Attended the Specialist Crime Command Awards Ceremony for Surrey and Sussex Police Forces. With the High Sheriffs of West and of East Sussex we handed out the awards to Staff and Police Office recipients many of whom are working as the name says in very specialist roles such as Digital Forensics. All very impressive and very well deserved awards.
Invited to the Send and Ripley History Society by Clare McCann the Curator to open an exhibition (Send Inside Out) in their Museum. The artwork was by seven inmate artists of Send Prison who had been in the art workshops in the prison delivered by the Watts Gallery. This was a sequel to the Our Time exhibition in the prison last June involving many of the same artists. This programme is generously funded by the Michael Varah Memorial Fund. It was an honour to speak at the ceremony at Ripley Museum and to be able to recognise the therapeutic power of art for those in prison.
Was interviewed for an hour live by the co-founder of Surrey Hills Community Radio, Dave Smith. Good opportunity to talk about everything from the charitable causes in the County I have been supporting to our charity in Zambia. Keep an eye on my web site where the interview will be posted shortly.
You can listen to the interview here: https://www.mixcloud.com/surreyhillsradio/dave-smith-talks-to-the-high-sheriff-of-surrey-16-02-2018/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
