Our Mayor

Alice Mpofu-Coles has been a Local Councillor for Whitley Ward since 2021.  She continues to Chair the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee from 2022, 2023, and 2024.  She sits on the Parenting Panel, Health and Wellbeing Board, Safer Reading Neighbourhood Forum and Personnel Committee. She was a committee member of the Housing, Neighbourhood and Leisure and Standing Advisory Council [on] Religious Education (SACRE) in 2021. Alice has been a steadfast member of the Labour and Cooperative Party, her continuous membership since 2014 and her intermittent membership since 2008. She is a member of the Fabian Society and Fabian Women’s Network

Alice lives with her husband, Wayne, and dog, Zee. She has lived in Whitley Reading for over 21 years. She has 2 adult daughters, both educated in local primary and secondary schools. Alice has a Doctorate in Human Geography, works as a University Researcher, and previously worked as a Social Worker in adult social care and mental health. She has also worked in foreign services in different countries. Amongst other issues close to her heart, Alice advocates for refugees, ending poverty, and better care for women with breast cancer, she has survived this and wrote a book. She has received numerous awards for her services to volunteering, refugees, communities, and education. Some of her voluntary work includes: –

• Vice Chair of Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE)
• Trustee of City of Sanctuary
• Member of the Global Female Wave of Change
• Previous Chair of Reading Refugee Support Group

The Mayor’s Chosen Charities for the year are:

Reading Pantries and Readifood

Faith Christian Group, the charity behind Readifood and Reading Pantries, has been working since 1996 to alleviate poverty and support individuals who are poor, vulnerable, or homeless in Reading.

A snapshot of their work includes:

• Readifood: Delivering emergency food parcels to approximately 150 households in need each week.
• Reading’s Food Bank: Providing food to those who are homeless or hungry in the town centre.
• Reading Pantries: Operating a network of eight food pantries across Reading, supporting over 500 members with access to subsidised food, companionship, and additional services.
• Winter Night Shelters: Running two night shelters during the winter months for verified homeless individuals, offering a warm space, evening meal, bed, and breakfast for up to 40 guests each night.

Faith Christian Group is proud to be partnering with the Mayor of Reading and Reading Borough Council to further its mission and continue its vital support for the Reading community. More updates will be shared throughout the year.

Responsibilities

The Mayor represents the council at events, welcoming guests and visiting local organisations. She also chairs full council meetings. The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Paul Gittings) may stand in if the Mayor is not available.

Invite the Mayor to an event

Contact the Mayor’s secretary with the date of your event. If there is a space in the Mayor’s diary, you can invite her to your event.

Our Deputy Mayor

Cllr Paul Gittings was first elected to Reading Borough Council in 2002, representing Minster Ward before it became Coley Ward under the reorganisation of the borough boundaries. He has held a number of positions on the council, most recently as Lead Cllr for Adult Social Care. Previously he was lead councillor for the Environment and then Culture and Sport and chaired the Strategic Environment Planning and Transport Committee.Cllr Gittings also represents the council on the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority becoming its first-ever Labour chair in 2022 and is currently vice-chair. 

Away from council duties, Paul is a keen sportsman and represents GB in the age group triathlon team, racing at World and European championships. In his work life, Paul has been a TV producer and digital journalist at organisations such as Reuters and CNN and also delivers Bikeability cycle training in Reading and other local schools. He is proud to be president of the Reading Cygnets Swimming Club and a trustee of Berkshire Outdoor Education Trust.