HARLOW charity Safer Places wins the coveted High Sheriff’s shield award for outstanding contribution to community safety in Essex. Around 180 guests attended this year’s ceremony held at Hylands House in Chelmsford where trophies, certificates and grants totalling £33,000 were presented by the outgoing High Sheriff of Essex, Dr James Bettley. 

The grants came from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which was established to give credit to community initiatives that address crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour, and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

In addition to the regular awards of grants ranging from £500 to £2000, there are five special awards:
the High Sheriffs’ Shield for outstanding contribution to community safety in Essex: Safer Places (Harlow);
the High Sheriffs’ Cup for community support making Essex a safer place: Teen Talk (Harwich);
the Essex County Council Bowl for extra effort to deliver programmes direct to the community: Wilderness Foundation UK (Little Waltham); the Essex County Fire and Rescue Shield for an organisation’s work with young people: Inclusion Ventures (Clacton); and the Essex Police Cup for the work of organisations and individuals in the community: North Avenue Youth Centre (Chelmsford).

James Bettley, the 839th High Sheriff of Essex, has travelled to all areas of the county during his year of office.  James said, “It has been a huge privilege to undertake this role and a real pleasure to have met so many people doing such good and interesting things.”

“The Awards ceremony provides the opportunity to celebrate the enormous amount of important work that is being done, covering a very wide range of issues, including hate crime, homelessness, addiction to alcohol and drugs, reoffending, knife crime, the racism directed at Travellers, and the various challenges faced by refugees and migrants.”

Rachel Millar, from Safer Places, said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition from the High Sheriff. A key part of our work is ensuring that all women in the community are able to access safe spaces for support and this grant makes sure that women with children are able to be a part of that. We are confident that the children will also see real benefits from the therapeutic crèche”.

Since it came under ECF’s management in 1997 the High Sheriffs’ Fund has distributed grants totalling over half a million pounds to voluntary and community organisations.

Caroline Taylor, Chief Executive of ECF, said, “We are so pleased to manage the High Sheriffs’ Fund, working with successive High Sheriffs’ to support the local charities and voluntary groups whose work contributes to community safety in Essex.”

In addition to the grants awarded from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, ECF was able to leverage a further £57,000 from other funds under its management.