Earlier this month we were delighted to partner with the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Richard Bickersteth, to celebrate the achievements of some of the amazing charities and community groups that he has visited during his Shrieval year. At the event, he presented 11 local charities and five other organisations with their award certificates.

Each year the High Sheriff of East Sussex gives grants to recognise and support the work of charities and organisations within the county who have made outstanding contributions to their local communities.

Sussex Community Foundation has a long history of working with the High Sheriffs of both East and West Sussex and many of the organisations receiving awards had been supported by the Foundation previously.   

Despite the bad weather, the event held at Hellingly Community Hub was well attended with over 120 guests representing voluntary and statutory sector organisations as well as local government.

As partners in the event, Jackie gave a short presentation highlighting the Foundation’s unique position as both a philanthropy expert and local grant maker.  She also outlined our four funding priorities and how we are using these to focus our attention on the areas where we believe we can make the biggest difference and take strides towards achieving our vision of a fairer more equal Sussex.

The community organisations who each received an award and grant of £500 from the East Sussex High Sheriff Fund at Sussex Community Foundation were:

• Brighton Table Tennis Club - Trust for Developing Communities
• Hospital Youth Work in Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital
• Kidz Klub Brighton
• Little Gate Farm
• The Pelham CIO
• Sussex Prisoners' Families
• Willow Tree Children's Services (Westfield Primary School)
• Havens Food Co-operative (Hillcrest Centre, Newhaven)
• Parchment
• Streetlight UK
• Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team