High Sheriff Award

In February 2021 Winchester Youth Counselling team was informed that they were the recipient of a High Sheriff of Hampshire Community Award from the Revd. Sue Colman, High Sheriff of Hampshire 2020-2021, for their commitment and dedication to supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable people, particularly during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The High Sheriff of Hampshire Awards Ceremony took place on the lawn at Upham House, Southampton on the afternoon of 10th September 2021, to honour local volunteers, organisations and public servants going beyond the call of duty in their everyday activities.

Sarah Le May and Revd Sue Colman, the High Sheriffs of Hampshire for 2019 and 2020 respectively, presented the awards to recognise the inspirational work of 57 Hampshire based individuals and organisations. Recipients were presented with a certificate thanking them for their significant contribution to society and for their role in enhancing safety and cohesion across local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The High Sheriff Awards Ceremony was attended by Sian Searles, Trustee and Caroline Hobbs, Operations Manager, who accepted the award of behalf of Winchester Youth Counselling.

Clarendon Marathon 2021 Clarendon Marathon 2021

Wyc Clarendon Team 1

From left to right – Erin McMurtry, Lucy Tollefsen-Hill, Caragh McMurtry and Ros Harpur

The Clarendon Marathon is an off road, picturesque and challenging marathon. The route is from Salisbury to Winchester along the ancient Clarendon Way with a few extra turns here and there to make up a full 26.2 miles. More than 90% is off road, with the trail following country tracks and paths – many of which have not changed since being travelled by the ancient Kings and Queens of England.

This year, Winchester Youth Counselling entered a relay team to run the Clarendon Marathon. The team was made up of Winchester Youth Counselling’s CEO, Erin McMurty, Olympian GB Rower, Caragh McMurtry, Lucy Tollefsen-Hill, who is one of our much-valued NHS Nurses and Ros Harpur, who is a Music Therapist. The WYC team completed the course with a time of 4:56:36. The Team raised over £600 in sponsorship, which they have donated to Winchester Youth Counselling. All of us at WYC are very grateful to the team for their efforts and hope they enjoyed taking part in the event.

Clarendon Marathon Support Team

From left to right – Sian Searles, Marion Carr, Ronni Davis and Sonia Carver

Also at the event, were Winchester Youth Counselling Ambassadors, Ronni Davies, Marion Carr and Sonia Carver, who manned water stations to raise money for WYC. Our Chair of Trustees, Nick Bell following lots of baking, set up a cake stand in King’s Somborne, which is 3/4 of the way along the course, whilst Trustee Sian Searles and her husband Mark were Marshalls for the run. We would like to say a huge thank you to Ronni, Sonia, Marion, Nick, Sian and Mark, for raising over £900 for WYC.

This means that thanks to all involved in this event, Winchester Youth Counselling will receive over £1500 in total.