Prestigious awards ceremony recognises local charities
9th March 2023
Over 20 local charities and voluntary organisations that address crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour received recognition and grants at the High Sheriffs’ Awards.
Among the projects receiving funding is support for families who have experienced domestic abuse, safety sessions for young carers and setting up a youth forum for the LGBTQ+ community.
Around 180 guests attended this year’s ceremony held at Hylands House in Chelmsford with support from Essex County Council, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chelmsford City Council. BBC Essex presenters, Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt, announced the award winners and conversations were broadcast live throughout the evening show.
Trophies, certificates and 23 grants totalling £38,000 were presented by the outgoing High Sheriff of Essex, Nicholas Alston CBE DL.
The grants came from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which was established to give credit to local initiatives that address crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour, and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Nicholas Alston CBE DL, the 842nd of High Sheriff of Essex, has visited voluntary organisations around the county during his year of office, learning about their work and presenting certificates of recognition to dedicated volunteers. He said, “The Awards ceremony is a wonderful occasion and gave me, and the other attendees, the chance to acknowledge more publicly, and to reward, some of the outstanding work being undertaken by groups of all sorts around the county, that help build and sustain safer communities.
“These organisations often work with those who are vulnerable or marginalised and, at a time of a growing cost-of-living crisis, sadly their needs are increasing. I had the privilege to visit many of these groups during my year, to learn about their work, and to thank them.”
The organisation presented with the coveted High Sheriffs Shield was St Vincent de Paul Society, in Southend, for their work supporting people who are homeless.
Other trophies presented on the night were:
- The High Sheriffs’ Cup, presented to Kool Carers for their safety sessions for young carers in Basildon and Brentwood.
- The Essex County Council Bowl which recognises voluntary organisations that work in partnership to deliver programmes, was awarded to South Essex Advocacy Services. They are raising awareness of financial abuse for those who have been a victim of this crime in Southend, working with the Police, the Council and other local organisations.
- The Essex County Fire & Rescue Shield, which recognises an organisation’s work with young people, was awarded to The Outhouse. They are establishing a youth forum for the young LGBTQ+ community across Colchester and Tendring to help address concerns, increase well-being and improve community understanding.
- The Essex Police Cup, given to Alpha Vesta to pilot a programme supporting families who have experienced domestic abuse.
Since the High Sheriffs’ Fund came under ECF’s management in 1997 it has distributed grants totalling over £700,000.
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said, “We work with successive High Sheriff’s to ensure this funding gets out to local charities and voluntary groups that are working in their hearts of their communities, so they can help tackle crime and safety issues”.
On top of the £38,000 being presented from the High Sheriff’s Fund, ECF will award an additional £114,000 to the charities from other funds under its management.
The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The High Sheriff receives no expenses and the role comes at no cost to the public purse.