High Sheriff hears how young people benefit from Change of Scene

Change of Scene helps young marginalised people struggling with school attendance, Chief Executive Pam Robinson explained to Dr Llewelyn during her visit to the charity’s smallholding in Rowledge, Farnham.

The high sheriff heard that young people learn through spending time with the Change of Scene team on the charity’s farm. Their impactful outdoor experiences include planning and building a pond or bench and repairing items around the site.

Change of Scene has an 80% success rate at getting children back into education. It provides 27 sessions a week, with 13 of those used by young people who have no school place. Youngsters who are permanently excluded from school attend two sessions, and the remaining 11 are either on temporary exclusions or their placement is still being planned.

The young people are encouraged to interact with and take responsibility for various animals, including feeding and cleaning them. However, Pam said that not all young people want to engage with the fluffier animals. So, they include a snake and rats among the species.

During her visit, Dr Llewelyn also learned that Change of Scene is looking for a new site. If you can help, please get in touch. It is also a finalist in the Persimmons Homes – Building Futures competition, which has a top prize of £100,000 that would make the charity safe for the next couple of years. Here’s the link to vote by 19 November.

Pictured: Llamas and alpacas like Fleur and Nutmeg are among the animals young people work with, while Meringue the goat is noted for his fleece nibbling!

Pictured: Llamas and alpacas like Fleur and Nutmeg are among the animals young people work with, while Meringue the goat is noted for his fleece nibbling!

Seeing Guildford Family Centre’s excellent family support first-hand

Families with multiple needs receive incredible support from the Guildford Family Centre, as Dr Llewelyn learned during her visit.

Charlotte Bate, Manager of Guildford Nursery School and Family Centre, explained how the centre works closely with local children and their families who often have complex needs. The centre’s family support workers and social workers do one-to-one work with the children and meet regularly with their families.

The centre is currently working with more than 80 families to build ‘a team around the family’. It is also linking with schools to make sure that the children involved can stay in the education best suited to them – a perfect example of ‘Every child included’ in action. 

An evening of recognition for Surrey’s firefighters

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s Annual Awards and Commendations ceremony is a highlight in the calendar and recognises the hard work and long-standing commitments of its people and those who help them.

Dr Llewelyn attended with the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Michael More-Molyneux, SCC Chair Helyn Clack and Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Mark Nuti.

During the evening, friends and families joined the event in the Woldingham School auditoriium as each proud recipient came onto the stage to receive their awards and long service medals.

The high sheriff spoke about the Fire and Rescue Service’s special place in our hearts, as we know they are always there for us 24/7, come what may.

She said: “There were stories of long service, hard work, loyalty and bravery and it was truly an evening of recognition and celebration for the wonderful Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.”

Surrey Poppy Appeal launch marks event’s centenary

The Royal British Legion Surrey Poppy Launch at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright was a wonderful way to mark the appeal’s centenary and the start of fundraising.

Attending the event, Dr Llewelyn said: “It was a pleasure to gather to celebrate the Poppy Appeal, which is so vital to our servicemen and women’s wellbeing, and listen to the readings and reflections.”

She also congratulated Recruit Kirsty Williamson for her “outstanding musical contribution”. Rct Williamson sang ‘I vow to thee my country’ and is clearly destined for a remarkable career in the Corps of Army Music.

The Poppy Appeal launched in April 1921 and is unlike any other in terms of historical and moral significance for the UK.

Dr Llewelyn thanked Brigadier Evans and his team at the Royal British Legion in Surrey for all they do for their county.

Disabled adult support charity makes a lasting impression

A visit to Disability Initiative (DI) in Camberley gave the High Sheriff an inside view of the charity supporting disabled adults with complex physical disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

Dr Llewelyn’s visit started with a tour of the charity’s resource centre, followed by coffee with DI’s chief executive Lucy Brown.

She heard about the many rehabilitation activities, educational courses and tailored therapies that disabled adults receive at the centre to help them achieve their goals, big or small.

Dr Llewelyn was hugely impressed with the team’s passion, dedication and skills. She said: “I could tell from speaking to Lucy and her team that the standard of care and social rehabilitation DI provides is exceptional.”

Intriguing visit to the historic Shah Jahan Mosque

Iman Hashmi and his wife Kawther, Faith Links Adviser at the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, kept Dr Llewelyn and her husband spellbound as they explained the history of the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking.

The couple knew little about the UK’s oldest mosque and Surrey’s largest before their visit.  It was built in 1889 by Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, an enlightened British Jewish orientalist, educationalist and linguist from a Hungarian family. Sadly, Leitner died before he could fulfil his dream of adding a Hindu temple and synagogue to the site.

