The High Sheriff of Kent, Jonathan Neame, visited The Hope Street Centre in Sheerness recently, together with his wife Lucie. The Centre is a project of the United URC-Methodist Church in Sheerness.
Abby Dewberry, the Centre Manager, and Trustees from the church were delighted to share news about the work of the Centre and introduce to them other charities that have their offices at the Centre. The High Sheriff spoke to a number of the staff, leaders and volunteers with attentive interest and posed thoughtful questions to learn about ways to support community and safety on the Island of Sheppey.
A favourite moment was when Claire, a volunteer community champion from ASDA Sittingbourne, was awarded the High Sheriff’s Award in recognition of her many hours of dedication, which was a complete surprise to her!
Here’s what the visitors wrote:
“Yesterday we spent the morning at The Hope Street Centre in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, a not for profit community hub providing a safe space to socialise, a place for support groups to gather and providing opportunities to volunteer and learn new skills. We met Centre Manager Abby and her small team and learnt about all the great things they do along with the challenges they face with local services and resources on the Island. We then met some the projects housed in the Centre starting with The Pyramid Project which helps individuals to realise their true potential through self-help workshops and resources promoting self-belief, social inclusion, meaningful employment and well-being. Then onto The Forward Trust who help people with drugs and/or alcohol issues and their families who want to make a positive change. We met Charlie at the Banking Hub who provides much needed banking support and services. And lastly, we met Claire Fosbeary, an Asda volunteer who helps out at many of the groups run at or by the Centre. With her she brings “a ray of sunshine” and a dedicated and helpful spirit to everything she does so I was delighted to present her with a High Sheriff’s Award in “recognition of great and valuable services to the community”. Well done, Claire! Thank you to everyone who works and volunteers at the Hope Street Centre and for everything you do for your community.”
Picture (l to r): Heather Morgan (Trustee), Rebekah Zacharova (Assistant Manager), Abby Dewberry (Centre Manager), Lynne Le Masonry (Local Church Leader), the High Sheriff in Hope Street Church.
