High Sheriff of Kent Awards 2019

The High Sheriff of Kent, Jane Ashton has made a number of awards to charities and organisations from across Kent and Medway at the annual High Sheriff Awards, which took place Thursday 21 March at County Hall, Maidstone.

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.

The winners include:

FASD Awareness South East Medway - supports the prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies and improves the quality of life for those living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and their parents and carers in the South East.

No Walls Gardens Northfleet - specialise in providing work experience and skills training by carrying out community gardening, greening, and food growing projects across the local area.

GYG (Gifted Young Generation) Gravesham - a Britain’s Got Talent Style event with participants auditioning, rehearsing and performing on stage to packed audiences in a showcase of events. The young people provide support to one another through issues such as bullying, exam pressures and making decisions about college and classes.

Maidstone Street Pastors Maidstone - work closely alongside the police, paramedics and the “Urban Blue” bus project to provide emotional, spiritual and practical support to those in need on the streets of Maidstone on Saturday nights.

Rubicon Cares Maidstone - provides free counselling for victims of crime throughout Kent for anyone that has been affected by crime.

A special High Sheriff Consort’s Award was presented by Hubert Ashton to:

RNLI Dungeness & RNLI Dover - Dungeness Lifeboat Station guards the Channel from Rye Bay to Folkestone and was the first to receive the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat. Dover Lifeboat Station, which guards the Straits from Folkestone to the South Goodwin lightvessel, was established in 1837 by the Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution.

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation who manage the awards on behalf of The High Sheriff of Kent’s Award Fund comments: “There are some fantastic charities and groups working very hard here in Kent and this is an opportunity for the High Sheriff to reward just some of those she has met over her year in office.”

Jane Ashton comments: “My year spent as High Sheriff has provided me with an insight into the workings of the criminal justice system and the opportunity to meet people from many varied organisations throughout Kent. This has provided a unique opportunity to bring together individuals from different public, private and voluntary sectors in the county.

“It has been a great challenge to choose organisations for the High Sheriff’s Awards. I have been privileged to visit many charities, all dedicated and committed to serving those in need. I have attempted to keep to the remit of a High Sheriff in supporting organisations that work within law and order.”

Find out about other funds that Kent Community Foundation manage here.