Essex High Sheriff Awards celebrate local charities
The winners received coveted awards and much-needed funding
The 841st High Sheriff of Essex, Simon Brice, with the winners of the 2022 High Sheriffs’ Awards
Submitted by the Essex Community Foundation
Over 200 guests and local dignitaries came together at a recent award ceremony to applaud local charities and voluntary organisations who have made a contribution to the safety of Essex.
Among those receiving thanks and recognition for their commitment to community safety and crime prevention was a digital platform for homeless support, a counselling service for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, activities to keep young people off the streets and a project to raise awareness of drink “spiking”.
This year, the prestigious High Sheriffs’ Awards were held at Highlands House, in Chelmsford, Essex, and BBC Essex presenters, Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt were on hand to announce the winners.
Trophies, certificates and grants totalling £40,500 were presented by the outgoing High Sheriff of Essex, Simon Brice.
Speaking about his time as the 841st High Sheriff, Simon said, “Over the last 12 months I have met with over 100 voluntary and community organisations across Essex. It has been a privilege to learn about the wide scope of their work and I hope that I have helped to raise their profile and recognise their dedication and commitment to improve the lives of local people and make Essex a safer place.”
He added, “It is wonderful that so many people were able to come together to celebrate the achievements of our amazing voluntary and community groups in Essex. This is nothing less than they thoroughly deserve”.
Awards were presented to a selection of charities and voluntary groups including UTurn4Support who won The High Sheriffs’ Cup, Safe Steps who won the Essex County Council Bowl and Kaos Youth Club who were awarded the Essex County Fire and Rescue Shield.
In addition, African Families in the UK was awarded the Essex Police Cup and Open Road was the recipient of the High Sheriffs Shield award. All winners were also awarded financial grants to help support their hard work.
The money for the grants comes from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which was established to give credit to community initiatives and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said, “We are delighted to manage the High Sheriffs’ Fund and work with successive High Sheriffs’ to increase the amount of funding available each year to support voluntary organisations that contribute to community safety in Essex.”
On top of the £40,500 presented from the High Sheriff’s Fund, ECF will also award an additional £132,000 from other funds under its management.
Since 1997 the High Sheriffs' Fund has distributed grants totalling as much as £700,000.
For more information about the award winners, visit: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
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