Southend Mayor Tony Cox has launched his charity year with a community-focused event at the Victoria Shopping Centre, marking his first official engagement in the role. The Mayor has chosen two organisations supporting neurodivergent people — SAFE Essex and SEND The Right Message (STRM) — as his chosen charities for the year ahead. Both work with young people and adults who are disabled, neurodivergent or on the autistic spectrum. Representatives from both charities attended the launch, where STRM also distributed two boxes of free neurodivergent family resources. Funded by NHS Essex, the packs have already reached more than 19,000 families across the county, providing practical advice and support. Mayor Cox said his goal was not only to raise vital funds, but to improve visibility and understanding of neurodivergent people in public life. 'My two children are SEND children and I am currently going through the process myself to be formally diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's,' he said. 'I really want to prove to people that you can still participate in full public life.' SAFE Essex development worker Andrea Walter said the partnership between the two charities would help them reach more families across Southend. 'While we both serve the neurodivergent community, our services complement each other perfectly—STRM provides that crucial early-stage advice, navigation, and advocacy for families, while SAFE focuses on lifelong support, social inclusion, and community activities,' she said. 'Having the mayor bring our two organisations together under one civic umbrella means we can pool our expertise, reach more families collectively, and build a seamless, stronger safety net for autistic/neurodivergent individuals and their support networks across Southend.' SAFE Essex CEO Maggie Cleary added that being chosen as one of the Mayor's charities was an 'incredible honour'. She said: 'As a small parent-led charity, this recognition means so much to us as we support every day, helping ensure no family feels alone navigating neurodivergence, disability and mental health challenges. 'This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on both the difficulties many Southend neurodivergent families experience and the strengths and positives within our neurodivergent community, helping to raise greater awareness and understanding across the city.'