The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation (TMDF) has congratulated Councillor Mike Hallam on becoming the 786th Mayor of Northampton and said it is delighted to have been chosen as his Charity of the Year. 

Mayor Hallam was formally appointed at the Mayor Making Ceremony, which took place on Monday 18 May at the Guildhall in Northampton. Teresa McCarthy-Dixon MBE, Founder and Operations Manager of TMDF, and Steve Summers, Chair of the charity’s Board of Trustees, were pleased to attend and mark the occasion. 

TMDF has also congratulated Mayor Hallam’s wife, Shannon, who becomes Mayoress of Northampton, along with all those taking on civic roles for the year ahead. 

Mayor Hallam, who served as Deputy Mayor of Northampton during the 2025/26 civic year, has been a committed and valued supporter of TMDF and its work across the local community. 

Mayor Hallam also represents Parklands Ward on Northampton Town Council and has strong local roots, having grown up in Parklands and continuing to live in the area.

TMDF said it is incredibly grateful to have been chosen as Mayor Hallam’s Charity of the Year. The charity said the support will help raise awareness of its services and the growing pressures facing many people and families across Northamptonshire. 

As part of his support, Mayor Hallam will also be taking part in TMDF’s Belmullet to Northampton Charity Cycle 2026 this August. The fundraising challenge links the west coast of Ireland with Northampton and will raise vital funds to support the charity’s frontline work. 

TMDF began during the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency food response and has since developed into a wide-ranging community charity supporting thousands of people across Northamptonshire. 

Today, the charity provides support through its Food and Essentials Hub, Mobile Community Shop, School Partnerships, weekly social clubs and Doorstep Buddies service, alongside wider Community Wellbeing Services including Gardening and Home Improvements, Information and Signposting support, digital inclusion classes and cookery classes. 

TMDF works with families struggling to put food on the table, older people experiencing loneliness or isolation, and individuals facing illness, bereavement, disability, hardship or crisis. It also runs one of the largest food banks in the county, reflecting the scale of need currently being seen across our communities. 

The charity said it looks forward to working with Mayor Hallam over the year ahead to raise awareness, build momentum and reach more people who need support throughout Northamptonshire. 

Find out more about TMDF by visiting:
https://mccarthydixon.org.uk/