​ The ‘driving force’ behind a South Wiltshire youth charity has received a Wiltshire High Sheriff’s Award for her work with young people. Jaki Farrell, Director of Seeds4Success, was presented with the award via Zoom by High Sheriff Ashley Truluck. She had been nominated by the group’s trustees who told Mr Truluck she has been the driving force behind its success.

Ms Farrell founded the group in 2012 and grew it to continue youth services closed by Wiltshire Council in the Tisbury and Mere areas in 2014. It runs programmes for young people to encourage personal and social development, teach them skills and inspire them.

Its programmes include a youth club for 11 to 18-year-olds with additional needs, conservation and work projects for youngsters aged 15 to 25 not in education, employment or training and a health and wellbeing club for over 12s.

Mr Truluck is also chairman of trustees at Wiltshire Community Foundation, which has often funded the group, based in Mere. The most recent grant was last month when the community foundation awarded it £2,500 from the Wessex Water Recovery Fund to run an outdoor work project.

He said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to recognise Jaki’s selfless dedication to the youth of Wiltshire over many years – including becoming a charity worker to ensure uninterrupted youth support services when funding for her local government youth services post ceased some years ago.

“Much of the outstanding success of Seeds4Success since has been down to her drive, initiative and enthusiasm. High Sheriff Awards for outstanding services to the community are not given lightly, and this particular one is very richly deserved.”

Ms Farrell said: “I am very surprised and very flattered to receive the award, it isn’t what I do this for. The success here is due to the staff and the trustees, who are all fantastic, and the young people who appreciate what we do and are a big part of it all. We have three of them on the board of trustees and that shows how much they want to give back. We wouldn’t still be here without the young people.”

Ben Williams, Seeds4Success chairman of trustees, added: “Jaki’s relentless dedication to Seeds4Success continues to astound me. The charity would not exist if it were not for Jaki.

“The trustees and local community owe her a huge debt of gratitude. Every time I speak with the young people there are always good things to say about Jaki and how she has gone above and beyond to help them.”

Emily Kelly , who took part in the group’s programmes and is now a trustee, said Mrs Farrell has been an inspiration to her. “I would not be where I am without Jaki's support. She's been a huge part of my life throughout the last decade and has given me opportunities I could never have accessed without her. She's made me more confident, employable and a significantly more well-rounded person, and I will always be grateful to her for being in my life.”

Being a rural charity Seeds4Success is aware of the challenges of transport and getting young people to its projects. Normally this is achieved with minibuses or travel support but over the last year Covid has prevented face to face meetings. Mrs Farrell helped her team adapt the provision it could offer, and it has continued to provide a service throughout the pandemic.

Mr Williams said: “We are really looking forward to being able to more fully engage and offer all of our services again when it is safe to do so. Our staff, the young people, their carers and the community have been fantastic in recognising the difficulties we are currently facing and working with us to ensure we can offer the most support possible, in a safe way for all concerned.

“Jaki’s dedication to those S4S works with is such that she regularly chooses to work well in excess of her contracted hours and at anti-social times. We would never ask this of anyone, but the fact that Jaki does this really means that as a charity we can engage and help so many more people than we could otherwise.”

Find out more about the group at seeds4success.org.uk. To donate to the Wiltshire and Swindon Coronavirus Response Fund or to find out how to apply for a grant, go to wiltshirecf.org.uk.