Biography of the Ceremonial Mayor

Councillor Gina Reynolds, Ceremonial Mayor of the City of Salford 2023 to 2024

Gina was born in March 1961 in Withington, Manchester, moving to Timperley, Cheshire at nine months old. She attended Park Road Primary School and Wellington Secondary School for Girls, where she had a flair for all things creative and felt that she was destined to work in the field of art and design. At the age of 17 the path Gina was to tread changed considerably. Following a clinic visit for treatment on a verruca, Gina was inspired to pursue a health professional career in Podiatry.

Gina first got to know the City of Salford, which is now dear to her heart, when she chose to study in 1979 at the Northern College of Chiropody, which later became part of the Frederick Road campus of Salford University. She qualified as a State Registered Podiatrist in July 1982. For 34 years Gina worked for the NHS in North Manchester in a variety of settings. She gained a teaching qualification and as a Practice-Based Educator in Podiatry supervised second and third year Salford University students. In the workplace Gina became an active trade unionist, holding the posts of both Staff-Side and Health and Safety Representative for The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, now the Royal College of Podiatry.

Gina always found Salford a welcoming, inclusive place, with a wonderful community spirit and moved to the city in 1993 to make it her home. She soon became a community activist in her local area and having a keen interest in politics joined the Labour Party in 1995. Mindful that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential; in 1997 Gina became a School Governor at New Croft High School, now Chatsworth High School and Community College, an outstanding school for children living with special educational needs. This is a role she still enjoys today and Gina is currently the Link Governor for Safeguarding.

In 2005 Gina was incredibly proud to be elected as a councillor for Langworthy Ward. Gina is privileged to have represented Langworthy Ward for 16 years and since May 2021 Swinton and Wardley Ward, where she continues to serve that community, striving to make a difference to people’s lives.

As a councillor, Gina has held several positions including Chair of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and Executive Support for Social Care and Mental Health. Following her retirement from the NHS she became a cabinet member in 2017 and was Lead Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing during a challenging period at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Politics brought Gina and her husband Neil together in 2007 and they married in 2012. Gina loves spending time with her stepdaughter Becca; Becca’s partner Ashley and their dog Tikka who live locally. She also enjoys trips to North Wales to visit her in-laws and catching up with Neil’s brothers and their families.

When she has some spare time, Gina finds exercising at the gym, plus swimming and walking help improve her health and wellbeing. Other interests include the Arts, particularly music, watching plays and films and enjoying meals out with family and close friends.

Gina is honoured to be taking up the Office of Ceremonial Mayor for this great city and is really looking forward to her forthcoming year. She hopes she will be successful in raising funds for her three chosen charities. Gina will be assisted by her husband Neil in his role as Mayor’s Consort and she knows he will be a fantastic support to her.

The Ceremonial Mayor has chosen to support the following charities:

St Ann’s Hospice - Little Hulton

This independent charity provides supportive and specialist palliative care services to people over the age of 18 from across Greater Manchester. It enables individuals with a life-limiting illness, their families and carers to maximise the quality of their lives.

Care is given free of charge and is regulated by the Quality Care Commission. Provision includes in-patient, home care, day therapy, bereavement services and community services. The charity also provides educational training for other health professionals.

START - Inspiring Minds

Founded in 1993, this award-winning charity delivers therapeutic arts and horticulture sessions to people living with mental health conditions. It provides creative learning opportunities, with professional tutors bringing out the best in members so that they grow in confidence, build self-esteem and become valued contributors to the wider community.

START has a variety of projects including ‘Reach Out Start to End Suicide’ which helps save lives by increasing suicide knowledge and decreasing stigma. For the past 5 years, the annual procession and vigil has raised suicide awareness and remembered those who have sadly lost their lives to suicide.

Agnes Hopkins Community Centre

This community centre based in Swinton was founded in 1955, by the late Councillor Agnes Hopkins and provides a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages in the local community. This hub has an open-door policy and aims to reduce social isolation and promote inclusion and wellbeing. It offers information, advice, advocacy and a range of recreational and social activities including day trips, training courses and events. The centre also provides nutritional meals and snacks through its luncheon club. It helps to improve people’s health and wellbeing and delivers vital services to many residents.

This page was last updated on 18 May 2023

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