The High Sheriff of Dorset has highlighted the inspirational work of some of the charities and groups he has been able to visit or Zoom, despite the pandemic.

George Streatfeild has published an 'Inspiring Hope' booklet, which includes information about Food Share, Home Start West Dorset, Relate, the Thomas Hardye School, Dorset Mind, Dorset Community Foundation and many more.

He said: "At my High Sheriff declaration on March 27, 2020, I summarised my ambition for the year as being to 'seek out and promote those organisations and individuals that have been, and are, inspiring hope in those that are struggling'.

"I have travelled across the county to thank individuals and groups, teams and organisations who have been just amazing. However, my opportunity to publicise this has become more limited and restricted to social media, the website and press releases - personal contact has been harder to achieve.

"I want to share what I have learnt with others and to make people aware of some of the issues facing those that are struggling in our society.

"I also wish to highlight the importance of volunteers to our communities, not that we in Dorset receive social welfare on the cheap, but what they do underpins our fabric.

"This booklet gives space to a few of the charities and organisations which I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting in 2020. It is not intended to be anything like a definitive list of charities in Dorset, but they are ones which, as High Sheriff, I have met and with whom I have been very impressed by what they do, how they work and the needs they fulfil in our community, particularly over the past year and during the pandemic, I am well aware there are many more."

Food Share

Food Share's mission is to provide fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery and eggs to those facing financial hardship in and around the Dorchester area while also reducing food waste.

Mr Streatfeild said: "It was amazing to hear from manager Liz Meech about her dedication to detail and concern for those to whom she provides food.

"With her son Jon, she prepares the food parcels into family portions. It takes incredible commitment to do this week after week, and she knows personally all those on her list each week, and even selects special goods for those she knows are vegetarian or gluten free."

The Thomas Hardye School

'An outstanding school providing a first-class education for all students' - Ofsted.

Mr Streatfeild said: "It was an absolute pleasure to present a High Sheriff's Award to the Thomas Hardye School's catering team.

"Weekly through the lockdown and summer, they provided food parcels to over 100 families at the school - one pack per child - and around another 30 to other local schools.

"What an amazing achievement and service to the community. Many congratulations to everyone involved."

Relate

Helping to understand and overcome relationship problems in the family, at work or in school.

Mr Streatfeild said: "Most people, when I ask them about Relate, assume it is all about marriage guidance. Though this is an important part of their work, the Relate team spend 50 per cent of their time working with young people under the age of 25, counselling on family issues, bullying, relationships both at school and at home, behaviour and increasingly grooming.

"Therefore I was delighted to present Sian and her team with a High Sheriff Award because they recognised the need to support young people at risk of mental trauma during the lockdown period - and did something about it."

Home Start West Dorset

Supporting parents of young children and babies as they learn and cope, improve their confidence and build hope for better lives for their children.

Mr Streatfeild said: "With four children of my own, I can quite understand the need for home visiting volunteer support.

"Even before the pandemic, young families, especially single parents or those without supporting relatives, faced huge challenges - learning to cope with post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, bereavement and many other issues, and all the while struggling to build better lives for their children.

"When lockdown started, that support must have been a life-saver."

Mind Dorset

Supporting people with mental health problems in Dorset for over 70 years - we won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

Mr Streatfeild said: "The number of volunteers who became involved during lockdown, brought new skills and talents to the adult and youth services team.

"It was to David Sutherland that I was honoured to award a High Sheriff Community Award for leading his team of all ages during the pandemic and increasing the opportunities to reach out to the community in need of mental health support during the extraordinarily tough time."

Dorset Community Foundation

DCF raises funds for those most in need in Dorset by responding to that need and equipping the amazing charities and grass roots groups with the means to provide the assistance they know is needed on their doorsteps.

Mr Streatfeild said: "As the pandemic exploded, it was very apparent that the Dorset Community Foundation was exactly the right vehicle in the right place to ensure funding was quickly cascaded down to those small charities in the front line providing care and support to all those struggling to survive.

"They brought in extra experienced staff and worked every hour of every day to make it happen.

"The DCF became the natural organisation for me to support."

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