Elias Mattu Foundation to launch with community picnic
“It is important to continue his legacy – Elias helped everyone in the community.”
The launch of a foundation in memory of a late city mayor is taking place this month and organisers have said why they believe the cause is important.
Councillor Elias Mattu served the Graiseley ward for 18 years and was Wolverhampton’s 159th mayor before he died last February following a long battle with illness.
The Elias Mattu Foundation is being launched on August 16 with a special event called Picnic in the Park at West Park, Wolverhampton.
Councillor Mattu was a father-of-three and his wife Asha is a councillor for the Graiseley ward, a council seat which she won in May.
She said: “As everybody knows he did so much for the community. The idea to launch the foundation was to keep doing stuff in the community in his name.
“We have got lots of ideas. We want to do work around domestic violence, especially with the Asian community. The impacts are not just physical but there are other factors as well including social and financial.”
Manj Sidhu, one the foundation’s directors, said: “I worked with Elias as a community member. He was known to be the heart of Wolverhampton and would help anyone and everyone out.
“It is important to remember his legacy.”.
The foundation has been supported by senior city councillors and Wolverhampton South West MP Eleanor Smith, with Manj adding: “It is good to have them on board and the sponsors for the launch event. We have had an overwhelming response from the community in regards to having help.”
The picnic event is aimed at bringing the community together.
Members of the public have donated food and drink and there will be a special appearance by Wolves mascots Wolfie and Wendy. During his time on the council he served as a senior cabinet member and served on numerous committees. His mayorship lasted from 2017 to 2018 and for his theme, where all mayors are asked to come up with an idea to benefit the community, his was recognising the value of volunteering.
The picnic event organisers have arranged for a 16-seater-minibus to pick up and drop off elderly people. There will be two pick-up points. The first will be Guru Nakak Satsang Gurdwara, at Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, for 10.30am and the second will be Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Duncan Street, Wolverhampton, from 10.55am.
There will also be cars available to pick people up who struggle with mobility.
For more information, contact Manj Sidhu on 0742 717 3171. For details about the picnic event, search for the Elias Mattu Foundation on Facebook.
