EIGHTEEN people and groups have been honoured for their great work in the community in the field of law and order and related projects in Hampshire.

The High Sheriff of Hampshire, Phillip Sykes, gave the commendations at his awards ceremony in the Great Hall in Winchester this week.

He said: “I am delighted to be able to formally recognise all of the individuals and groups here today who have worked tirelessly in their respective fields to make their local communities safe and welcoming”.

The High Sheriff Awards are a mark of distinction and recognition given to Hampshire-based volunteers, groups and public servants making a significant contribution to society through enhancing safety and cohesion in our communities.

Around 100 people attended the awards ceremony in Winchester, which is supported by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation.

Jacqui Scott, chief executive, said: “We are delighted to once again be involved in the High Sheriff Awards which give countywide recognition to the outstanding work of charitable and community groups in Hampshire.

"Every year, we are inspired by the wonderful work of those receiving an award and this year’s awards have really highlighted how local organisations and individuals have worked together in incredibly trying times to make Hampshire a better, safer place for everyone to live and work.”

The individuals and groups receiving special recognition for their work are as follows:

Treloar’s, Alton: As the UK’s leading centre for severely physically disabled children and young people, Treloar’s offers outstanding teaching, learning, professional care, therapy and guidance so that every individual can work towards an independent future. Despite a challenging year students have achieved an enormous amount with a mixture of remote and onsite learning, both in the classroom and beyond.

Bishop’s Waltham Community First Responders: Bishop's Waltham Community First Responder volunteers attend emergency situations and support local residents before the arrival of the Ambulance Service. Throughout the pandemic the group was one of the few responder groups in Hampshire to maintain nearly 24/7 cover to support and protect their community.

The Blue Lamp Trust, Eastleigh: The Blue Lamp Trust runs the Bobby Scheme – a free to use service for those who are vulnerable due to age, circumstance or disability, or because they have been a victim of household crime. The Bobby Scheme offers a full crime prevention and fire safety survey by a trained and police-vetted fitter.

Charles Aspinell JP, Fareham: Charles has been a magistrate since January 1992 and since that time has been a Presiding Justice in the adult criminal courts.

Martin Horn JP, Fareham: Martin has been a Magistrate since 2006 and is Deputy Chairman of the Youth Panel on the East Hampshire Bench and a dedicated mentor, always happy to offer wisdom and advice to new Magistrates.

Daniel West, Fareham: Daniel assisted a victim of crime when her purse was stolen in a shop in Fareham. Daniel pursued the suspect and helped to detain him until the police arrived.

Mark Taylor, Fareham: Mark assisted in the same incident as Daniel West, helping to retrieve the stolen purse and detain the suspect until the police arrived.

Dr Richard Markiewicz, Fleet: Dr Markiewicz was called upon to assess the potential influence of helicopter rotor downwash on the fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017. He showed that the helicopters in the vicinity could not have influenced the fire and so the pilots could not have contributed to the outcome of the fire.

RNLI Lymington Station, Lymington: For more than 50 years, RNLI Lymington has been providing search, rescue and lifesaving capability in the busy western Solent and Needles Channel areas. The team voluntarily give up their time to train weekly and are always available and committed to saving lives with professionalism and expertise.

Age UK Portsmouth, Portsmouth: Age UK Portsmouth has been caring for vulnerable and isolated older people in Portsmouth and the local area for more than 80 years. The organisation has supported older people during the pandemic to feel safe and secure in their own homes, helping to install security equipment such as key safes.

Portsmouth City of Sanctuary, Portsmouth: PCoS is a grassroots humanitarian charity primarily assisting the Portsmouth migrant community. ‘Spaces of Sanctuary’ is a PCoS initiative working in partnership with other organisations in the city – it aims to develop a network of private and public sector venues throughout the city that are trained and supported to respond to the needs of anyone seeking safety and dignified support in Portsmouth.

Simon Says, Romsey: Simon Says is a child bereavement charity based in Hampshire which supports children when someone close to them dies. Simon Says runs a helpline, provides information and resources and offers support groups and counselling. It is estimated that each year, around 400 parents die in the county, leaving around 690 dependent children (being children aged 0-17 years).

Mark Perry JP, Southampton: Mark has been a Magistrate since 2006 and sits in the Family Court as a family specialist. Mark has shown exceptional commitment to his role as a Family Magistrate, always making himself available to undertake emergency work out of hours when required.

Citizens Advice Winchester District, Prison Advice Team: Winchester Citizens Advice Winchester District has been offering legal and financial advice to prisoners at HMP Winchester for more than 30 years. It supports those with complex issues such as low literacy levels, mental health problems and a lack of trust in other services. During the pandemic, an email advice service was put in place so that their services were not disrupted and prisoners could access the support they needed.

Jamie Ord, Winchester: Jamie is a member of Christ Church Winchester – the parish in which HMP Winchester is situated. For more than 10 years Jamie has been responsible for organising a group of local Christians to visit the prison once a month to take a service in the prison chapel.

Virginia Lovell JP, Winchester: Virginia has been a magistrate since January 1992 and since that time she has been a Presiding Justice in the adult and youth criminal courts. Virginia is described as an outstanding mentor to her colleagues.

Colin Ive, Yateley: Colin helped lead the Covid-19 vaccination roll out in Yateley, mobilising volunteers, securing venues and ensuring that people received their vaccinations quickly and efficiently – so efficiently that Yateley residents found themselves among some of the first UK recipients of a vaccination.

Police Community Support Officer 13297 Nicholas Greenwood, Yateley: PCSO Nick Greenwood has worked tirelessly for over a decade to raise the profile of rural crime and the impact it has on communities across Hart and the surrounding areas. His work has directly contributed to bringing rural crime to the forefront of policing priorities.

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