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East Sussex
County News
2011/2012
I’m halfway through my Year as High Sheriff and can’t believe how quickly the last six months have gone! Before I started my Year, several people asked me what my ‘theme’ for the year would be. I had no idea what my ‘theme’ might be and thought I’d just see what evolved.
One of my very pleasurable duties was to present awards, including Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards, to about fifty or so Scouts from across East Sussex. The Uckfield Civic Centre was packed with these Scouts, their proud parents and Scout leaders and I enjoyed meeting them before and afterwards over tea. I felt truly privileged to participate in honouring these young people and their achievements and it was good to be able to thank the parents and leaders for their part in guiding and mentoring them. It was a joyful and rewarding occasion for all.
When I thought about it afterwards I couldn’t help but think that all of those young people were on track and their futures held promise. They had confidence, a sense of self-worth, belonging and good support. They would doubtless go on to do good things and help others in the future.
But... I also thought, what about the vast number of young people out there who would no more join the Scouts or Cadets than jump off Brighton Pier (which I understand is a currently fashionable pastime), the disaffected young who don’t have stable parental support; many possibly living up to the label of ‘no-hoper’ at a very early age; those who’ve been excluded from school; who feel they don’t ‘belong’; whose confidence and sense of self-worth comes from a peer group with a totally different set of values. How do we make them feel they are all part of one ‘big society’?
So – I have sort of found my ‘theme’ – and I’m learning that there are many groups within the statutory and voluntary sectors in East Sussex trying to connect with young people and to make a difference. The Police, the Fire Service and the Probation Trust, apart from creating safer communities, support and run schemes which engage with young people. The YMCA has a range of projects helping young people; The Towner Gallery in Eastbourne offers an outreach and inclusion programme; Albion in the Community attracts excluded young people through the appeal of football and sport – though it delivers a diverse and testing course. Initiatives such as The Rock Challenge improve social inclusion through a performing arts competition; The Trust for Developing Communities, Plumpton College and many more. Many I have yet to meet.
I have met all sorts of people from all over the County, attending Mayor Makings, graduation ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies and police and fire service award ceremonies. My visits with the Fire and Ambulance Services were fascinating. I have sat in the Crown and Magistrates Courts, greeted three royal visitors, opened several summer fetes and many music and arts festivals. I have laid wreaths, visited schools and universities and learned a great deal about the County by meeting with various County and District Council leaders. I have visited Scout and Army Cadet camps and even a sewage works (more interesting and much less pongy than I’d envisaged!). I have visited various sections of the Sussex Police, including the Gatwick unit with its own particular issues. On night-time patrols in Brighton and Hastings I discovered Street Pastors and learned about the wonderful work they and other voluntary organisations perform, particularly for our young, while we’re all safely tucked up in bed.
There are estimated to be over 60,000 volunteers involved in voluntary and community organisations in East Sussex (12% of the total population). They give 134,000 hours of their time (worth £1.6 million) every single week and this is a conservative estimate. This figure does not include those people who, although paid for what they do, go the extra mile and give far more than they’re actually paid to do. It has been an extraordinary honour and privilege to meet so many of them and to thank them for what they do.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of the past six months and, now that I have found my ‘theme’, I hope I can be more focused and start to make a real difference, however small, in helping young people who feel socially excluded to ‘belong’.
Kathy Gore DL
High Sheriff of East Sussex 2011/2012
2010/2011
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| March.
After the Declaration ceremony with the High Sheriff of West Sussex and
the previous High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex at Lewes Town Hall. |
May.
Charity bus tour in Brighton with the Mayors. |
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| July.
Speaking at High Sheriffs reception at Newhaven Fort. |
July.
Judging scarecrows in Battle.
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| August.
In Dieppe to commemorate the Dieppe raids with the Mayor of Newhaven. The
Chairman of Lewes District Council. The Chairman of East Sussex County
Council. |
September.
With The High Sheriff in Nomination 2011 to re launch the High Sheriff
awards with members of The Youth Bank.
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| September.
With The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex at The Chattri Memorial, Patcham
Down.
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