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Shropshire
County News
2010/2011
My main focus during my year is to support and encourage those activities that engage young people and help to prepare them for the responsibilities and challenges of adult life and, in some cases, prevent them from falling into the Criminal Justice System.
 There are many organisations in the county which are doing excellent work in this area and, to name a few, I have so far visited youth clubs, Army Cadets, Red Cross young carers, Crucial Crew workshops (preparing 10 & 11 year olds for life outside school) and football tournaments run by the Police Youth Inclusion Teams. The Telford Police Cadets were on duty at my Reception party and I used this opportunity to raise some funds for their activities and promote the contribution they make to the community.
I have sat in the Youth Courts, where I was struck by the care taken by all concerned to try to arrive at the best outcome for the young person involved, and I have visited the Youth Offending Service which can often be the first time young people in trouble experience empathetic adult input. The Service is successful and Shropshire now has the fourth lowest re-offending rate in the country.
 All of these activities depend on a great deal of voluntary input but they also require funding. And it is the funding which now looks uncertain for many of them. I sincerely hope that ways can be found to continue funding these excellent schemes which so improve the long term outlook for many of our young people.
The night of the General Election saw me visiting the counts for Telford, Wrekin, North Shropshire, Shrewsbury & Atcham and Ludlow. At Ludlow, my own constituency, I exercised my right under the Local Government Act by declaring the result as the Official Returning Officer at four in the morning. At each venue I was very impressed by the quiet competence and diligence that was evident in all those taking part and I am most grateful to the Under Sheriff, Peter Stewart, and the Acting and Deputy Returning Officers for their support and assistance in arranging my visits.
To help promote the Office of High Sheriff and, with it, the good things going on in Shropshire, I have created a website: highsheriffofshropshire.co.uk. This is intended to be interesting and informative, and to act as a contact point. On the site I publish short articles using a simple editing tool, with photographs where possible, of the main events I attend; some of these articles have been quoted in the press. The site has also attracted many encouraging and helpful comments, as well as initiating contacts, and is also engaging the interest of the young. The total cost for this has been about £500.
Memorable moments of the first six months of my year include explaining the role of a High Sheriff to 250 five year olds at a school assembly in just one minute; judging the fancy dress competition at my local fete, greatly complicated by the fact that I was in Court Dress myself at the time; and the photographer who asked if he could take my photo for his portfolio of famous people!
Hugh Trevor-Jones DL
High Sheriff of Shropshire 2010/2011
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