Today, the mosque is the only one in the country to be Grade I listed. Dr Llewelyn said: “The mosque administers to a very active and thriving local Muslim community. Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic, they actively encouraged Muslims to get the vaccine and became an official NHS vaccination centre for the entire community. In doing so, they introduced this intriguing mosque to many people who did not know it existed.”

Following her guided tour of the mosque, Dr Llewelyn visited the nearby Muslim Peace Garden. The tranquil site was built as a burial ground for Muslim soldiers in World War I and had an equally absorbing history.

Fascinating visits to the Muslim Peace Garden and Brookwood Cemetery

The High Sheriff visited two beautiful, tranquil burial grounds and heard about their extraordinary histories from her knowledgeable hosts.

Dr Llewelyn began the day with a visit to the Muslim Peace Garden, which many people drive by without knowing it’s there, set back from a busy road behind trees.

Shahid Azeem, Surrey’s High Sheriff 2020-21, accompanied her during the tour by their host Dr Zafar Iqbal, who was instrumental in the garden’s restoration.

Dr Llewelyn said: “I would recommend the documentary about the restoration process, which was done together with the Horsell Common Preservation Society.”

After the Muslim Peace Garden visit, the High Sheriff went to Brookwood Cemetery, a resting place for people from all over the UK from many different faiths and countries. There is also a separate military cemetery.

Dr Llewelyn heard about the cemetery’s incredible history, including how coffins used to be sent by rail from Brookwood’s two railway stations to the Necropolis Railway Station, which was once next to Waterloo. A short piece of track still survives, as does the southern platform where monks from the St Edward Brotherhood live today in adjoining buildings.

Dr Llewelyn said: “Cemetery Manager Avril Kirby gave us a wonderful tour explaining how she and her team have worked tirelessly to restore large parts of the cemetery that had fallen into disrepair.” 

Photos: The Colquhoun Family Mausoleum, which was restored in 2019. There were extensive masonry and roof repairs and work to the surrounding area. During works, 10 coffins were exhumed from the crypt and replaced in new zinc-lined coffins. 

Impressive backdrop for Police passing out parade

Dr Llewelyn joined Chief Constable Gavin Stephens and Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant, in inspecting 60 new officers at the Surrey Police passing out parade.

After the parade, held in the impressive setting of Loseley House in Guildford, the new officers were joined by their guests to celebrate their achievements over afternoon tea. Each officer received their certificate to mark their independent patrol status which means they can now respond to incidents by themselves.

High Sheriff opens Arts Awards celebrating women’s creativity

Dr Llewelyn was honoured to be asked to speak at the opening of the Women’s Support Centre Surrey Art Awards exhibition at the Lightbox in Woking. 

The annual event opens the art and creative writing exhibition, which celebrates work from women who have received support from the centre.  The women’s lives have been affected by at least one encounter with the criminal justice system and some have served a sentence. 

Following an introduction to the evening from Marilyn Scott, Director of the Lightbox, Dr Llewelyn spoke about the centre’s ethos and why it is so effective. She said: “The centre recognises that what we do and feel is directly related to our lived experiences and it works with women in a non-judgemental way to help them address their needs and rebuild their lives.”  

Leanne Spiller, Chief Executive of the Women’s Support Centre, then gave some examples of how its work has helped women reintegrate into community life, which can often take a long time and requires specialist help. Some of the artists were at the event and received a resounding round of applause from the audience. 

A large audience attended the event, including the Lord-Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Chief Executive of Women in Prison Kate Paradine and Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Surrey Dr Rebecca Bowden.

Guildford fun day gives young carers a welcome break

Surrey’s High Sheriff saw the cares lifted from young carers’ shoulders as they were freed from their responsibilities to enjoy simply being children during the Guildford Young Carers family fun day at the Spectrum Leisure Complex.

Dr Llewelyn visited all kinds of activities during the day, including basketball, tenpin bowling, ice skating, knitting, arts and crafts, an assault course and planting plants. And she saw many young carers’ spirits lifted as they took a welcome break from caring for siblings, parents or other relatives.

She said: “Every family I chatted to, and that was a lot, had a wonderful time. The team did an outstanding job organising so many different activities. On behalf of the County of Surrey, I’d like to thank them all for the support they provide to young people who are carers. I hope they are very proud of everything they achieved and the happiness that the day spread.”

Dr Llewelyn, above, with Mike Parsons, who set up the Guildford Young Carers Fund when he was mayor in 2018/19. The fund is part of Guildford Philanthropy, which seeks to tackle local needs and transform the lives of the disadvantaged.

Reaching new heights in basketball.