid please visitwww.welshwomensaid.org.uk

To find out more about Bawso please visitwww.bawso.org.uk

Donations will be gratefully received. Please send cheques, payable to ‘Cardiff Council Lord Mayor's Charity' to:

Protocol Office
Mansion House
Richmond Road
Cardiff. CF24 3UN.

If you wish to organise a fund-raising event to support the Lord Mayors Charity please email:ProtocolOffice@cardiff.gov.uk  or call 029 2087 1543.