THE high sheriff of Gwent is asking businesses across the county to support her work transforming the lives of young people.

Sharon Linnard will use the high sheriff’s community fund to support voluntary organisations helping young people across Gwent.

More than 100 organisations applied for a share of the £75,000 fund in the spring, but the fund was only large enough to support one in five applicants, meaning the high sheriff was unable to support the vast majority of projects.

Mrs Linnard believes more funding is crucial if young people are to be given better life opportunities, and sees business investment as an untapped resource.

“We had nowhere near enough money to fund all the applications that came forward”, she said.

“I want to get to more projects and increase the source of funding.

“I would like businesses to come forward and support the projects with a fair, proportionate sum.

“When [business owners] realise the work we do in the communities where they’re based – keeping people safe and enhancing life opportunities for young people – I’m sure they will be receptive in helping out.”

In her first few months as high sheriff, Mrs Linnard says she has been “humbled” by the work young volunteers are doing within various community projects.

“I went to a project in Torfaen which gives respite to parents whose children have additional needs”, she said.

“I was so impressed by how good the young volunteers were and how much they were getting out of the project.

“It’s humbling in many ways to visit the projects.

Young people are far from those pictured in the bad press. They’re so committed – and that has to be good for Gwent and its communities.”

The high sheriff has also visited young people at Abergavenny Youth Centre who were doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award and building a community garden.

Such projects are “teaching them cooperation, teamwork, respect, responsibility, and helping them become valuable members of the community who feel valued instead of undervalued”, Mrs Linnard said.

While she is proud of the work currently being done across Gwent, Mrs Linnard knows there are many more projects that require funding.

“We’ve only scratched the surface – more projects could do more if they had the money. Volunteers have told me they could be doing so much more if they had funding”, she said.

Mrs Linnard said it made sense for businesses to support the high sheriff fund’s work in improving communities and diverting young people away from wasting their talents and engaging in anti-social behaviour.

“If you’re an employer and you have employees helped by these projects, then you’ll get happier employees.

“I’m asking businesses how I can tap into their communities to raise funds for the projects. I’m asking them to help with issues on their doorsteps.

“If we can prevent [those problems], then that’s a massive win all-round.

“To any businesses in Gwent – my appeal is for a proportionate level of support. We’re grateful for every contribution, be it £50, £500, £5,000 or more.

“Businesses are welcome to come and see some of our current projects, and I’m happy to sit down with business owners and give them my time.”

For more information about the high sheriff’s community fund, or to donate, visit www.ghscf.org.uk