Today, I was out and about in Walton with two of the most impressive people I know in the voluntary sector. Dr Helen Bowcock is now the High Sheriff of Surrey, and has a stellar track record as both a sociologist and philanthropist. Jackie Lodge is the Chief Executive of Walton Charity, the 800 year old local endowment fund set up to help the poor and needy and still going strong.

 

We visited a Surrey Youth Service/ Walton Charity program at Walton Youth Centre, which is doing great work getting youngsters who have been out of work and study for a while get back on the right track. We then popped by Elmbridge Community Link (ECL) and joined in a musical session with a range of people with learning disabilities. I duly got stuck in with a tambourine. ECL was doing a terrific job engaging those who suffer from a range of conditions, instilling confidence and having some fun.

 

Finally, we went to Sherwood House care home to wish Jim Turner, a local lad and former engineer, a very happy 100th birthday (as pictured below with Helen).

 

There are some inspiring local initiatives in Elmbridge, working with various vulnerable groups, and the joint work Walton Charity and Surrey County Council are doing is an impressive model of local government and voluntary sector cooperation.