The High Sheriff in Northamptonshire

One of the most important tasks is to encourage those in either statutory bodies or voluntary organisations in their endeavours to improve life in the community. Recognition of those giving time and expertise for the good of others, and financial support for their projects, form a large part of the High Sheriff's work.

As part of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, The High Sheriff's Initiative Fund is a named fund that encourages and supports groups and organisations to work together with young people to set up projects and initiatives which will make a real difference to their daily lives and to the lives of others in those communities. The Fund improves the opportunities to young people from 5 through to 19 years who are at risk of becoming - or have become - involved in the criminal justice system. It seeks to help young people realise their potential. The work of small grassroots community organisations, work which reaches out to and involves young people who have become excluded, work which is led by young people and projects that improve the safety of a community are of particular interest to the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, and this Fund makes grants either fully funding the costs or combining with others to fund larger projects. Grants are both for new initiatives and for ongoing support for established groups. They have been made recently to:

The principles of the High Sheriff's Initiative Fund are made clear in its recent gift of £500 to the Sea Cadets above. By giving the money from the Fund to buy new oars, the cadets were able to make use of a rowing boat they had received as a donation. It has allowed them to take part in practical teamwork in a central location accessible to young people. Many of those who benefit are from the Far Cotton area of Northampton which is considered to be a deprived area, and over half of the young people are socially deprived, for whom sailing would be inaccessible from the point of cost and social status.

As Chairman of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, David Laing has said,

'There are hundreds of exceptional projects and unsung heroes in Northamptonshire, all successfully making a positive impact on their local community'.