The High Sheriff of Kent, Remony Millwater, has announced the winners of the 2021 High Sheriff Awards
The annual High Sheriff Awards celebrate the charitable work of organisations who contribute their time and care to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community and is the final role for the High Sheriff at the end of their term of office.
With law and order very much the remit of a High Sheriff, Remony was honoured to be able to recognise organisations that work to prevent crime, those helping ex-offenders gain skills, confidence, and employment, those working with victims or witnesses of crime, and organisations supporting victims of domestic abuse. The High Sheriff was also pleased to highlight the response of one charity during the Coronavirus pandemic to reach some of the most vulnerable people within the Medway community.
The winners of this year’s High Sheriff Awards are: VRU Ashford and Folkestone District, Refocus Project Ltd, Lily’s Social Kitchen CIC, Dogs Trust and Rubicon Cares.
In addition to The High Sheriff’s Awards, a High Sheriff’s Consort Award was presented to Challenger Troop CIC and a special Coronavirus award went to The Gillingham Street Angels.
Remony Millwater, The High Sheriff of Kent, 2020/21 said, “In this very unusual year, I have been delighted to visit many charities and organisations. Sadly, some visits have been online but those that I have visited in person have made feel me so welcome. I am grateful to you all for everything that you have managed to do in these extremely difficult times and for finding ways to stay in contact with those in need. It was very difficult to restrict my awards to just a few recipients and I decided to choose those that best fit the remit for the High Sheriff, namely those associated with law and order.”
As well as an awards certificate, each of the winning organisations receives a donation of £500.
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said “This year’s High Sheriff awards have been given to some amazing organisations who are doing fantastic work in the county. It has been Kent Community Foundation’s pleasure to support The High Sheriff throughout what has been an extremely challenging term of office and we would like to wish Remony all the best for her future and welcome the new High Sheriff John Weir as he takes on this important role.”
For more information visit www.kentcf.org.uk/news/articles/high-sheriff-of-kent-awards-2021-2021-04-23
Notes to Editors
This year’s awards ceremony did not go ahead as usual due to the Coronavirus pandemic; however The High Sheriff was able to visit all the award winners to present them with their award.
Kent Community Foundation has managed the High Sheriff’s Award Fund since 2015 and has invaluable experience in introducing High Sheriffs to voluntary groups in Kent and Medway.
This year’s winners:
VRU Ashford & Folkestone District – created in September 2019 with money awarded to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent from the Home Office, the unit uses a public health approach to violence, addressing the causes of violence and aiming to support those involved and impacted by violence.
Refocus Project Ltd – provide early intervention and prevention to help those most at risk through conflict resolution and to protect those from being exploited or caught up in bullying, knife crime, peer pressure, county lines, crime, grooming, money laundering, gangs – either as victim or perpetrator.
Lily’s Social Kitchen – a bistro in Canterbury, helps people who struggle to gain employment, to develop new skills. Those working at Lily’s, either as volunteers or paid staff, have faced, and continue to face, great challenges in gaining skills and employment, but where others may see unskilled or unemployable, the Lilly’s team is determined to give their employees the best chance to make the most of themselves without judgement.
Rubicon Cares – provide trauma counselling for people affected by crime throughout Kent and Medway.
Dogs Trust – run the Freedom Project, a dog fostering service for people fleeing domestic abuse and going into refuge. The service has been running for 16 years and has helped over 1,500 people to flee domestic abuse.
The High Sheriff, Consort Award was awarded to Challenger Troop CIC-who run unique leadership, team building, and engagement programmes that develop character, grit, and resilience in young people.
The High Sheriff, Covid Award was awarded to The Gillingham Street Angels – who help homeless, needy, and vulnerable people of all ages in the Medway towns.
About Kent Community Foundation
Grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary organisations in the county for 20 years. In this time, it has distributed over £40 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
They are part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-six Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than 80 philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses, who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
