Presided at this morning’s Citizenship Ceremony at County Hall with 30 individuals swearing allegiance and becoming citizens of the United Kingdom. It was great to meet them all in what is a very dignified occasion. My uniform was in demand for photographs!
Transform Housing (read earlier blog) had their annual Carol Service last evening at St Mary’s Church, Fetcham. This was the Church that last week had a whole footpath of York stone stolen by night robbers all as reported in The Times. During the Carol Service I said a few words about Transform and their amazing staff who help many men and women take the journey from despair and homelessness to a better life of a home and self respect. And at this time of year Transform will be opening shortly their new winter shelter in Walton for individuals with no housing options during these cold winter months. Transform deserves all our support.
Invited to speak at the Surrey Magistrates’ Christmas Celebration held in the magnificent Guildford Guildhall. Having spent time seeing the magistrates at work in court I said how impressed I was with their professionalism and humanity in face of so much human badness and sadness. Magistrates (160+in Surrey’s) are unpaid volunteers who give of their time and experience of life. What they do is critical to the maintenance of law and order across the County. The people of Surrey have a lot to be thankful for.
Visited the new Transform Housing winter shelter in Elmbridge, opening shortly, which will be run by the estimable Aisling Devine (picturedwith the Transform CEO Paul Mitchell and donated food supplies). The shelter will provide much needed accommodation for men and women who otherwise will have no roof over their heads. A vital service for this time of year with the prospect of changing for the better the lives of these people. Transform needs all our support
The High Sheriff Youth Awards supported a weekend away for six young (13 year olds) who have the day to day challenge at home of caring for parents and/or siblings with significant needs. The residential weekend at Grangewaters in Essex provided the opportunity in their own words: “We did high ropes, a night walk, canoeing, problem solving, a leap of faith and lantern making. We learnt team building, about each other more, our abilities and to become more independent”. I had the privilege of meeting these young people last evening at the Lakers Youth Centre in Woking and and the devoted staff from Surrey Family Services who masterminded the weekend in Essex. All credit to them led by Sandie Bolger. An HSYA award well spent.
HSYA award well spent.
Visited the Lightbox in Woking to view the “Turner in Surrey Exhibition”.
Although the geographic definition of Surrey is Surrey as it was in Turner’s day not the truncated Northern border we know today! However some great oil paintings and sketches, well worth a visit.
Visited the fifth (and final!) Pupil Referral Unit in Surrey on two sites in Guildford, Pewley Hill for those aged 5-11 and Southway for 11-16 year olds. Very similar objectives and ethos to the Reigate Valley PRU under the same leadership of David Euridge. Amazing staff really caring on a 1:1 basis. As one staff member told me “What we do with what we have makes a big difference to the lives of these young people”. He went on “I love my job because I am making a difference”.
Invited to speak at a Forum of Dorking, Ashtead and Leatherhead school governors and Heads. A forbidding audience, what is the collective name for a room full of head teachers?
I talked about my journey of learning about the issues surrounding children being excluded from school, more importantly we had excellent presentations from the practitioners. They explained positive interventions from pregnancy, through the importance of attachments at primary schools and of Home School Link workers to what it really means to be an inclusive school dedicated to reducing the number of pupils permanently excluded. All excellent examples of best practice as evidenced by our host, the Head Teacher Mrs Rachel Gibb.
Visited North West Surrey Short Stay School (Pupil Referral Unit) in two sites, Pyrford and Woking, which is under the dynamic leadership of Jo Ashworth. As with other PRUs, they work with young people who are at risk of exclusion from main stream schools with a focus on behaviour programmes. Their mantra is to be in partnership (“our children”) with the secondary school of a student with the aim together to eliminate permanent exclusions from schools. Pupils spend their time in the PRU on restorative work with the focus being very individual oriented, to quote Jo”We know our children”.
The Youth Engagement Scheme of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service brings groups of young people from Surrey schools for a week learning the basic skills of fire fighting from the experts. In the process they develop life skills of team working, communication, personal awareness and confidence. Visited today the passing out ceremony of six such lads at Gomshall Fire Station when they carried out various activities with fire hoses, smoke and a mock car accident. Family members, including a great grandfather who had been a fireman in the services, were justifiably very proud.
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