Kettering community hero honoured with High Sheriff Award

Kelly Mercer has been volunteering on the town’s Highfields estate for three decades.

In July, Northamptonshire’s High Sheriff Roger Butler asked to attend their fun day and during his visit, he invited Kelly and some of her fellow volunteers from the Highfield Barnes Community Centre to his garden party.

A group of eight of them attended the event where they were treated to drinks on the lawn as well as sandwiches and cakes before Kelly was surprised with a special award for her work over the years.

Kelly said: “I was honoured to receive an award for 30 years of volunteering down on the Highfields estate.

"I didn't know I had been put up for this award and was very shocked but honoured that I had been recognised for all I have down in the 30 years."

For Kelly, it started with day trips before launching a youth group, to activities on the estate in school holidays to now running a foodbank five mornings a week, a free breakfast club, coffee mornings and Easter, Halloween and Christmas events as well as bingo nights and running the community centre on the estate.

Kelly’s award certificate states: “In recognition of the significant contribution you have made and valuable service you have given the community.

"The award also recognises the appreciation of the residents and people of the said High Sheriff’s county for activity and contribution in enhancing the life of the community.”

But for Kelly, this award is for all the people around her as well as herself.

She said: “Over the years many people have helped me, but since Covid I have a really great team now who help with all the different things we run and do.

"They all have different skills and qualities which means all our events and things we provide have gone to another level and improved greatly so I would like to thank these amazing people who came into my life and help provide more things on the Highfields estate.

"One thing I have loved over the past 30 years is seeing children and adults come to the things you provide, like the youth group and foodbank and years later they are volunteering and learning new skills as they want to give something back to something they loved to come to and also seeing their children come to things.

"If you have any spare time in your life, go and volunteer - you meet new people, learn new skills and it gives you a purpose in life.”

Every year the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire makes a number of personal awards to recognise and celebrate the work of individuals in the county who have made outstanding contributions to the communities in which they live or work.

The Office of High Sheriff is a Royal appointment for a single year and is non-political.

It has a long history going back to Anglo-Saxon times with the High Sheriff being the King's representative for law and order in the county.

For more details visit the High Sheriff’s website.