What a stunning declaration from Laura Sercombe, CEO at Challengers! Meeting Laura and the team for the first time was a privilege and a great pleasure. The dedication, commitment, professionalism and passion is evident in all of the staff on site at Stoke Park, and the fact that they willingly take on the most difficult of challenges, knowing that they are often the last resort for families with disabled children, makes their efforts almost super-human! Astonishingly, nearly 65% of the 1400 children attending Challengers have been excluded from other settings, so the staff, volunteers and supporters deserve all the credit possible. Keep up the great work!
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Wonderful to see the effort, determination and enthusiasm amongst the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Public Services students at East Surrey College, who joined the YMCA initiative a few weeks ago to focus on the problem of homelessness, by building their own temporary accommodations in the College grounds and raising money for the cause. I had to take copies of their posters to share – some powerful messages from some caring and action-oriented students!
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What a terrific introduction to East Surrey College, and particularly to their very successful ‘Springboard’ programme for 14-16 year old students, who remain on the school registers but are able to study with the specialist teachers at the College. An encouraging example of the significant impact that ESC is having in close partnership with 10 or so schools nearby, and a further 50 spread throughout the adjoining areas. My sincere thanks to Jayne (Principal and CEO), Kevin (Deputy Principal), Frances (Assistant Principal) – all in the photo – and to the entire senior team, and their engaging ranks of teachers, lecturers and assistants. I can only apologise to the students for not arriving on a horse, and for not bringing my sword!
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What a great start to my meetings with our College Leaders across Surrey! As Principal and CEO of Guildford College Group, Jacki Hughes has been working hard over the past 18 months to develop impactful solutions for all her students, and particularly for the hundreds studying English for Speakers of Other Languages, and the many High Needs Learners. Jacki will be in post right up to the merger at the end this year, and I look forward to enjoying further opportunities to help support their efforts to improve outcomes for all of their students.
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A fascinating visit to another of our impressive colleges in Surrey. This time to meet Principal and CEO of NESCOT, Frances Rutter, who has been working tirelessly with her team to create their vision for the future. It is still very much under wraps, but I was able to share some of Frances’s thinking and have to say that I would certainly be attracted to the ‘College of Choice for Students, Staff and Employers’! Great campus, wonderful facilities and a growth agenda quipping students with the skills needed by employers around Surrey. The Enrichment Programme for students, supported and driven by student volunteers themselves, is a particularly powerful initiative and well worth finding out more about. Looking forward to the Open Day in June!
So grateful to all the brilliant staff at Rosebery Manor for inviting me to join their awards ceremony this morning. Dad is one of the residents, and to be able to record this first official engagement at his home was a wonderful opportunity, and allowed him to see the full High Sheriff’s uniform and regalia first hand. To quote his initial comment ‘I’m 92 and thought I had experienced everything, but to see my son dressed in tights was worth waiting for!’
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A magnificent setting to say a fond ‘farewell’ to Robert as he completed his hugely successful and popular year as High Sheriff of Surrey. Patricia was in support, as always, and provided an ideal opportunity for us all to give her our grateful thanks.Delighted by the enthusiasm, commitment and determination from everyone present to support me as I attempt to maintain and develop the great momentum created by Robert around the issue of permanent exclusions of pupils from schools across the county.Also an impressive first formal engagement for the High Sheriff’s Cadet, Naeel. I could not be better supported!Busy times ahead
Just over a year ago, I met Robert Napier at the annual Youth Awards event for the first time and we briefly discussed the idea of trying to raise awareness of the role of the high sheriff and helping people to understand his role through social media and a bigger online presence. Within a few weeks a new website was created with a new Twitter and Facebook feed and most importantly a blog where Robert could record his adventures and showcase the people and organisations he visited. A year and 228 blogs later we now have a great archive that will permanently reside on the High Sheriff of Surrey website enabling people to see exactly what the role entails. I learned many things about the role myself even having photographed many great High Sheriff’s previously and having a good idea what was involved. Like all before him Robert visited Charities, Youth groups, Prisons, community organisations, and much more but now it was recorded for perpetuity. Aside from the visits there were many meetings he attended where he would try and see how his role could add value or make a difference. At his Ex-tillation last night it was obvious that he had very much earned a great deal of respect from the community and I wanted to mark that with this blog today. He has not only successfully managed to increase the awareness of the role but his other legacies include his determined work to do something about the Exclusion in schools issue where he brought together a large amount of people to set changes in motion – something that will be continued by our new High Sheriff, Jim Glover whose position as Chair of University of Surrey will help further the progress made. It has been encouraging to see a great deal of interaction with young people who of course are the future and this year under Jim’s tenure we hope to look at more social media opportunities enlisting the help of that generation to ensure the future of the role is recognised and embraced by all generations of Surrey.
On a personal note I would like to thank Robert and Patricia for creating my role which now continues and for the tea and cake at Baynards, introduction to their amazing charity www.btz.org.uk which I am now also working with and of course their friendship. Having spoken with Colin last night – Robert’s driver and on site support person, Gill his PA who works tirelessly behind the scenes organising the many events he has instigated in the name of networking and thanks and of course the Under Sheriff, Caroline Breckell who guides the high Sheriff’s through their terms I can see his organisational and leadership skills along with his genuine appreciation and respect for those working with him have enabled him to make this Shrieval year a remarkable one. This all continues with 2018/19 High Sheriff – Jim Glover who will be submitting his first blog later today and I am certain this coming year will be equally as successful.
Thank you Robert and may you enjoy some well earned rest!
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A great ceremony yesterday evening with many cadets and their families present for the first High Sheriff Awards for Volunteer Police Cadets. The High Sheriff now being the Patron of the Surrey scheme. Pictured below is the drill team from the Epsom unit who won the drill award and, above, the High Sheriff Cadet for 2018/19 (and his parents). Police Constable Phil Jebb received the Leader of the Year Award, one of the 60 police officers and staff who give of their own time to tutor and support the cadets. A huge thank you to them and to Sergeant Graham Kerslake for his committed leadership of the scheme and managing last evening’s event.
Delighted to attend the first day of site work for this Centenary Garden in Snoxhill recreation field. The Garden will remember the war fallen of Cranleigh and surrounding villages. It will be both physical and virtual, the latter being voices reading letters from the front and more recent reminisces. A great initiative of Cranleigh Parish Council that deserves all our support.
