I feel very honoured to have been declared the latest High Sheriff of Shropshire for the year 2026–2027. The Installation Ceremony took place on Thursday, 9 April 2026 at St John the Baptist Church, Church Preen, Shropshire, surrounded by family and friends.
As a modern-day High Sheriff, it is difficult to effect meaningful change. One cannot reform the judicial system or change policing. However, what has become increasingly clear to me over the past few years are the challenges facing the Probation Service, particularly with the rising number of prisoners being released early to reduce overcrowding.
While I cannot change the system itself, I can highlight and support the rehabilitation groups and charities that work alongside the Probation Service.
In Shropshire, we are fortunate to have two community organisations that do precisely this.
Willowdene, a rehabilitation centre and working farm in south Shropshire, offers among other initiatives a residential 12-week course for women, which is a Ministry of Justice recognised alternative to custody. The only one of its kind in the UK, it combines therapy with vocational and life-skills training. Willowdene works closely with the Probation Service, the Ministry of Justice, and Public Health to deliver innovative support for men and women facing complex barriers to purposeful living.
Secondly, A Better Tomorrow is a charity based in Telford. It offers an abstinence-based residential recovery programme, providing supported housing for adults recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. It also offers safe accommodation for those requiring mental health support.
In addition, the charity provides supported accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, giving them respite and a platform from which to move towards more secure housing. What truly sets A Better Tomorrow apart is that many of its support services and courses are led by former beneficiaries, helping to ensure long-term success.
Raising awareness of the challenges facing the Probation Service, and supporting and promoting the work of rehabilitation groups is what I would like to focus on during my Shrieval year, and I intend to do so to the very best of my ability.
I also aim to support the Shropshire Community Foundation, a charity that directly supports communities across the ceremonial county, helping them to thrive by championing local organisations, connecting them with donors, and channelling funds where they are most needed.
Until I began my preparation for the role of High Sheriff, researching rehabilitation charities and community groups across Shropshire, I believed I knew a great deal about our beautiful, bucolic county. It has quickly become evident that there is still much more to learn.
Over the coming year, alongside my High Sheriff duties, I look forward to deepening my understanding of the many groups and charities that make Shropshire such a wonderful place to live, and to offering as much support as I can.
