Colchester United Football In The Community’s efforts to improve the quality of life in Walton-on-the-Naze were acknowledged at a ceremony held by the High Sheriff of Essex last week.
The U’s community scheme took their Premier League Kicks project into the Walton area and received a grant of £2,000 from the High Sheriff’s office to help progress that work.
They were joined by an organisation that provides online safety workshops for young people in schools across Essex, a personal safety scheme for older people in Tendring, training courses to help identify victims of domestic abuse in West Essex and a project to deter drug and alcohol abuse on Canvey Island in receiving the special awards.
Tom Tayler, Community Development Manager at Colchester United Football in the Community, said: “Colchester United Football in the Community were delighted to be invited to Hylands House for the High Sheriff Annual Awards evening.
“This event brings together community voluntary services from all across the county to celebrate the work done over the past year and also present awards for the coming period.
“We fell into the latter of the two categories as they have been awarded a grant from the High Sherriff which will enable them to deliver their Kicks project in Walton from April 2019.
“The Kicks project aims to engage with young people 11-18 to give them access to facilities and provision which they might struggle to access otherwise.
“As well as increasing sports participation, Football in the Community work with partners to provide enrichment activities to these groups as well as qualifications, volunteering and competitions.”
Around 200 guests attended this year’s ceremony held at Hylands House in Chelmsford, where trophies, certificates and grants totalling £32,500 were presented by the outgoing High Sheriff of Essex, Bryan Burrough.
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).
Bryan Burrough, the 838th High Sheriff of Essex, has travelled to all areas of the county during his year of office. As well as meeting many voluntary organisations, he visited the Courts and spent time with Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service.
Bryan said: “It has been a privilege to undertake this role and I have learnt a lot during the past 12 months. During my visits to local charities and community organisations, I came to realise that many are small and are running with limited resources, powered by the sheer determination of its people, who are often volunteers.
“I hope I have, in some small way, helped to raise the profile of these organisations and their tireless work to improve the lives of local people and make Essex a safer place.
He added, “The Awards ceremony provides a wonderful opportunity for us to come together to recognise and applaud them, which they thoroughly deserve.”
Since the Fund came under ECF’s management in 1997 it has distributed grants totalling over half a million pounds.
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said, “We are delighted to manage the High Sheriffs’ Fund. By working with successive High Sheriffs’, we channel funding to the voluntary organisations that contribute to community safety at a local level.”
In addition to the grants awarded from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, ECF was able to leverage a further £115,600 from other funds under its management to support voluntary organisations whose work is also contributing to community safety in Essex.
The High Sheriffs’ Award Scheme recognises community initiatives which address crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour. The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The High Sheriff receives no expenses and the role comes at no cost to the public purse.
To find out more about Colchester United Football In The Community's Kicks programme, please contact callum.murphy@colchesterunited.net