Anna Rankin, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, toured five North Herts community groups on 2 October, from Angels in Letchworth to Home Start Royston.

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Anna Rankin, spent Friday 2 October touring five community organisations across North Herts, including a Letchworth charity that says it supports around 3,800 families of children with ADHD and autism.

She was shown round by the Chair of North Herts Council, Councillor Keith Hoskins MBE, the council said in a press release sent to Stevenage Today. The visit tied in with her theme for the year, “Where Families Thrive, Communities Flourish”, and what she saw will feed into her work for the High Sheriff’s Fund at the Hertfordshire Community Foundation.

Where she went

The day began at the Council Offices in Letchworth Garden City, where she was welcomed by the council’s Chief Executive, Anthony Roche, and its Leader, Councillor Val Bryant.

Five people standing in the North Herts Council chamber in front of the council's coat of arms and two purple North Herts Council banners
The High Sheriff with the Leader, Chief Executive, Chair and Consort in the North Herts Council chamber. Photo: supplied by North Herts Council

From there, Councillor Hoskins took her to:

  • Angels Support Group, Letchworth. The council says she learned about the group’s specialised work supporting approximately 3,800 families of children with ADHD and autism.
  • Baldock Community Hub, which recently received grant funding from North Herts Council. She saw how the space brings people together and shares resources, the council says.
  • Baldock Library, where she met the library team and heard how they deliver educational and family services.
  • North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum, Hitchin, which the council describes as having worked for many years to support and integrate diverse communities across the district.
  • Home Start Royston, where she heard about the practical support it gives families with young children facing difficult times.
Seven people standing outside the brick front of Baldock Community Hub, its windows covered in posters for a quiz night and a trivia night
The High Sheriff, the Chair and his Consort with Baldock Community Hub outside the hub. Photo: supplied by North Herts Council

What the High Sheriff said

Anna Rankin said:

“It was such a treat to be shown around North Herts by the Chair of the Council. Since I live in the southwest of the county, this is an area that I don’t know that well, but we had the most brilliant day visiting some stand-out organisations. My theme is ‘Where Families Thrive, Communities Flourish’, and that is exactly what all these selfless groups are doing: supporting families which, in turn, supports communities.”

Councillor Hoskins said:

“We were delighted to welcome the High Sheriff to North Herts to showcase our exemplary community network. The organisations on the itinerary provide crucial services that help families grow stronger, while navigating intense financial and volunteering pressures. It was an honour to accompany the High Sheriff to see these resilient community champions get the recognition they richly deserve.”

What it means for you

The visit is more than a courtesy call. The High Sheriff presents commendations and prizes at an annual awards ceremony, due in March 2027, to individuals and voluntary organisations that have given outstanding service to the county, the council says. Groups like the five she met are the kind she has in mind.

If you volunteer with, or rely on, a group in Stevenage, Hitchin or Baldock that deserves that kind of recognition, the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, which runs the High Sheriff’s Fund, is the place to start.

North Herts Council’s press office can be reached on 01462 474150.