Delighted to attend the 2018 Spark Festival at the Farnham Maltings. A multi-arts festival for children, young people and families. This evening was well organised performances of dance and theatre by young people from across Waverley. A wonderful confidence building experience for those taking part. Pleased that the High Sheriff Youth Awards provided support.
Last night we celebrated the young people who had participated in the projects which had received funding from the High Sheriff Youth Awards. A great turnout of guests watched presentations from Peer Productions, the Fire Service Youth Engagement Scheme and Guildford Shakespeare Company and other charities. Impressive and at times very moving performances from the young people. All validating the value of the awards. A huge thank you to ExxonMobil who hosted the event for the 25th time.
This afternoon was a gathering of the experts with whom I have engaged during my Shrieval Year in shining a torch into the vexed issue of children being excluded from schools. With 50+ opinion leaders (senior politicians and staff from SCC, Head Teachers, Heads of Pupil Referral Units, many charities working in schools) in the room it proved to be a great opportunity to network and share experiences in a common cause and commit to spreading the message that inclusivity and a restorative approach with earlier interventions and collaborative working can make a huge difference to keeping children in mainstream education. “In Surrey every child matters and you can’t delete a child”.
Visited the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders today. They provide unique facilities for over 360 disabled children and adults each week enabling them to enjoy therapeutic and recreational benefits of horse riding and carriage driving. What is amazing is that the Centre is serviced by 300 (yes 300) volunteers who do so much for the young and not so young riders. A huge thank you to them and to staff members. Everyone is so committed, including the pictured Chairman of Trustees, a Trustee colleague and Delilah the horse.
Delighted to present the High Sheriff Youth Awards Shield to Woking High School who was the top placed Surrey School in the Surrey Heat of the 2017 Mock Trials. A terrific event when pupils from six schools play acted all the court roles in a mock trial. Extraordinary performances by 12 to 14 year olds as prosecution and defence barristers, the defendant etc. Proud that the High Sheriff Youth Awards supports this event.
Back to Send Prison (my 4th or is it 5th visit in my Shrieval year) to attend the last day of the Sycamore Tree Course of Restorative Justice for 20 women in the Prison. This is all about encouraging and helping inmates facing unto their crime and the impact on victims so that they can then move forward. There is good evidence that this course does reduce re-offending. Wonderful work by a lot of volunteers who are so supportive of the Send ladies.
Visited the Elmbridge Volunteer Police Cadet unit at the recently built Three Rivers Academy in Hersham. The 20 cadets who qualified into uniforms last November were a very impressive group of young people clearly hugely benefiting from their experience of being Police Cadets. The new cadets will soon I am confident under the great guidance of the Police Officers be their match. Thank you as always to the Police staff who are largely volunteers.
Attended the South of England Agricultural Society annual competition for young people with mild or moderate learning difficulties. Students from Colleges brought evidence of their work and took part in practical tasks on the day. One of which was to make a scarecrow. There were ten teams of which three were from Surrey involving 80+ young people. There was a splendid award ceremony where every participant felt rewarded. The happy looks on there faces said it all. Really worthwhile.
The Community Foundation of Surrey held their Annual Celebration Reception last evening at the Picture Gallery at Royal Holloway University sponsored by Barclays Bank and the University. They have a lot to celebrate having made 2,700 grants amounting to £7.9million over twelve years and also build up a substantial endowment of over £10 million. . The Foundation is committed to raise funds too support the needs of Surrey’s pockets of very marked deprivation. Their recently published Impact Report demonstrates the money they allocate has been put to very good use helping thousands of individuals.
Paid a second visit to the GASP Workshop near Shere. Under the leadership of the Chair Sally Varah and the CEO Henry Curwen they provide through practical engineering the opportunity for young people to discover new talents, re-engage with learning and gain in confidence. A charity that really makes a difference to young people’s lives .
