High Sheriffs finally meet at East Sussex Judges’ Service

After many Zoom calls and emails, Dr Llewelyn was delighted to finally meet Lynn Cooper, the High Sheriff of Greater London at the East Sussex Judges’ Service at the Parish Church of Thomas a Becket in Lewes.

The High Sheriff of East Sussex, Miles Jenner DL, held this year’s judicial service, which marks the legal year’s start and pays tribute to court judges, magistrates and community representatives.

All the guests at the Judges’ Service enjoyed a reception at Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes. Miles Jenner is the fifth generation of the brewing family and Harvey’s head brewer and joint managing director.

Woking schoolchildren win International Day of Peace Awards

Woking People of Faith invited Dr Llewelyn to join the Mayor of Woking, Councillor Liam Lyons, in announcing the International Day of Peace 2021 Awards winners at a ceremony held on Zoom.

International Day of Peace takes place annually on 21 September. Woking People of Faith organises a competition for primary schools in Woking and asks the children to write a poem or design a poster.

This year’s theme was ‘What is causing climate change and what can people of faith do to help solve it?’ and the organisers received hundreds of entries from seven schools.

Cllr Lyons announced the poster category winners for years 3, 4 and 5, while Dr Llewelyn announced the winners of the poetry category in the same year groups. Children from Send CofE Primary School, Barnsbury Primary School, New Monument Primary School, and St John’s Primary School all received awards for their poems.

The 45-minute event included an introduction by Simon Trick and Kawther Hashmi from Woking People of Faith, a pre-recorded climate change song by Send Church of England Primary School pupils, and featured questions and answers from a panel from RHS Wisley.

High Sheriff visits Gosden House School

The children and staff at Gosden House School in Bramley went the whole hog in their efforts to make Dr Llewelyn welcome during her ‘tea under the trees’ visit on 16 September.

Children come from across Surrey to attend the school, which celebrates its centenary this year. It provides an outstanding education for young people with learning and additional educational needs from 4-16 years of age, and embodies the High Sheriff’s ethos of ‘Every child included’.

The school offers extensive outside learning activities such as gardening, animal care and exploration.

Dr Llewelyn is pictured with Melissa and Ellie and local Parish Councillor Alison Burrows visiting the school’s resident pigs who live along with chickens in the beautifully maintained 42 acres of grounds.

During the visit, Dr Llewelyn also thanked the volunteers who build and maintain the beautiful flower and vegetable garden at the school. She was especially impressed by the huge pumpkins, which will be ready for Halloween fun.

Summit to write home about

A team of 12 residents from supported housing at YMCA Hillbrook House in Redhill celebrate after climbing to the summit of Snowdon on 3 August with three staff from YMCA East Surrey.

The High Sheriff Youth Awards helped to fund the trip for the young people who were mostly under 18 and involved in the Y Focus programme, which helps them gain employability and life skills to equip them for independence.

Dr Llewelyn said: “I am delighted to see the impact of the High Sheriff Youth Awards in helping the young people of Surrey achieve their goals.”

Big Leaf Foundation Summer School

The High Sheriff recently had the great pleasure of visiting the The Big Leaf Foundation. The Big Leaf Foundation is a small charity that works with displaced young people living in Surrey. The charity provides a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combating social isolation.

Concerted effort for Afghanistan refugees

In a great example of ‘joining the dots’, Surrey’s High Sheriff has helped bring together relevant people from local authorities and the third sector, so that services are coordinated in supporting Afghan refugees.

Dr Llewelyn was speaking to the Chief Executive of Elmbridge Council, Robert Moran, about the High Sheriff Youth Awards when he mentioned how hard it is finding support for the refugees who are starting to arrive in Surrey.

She called the Big Leaf Foundation who put the word out to other organisations like Dorking Refugee Support, Elmbridge CAN, Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) and Epsom Refugee Network. A coordinated effort is now under way, with the Community Foundation for Surrey as the coordinator.

Surrey County Council said the immediate need is to find accommodation for people once they have completed their stay in Managed Quarantine Service Hotels.

It asks Surrey residents to make a financial donation for operational, logistical, and Covid-control reasons.

Two organisations with emergency funds in place and which are taking donations are the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Red Cross. You can also find out about broader local support, including food banks, at Surrey Information Point.

Treehouse retreat opens for patients

Patients at Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere now have a tranquil space where they can connect with nature following the opening of a wheelchair-accessible treehouse on 11 August.

The patient whose former passion for outdoor activities had sparked the idea was the first to enter the beautiful new structure after Dr Llewelyn cut the ribbon at the official launch event.

Dr Llewelyn, an NHS doctor, was also given a tour of the hospital, which is home to 40 patients with severe neurological disabilities and long-term conditions.

She’s pictured, below learning about the hospital’s latest physio tools and sensory equipment.

Project MindWaves

Community radio station Kane FM invited Dr Llewelyn to the studio to learn about its MindWaves project on 4 August.

The project teaches actual broadcasting and digital music skills to young people who are not in education, employment or training or who have special needs.

Visited Guildford Nursery School and Family Centre

Dr Llewelyn visited Guildford Nursery School and Family Centre to recognise its extraordinary work.

Dr Llewelyn also received a lovely thank you treat from one of the nursery’s children.

School governors have played an essential part in helping Surrey’s schools throughout the pandemic. Dr Llewelyn presented one of them, Sam, with an award for the governing body’s excellent work at Guildford Nursery School and Family Centre.

Backpack packing at Stripey Stork

The Surrey-based baby bank Stripey Stork supports children of all ages, as Dr Llewelyn discovered when she went to its Reigate warehouse in July to lend a helping hand.

She donned a facemask and apron and joined some of the charity’s volunteers to pack back-to-school bags for secondary schoolchildren.

Stripey Stork accepts clothes, books, shoes and other items donated by those who no longer need them. Then volunteers sort, check and pack them for local families referred to the charity by social workers and health professionals.