Sophie Davis – A great ambassador for Hampshire!

3 July 2009

The work of a Hampshire County Council accredited community safety officer was celebrated at last night’s Council Worker of the Year award ceremony.

Sophie, 27, who comes from Locks Heath near Southampton, was the only person from South East England who was a finalist and she was one of just four people nominated for their work with young people. More than 50,000 people voted across the country – well up on last year – and as voting closed she was in the top half of her category and was the runner-up in a very closely fought competition.

Sophie set up a network of Junior Community Teams (JCT) across Hampshire in areas where there was a problem with low-level anti social behaviour. She and her colleagues worked with 10 and 11 year olds, some of whom were in danger of being excluded from school, helping them turn around their lives and improve their communities.

The first team Sophie set up was on the Rowner Estate in Gosport. Sophie took the children to visit a care home where they made friends with the elderly people and she got the children involved in litter-picking, car-washing and reporting graffiti. Thanks to Sophie’s work, the estate became a safer, cleaner place and inter-generational relations in the community were improved.

Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry said “Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all is the overarching priority of Hampshire County Council and we are all so proud of Sophie’s dedication and enthusiasm for working with young people. She's a great ambassador for Hampshire and I'd like to thank everyone who voted for her."