The High Sheriff Fund

For the 2025/26 shrieval year, Worcestershire Community Foundation is delighted to be working with the new High Sheriff for Worcestershire, Ian Smith.

WCF hosts The High Sheriff Fund, which acts as a catalyst for all funding raised by each High Sheriff during their shrieval year; he/she then decides which local causes they wish to support.

Ian’s Background

Ian Smith is immensely proud to be appointed the High Sheriff of Worcestershire for 2025/26. He ran the College Yard based accountancy practice Rabjohns for many years, which he later merged with Bishop Fleming, eventually becoming its Chair. Ian grew up in Worcestershire and is truly embedded in the community. He is a trustee for five local charities, of which he chairs three. He recently retired as a Governor of the University of Worcester.

Ian still lives in the house that he and his wife built nearly 30 years’ ago on their small farm in the Teme Valley. He has two children, and his daughter and three-year old grandson live next door.

Ian’s Shrieval Year

Ian intends to continue with a number of excellent projects initiated by the three High Sheriffs before him. His main project will be introducing ‘Getting Court’ to Worcestershire. This successful programme, already running in other counties enables  groups of school students to attend live Crown Court sessions. Its unique impacts provide a greater understanding of law and order and the judicial system, highlighting life lessons from those who made bad choices. Over time it aids crime prevention and provides inspiration for careers in the areas represented in the Court. He wishes to connect with people linked with Worcestershire schools to get local young people involved in the programme.

Ian hopes to provide an entry from Worcestershire to the National Crimebeat competition, run by the High Sheriffs’ Association. Its purpose is to give recognition to the most innovative and successful crime prevention projects carried out by young people. He would like to hear of any such project in Worcestershire and invites people to contact him.

The new High Sheriff also welcomes contact from those that might benefit from support during his shrieval year. He is  particularly interested in crime prevention, victims of crime and helping the development of vulnerable and underprivileged young people.

To make a donation to the High Sheriff Fund go to: https://www.worcscf.org.uk/appeals/the-high-sheriffs-fund/

For more information on the High Sheriff please go to: https://highsheriffofworcestershire.org.uk.