The High Sheriff of Surrey 2025-26 – Mr Peter Cluff.

Welcome to the High Sheriff of Surrey’s Website

This website will inform you about the High Sheriff’s work and activities during their Shrieval Year. It features the areas of life in Surrey upon which the incumbent focuses, with reports upon, and photographs of, visits made to charities, voluntary groups, agencies and organisations, and events attended. A High Sheriff is appointed personally by the Sovereign and it is an independent, non-political and unpaid office, each occupant funding what they do during their year. It is the oldest secular Office in the UK after the Crown, dating back to Saxon days, when the shire-reeve’s role was one of collecting taxes for the King and preserving the peace. The “millennium” of the Office was celebrated in 1992. Beginning in the Middle Ages, the Judges of Assize were given hospitality and security whilst visiting a county to try felonies, the most serious criminal offences. The Crown Court replaced the Assizes in 1971, and the High Sheriff’s role has since evolved under the aegis of the High Sheriff Association.

The High Sheriff of Surrey for 2025-26 is Peter Cluff – A Trustee of the Community Foundation for Surrey and Chair of Guildford Philanthropy. Peter’s focus as High Sheriff will be to shine a light on young people who are not in education, employment or training (“NEET”). He has commissioned research by the University of Surrey’s Centre for Britain and Europe to examine the different cohorts of young people that are (or who are at risk of becoming) NEET in the County, with a view to developing targeted and earlier interventions, to help ensure these young people have a better economic and social future.

To see all The High Sheriffs Previous Blog Posts visit NEWS

High Sheriff Youth Awards

Since 1993 the HSYA Scheme has given grants to projects for young people in Surrey with the aim of helping young people make the county safer. Funding up to £5,000 may be given to a new or existing project or initiative, after it has been assessed by volunteers working for the charity and then approved by the Awards Panel.

The 11 Surrey Boroughs, SCC, the Police and Crime Commissioner, charities and individuals give financial support and money is raised at some High Sheriff events. A notable annual event is the High Sheriff Charity Golf Day which raises additional funds for the HSYA.    www.surreyhighsheriff.org

THE HIGH SHERIFF’S FOCUS 2025-26 – The NEET Crisis.

“Getting to grip with the issues, the difficulties and the lost opportunities that surround those young people in Surrey who – by 16 or 17 – have effectively fallen out of one or a number of systems is truly challenging. During my year as High Sheriff, I will be particularly focusing on highlighting this issue and working to find a solution and in order to get the ball rolling I have commissioned an initial report with the help of a wonderful team at The University of Surrey entitled ‘Unseen Surrey – An Exploratory Overview of the NEET Crisis’  which can be downloaded HERE.”  – Peter Cluff, March 2025.

Read more about the High Sheriff’s NEET Focus and follow the progress HERE 

If you wish to invite the High Sheriff to visit your organisation or attend your event please email; PA@highsheriffofsurrey.com

For Media/PR/Photo enquiries please email; andy@highsherrifofsurrey.com

For all other enquiries please email; caroline@highsherrifofsurrey.com