Ben Rouse has been sworn in as the Island’s new High Sheriff. Ben is a Chartered Financial Planner and managing director of Newport financial planners, Rouse Limited. He succeeds Robin Courage in the role.
“Fundraising is fundamental to the role and I hope that Island businesses will support me in raising as much money as possible for the High Sheriffs’ Trust,” Ben says. “The Trust provides small but vital grants to Island community groups, individuals, and charities that might otherwise miss out on mainstream funding. But helping people doesn’t only involve fundraising, it’s also about education and I intend to hold this as a focus of my year.”
Ben plans to roll out an updated financial literacy presentation to Island sixth formers. He also intends to work with Island secondary schools on community project known as Old School, bringing together senior citizens and adolescents under a mutually supportive programme. He is also collaborating with future High Sheriffs to bring businesses and schools together.
“I want to offer young people further advancement towards employment opportunities by using the support and resources a school can provide together with a clear understanding of what the business community needs to see as qualifications. The key aims are to reinforce the fact that there are jobs on the Island for young people with the right qualifications and the island itself offers a superb quality of life. Island businesses need to come together and tell young people through the schools what jobs are out there and what they need to study to get them.’
