The Hut

Visited the Sandy Hill Youth Project in Farnham yesterday evening, a project supported financially by the High Sheriff Youth Awards. Organised by Farnham Maltings (Emma Jones and Sue Ellis) and SCC Family Services (Tracy Scales) , the project involves young people from the Sandy Hill area coming together for evening activities. This month they are receiving tuition from graffiti experts to create designs for the repainting the outside walls of the Hut where they meet. The 11-19 year olds are benefiting from developing their social skills and an introduction to arts and culture. Had an enlightening conversation with Tracy Scales, a very experienced and knowledgable youth worker about the challenges facing young people living in this area. 

 

 

Glorious Sixteen

Great programme of music yesterday evening in Guilford Cathedral with The Sixteen Choir and Orchestra. The highlight was Vivaldi’s Gloria which was truly glorious. 

 

 

Epsom Cadets

Visited my  fourth (two more to go) Surrey Volunteer Cadet Unit, this time the Epsom unit. We met at Epsom and Ewell High School with the cadets on parade when I arrived. A lively group of young people most of whom have been cadets since November 2016 clearly benefiting from the tutoring and support of the Police Officers. As always thanks to these Officers.

 

 

 

A to Z

Presided at a Citizenship Ceremony at County Hall today with 30 individuals making the oath and being declared as UK citizens. They came for an A to Z of backgrounds from Afkhanistan to Zimbabwe. There was a great atmosphere with so many palpably thrilled to be taking part. It was an honour to be there.

 

 

East to West

Had another visit to East to West for a catchup with Ant Horton their Chief Executive. 

They are doing wonderful Relationship Support work in ten schools largely in Surrey improving the life prospects of over 1,300 young people each year. With Ant, visited Mathew Arnold School in Staines and met an inspiring Support worker who is doing so much for so many pupils. Also met the Head Teacher also committed to focussing on each child with the aim of reducing the need for exclusions. 

 

 

 

YES

Attended another Youth Engagement Scheme graduation this time at Walton Fire Station for 9 young people who had successfully completed the week’s programme. It is such a brilliant scheme for giving the participants confidence and social and team building skills. It was a pleasure to see their smiling faces as they each received a certificate. They were well supported by very proud families. Thank you to the committed Fire Officers who are the instructors and in particular to Commander Kevin Noble. He has completed 30 year as a Fire Officer but has also been a stalwart of YES from the beginning in 2004 and spoke so movingly about the benefits that he has seen over the years of the scheme for the young people. The High Sheriff Youth Awards is proud to help fund YES. 

 

 

Armed Forces Covenant

The Surrey Civilian-Military Partnership Board, chaired by Peter Martin (the Chairman of Surrey County Council) held its annual Armed Forces Covenant Conference at Deepcut Barracks . Really interesting agenda with updates on the work of the SCMPB and a presentation on the National picture of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is a partnership between the Armed Forces and wider society helping to integrate the Armed Forces with their local communities. This is exactly what is happening in Surrey led by Surrey County Council (Peter Martin and Peter Bruinvels to the fore) with the the Council earning a Gold award as an employer supporting the Covenant in practice. Well done them. @ChairmanSCC @canonbruinvels

 

 

St Joseph's good news

Revisited St Joseph’s Specialist School outside Cranleigh. Since my last visit they have had the very good news of an Outstanding Ofsted report. A just measure of the extraordinary commitment of the staff.  They are looking after 75 young people (ages 5-19) with complex and severe learning difficulties typically on the Autistic Spectrum. They have a waiting list of over 30 students from around the country with parents from afar planning to move home to be near St Joseph’s. This reflects the  reputation of outstanding care that the School has. 

Cadets on Parade

Visited the Runnymede Volunteer Police Cadet unit. They marched well in step with an impressive salute on a (poorly) floodlit car park. These young people (13-17) take pride in their uniforms and in what they are doing and learning.  All credit to PCSO Paul Woodhouse and two Police  colleagues who run this unit in their spare time. 

 

 

Keep Out No More

K eep Out the Crime Diversion Scheme is closing because HM Prison and Probation Service has decided to no longer facilitate schemes where young people are brought into prisons. Over 22 years, Keep Out has enabled 30,000 vulnerable young people to have interaction with 900 serving prisoners which has helped the former to learn from the experiences of the latter to their mutual benefit. Today Keep Out arranged a “seminar” to reflect on what had been achieved over 22 years with reports form service users, staff and a Surrey University research project. All inputs that demonstrated what difference Keep Out has made, including I am confident reducing school exclusions.