Councillor Joanne Harding
Councillor Joanne Harding is the Deputy Mayor of Trafford for the municipal year 2026 to 2027.
- Consort: Grace Harding
- Councillor since: 2011
- Wards represented: Urmston
Council service
Joanne has served in many roles at Trafford Council, including Chair of Health Scrutiny Committee, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Chair of the Age Well Board and Suicide Prevention Partnership Board, and Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Domestic Abuse.
During these roles, she campaigned to save services at Trafford General Hospital, helped set up the six community hubs that play a vital role in our communities, and led nationally on suicide prevention for the Local Government Association.
Early life, study and career
Joanne grew up in the Longsight area of Manchester and moved to Urmston when she qualified as a veterinary nurse. She does not miss the days of chasing the geese around Longford Park!
She made her home in Urmston, and whilst studying for her counselling diploma, worked in local care homes and restaurants.
Professional background
Joanne has a background in addiction and mental health services. Qualifying as an addiction therapist, she worked for the Probation service, working with offenders in custody and those on licence in the community.
She went on to manage a mental health crisis service, working with blue light services to try to prevent hospital admissions for those in crisis. She also worked at a GM level on the Crisis Care Concordat, the service recognised as an innovative model providing community support.
Advocating for the safety of women and girls
Joanne's passion lies in advocating for the safety of women and girls. She has led on policy work in this area and continues to use her voice at a local, regional, and national level to support the work of the Violence Against Women & Girls strategy.
She serves as a trustee for Manchester Women’s Aid and The Pankhurst Centre and is a former trustee of Trafford Rape Crisis. She also hosts the annual Trafford International Women’s Day awards.
Joanne is keen to ensure women and girls believe that “yes, they can,” and has worked with students at Urmston Grammar School and Meda Cubs to hear the voices of young people around this issue. The video they created was picked up by BBC News and went viral on Instagram.
Family and interests
Joanne is a real social butterfly and loves her friends from all chapters of her life. She loves music and is a mad Springsteen fan.
She advocates strongly for women’s health and wellbeing, hosting monthly Menopause Cafes in Urmston and regularly going to the gym to practice her newfound love for boxing. She also runs and, over the years, has raised several thousand pounds for charities.
Joanne gave birth to her daughter, Grace, in 2004 and is as proud as punch of all that Grace has achieved — especially her new role as Consort to the Deputy Mayor.
The Consort to the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Trafford
Grace Harding, Joanne's daughter, is the Consort to the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Trafford for the municipal year 2026 to 2027.
Born at Trafford General Hospital, Grace attended Urmston Primary School, Flixton Girls School, and Pendleton College. She attended Leeds University and graduated with a degree in law in July 2025. She is currently working on her dissertation for her MA in Criminology.
Grace will start work as a paralegal in September and wants to work in the field of women’s safety. She is thrilled to be her mum's consort.
Full biography
You can read the full biography of Councillor Joanne Harding.