Lancashire's new High Sheriff - and his passion for helping turn lives around

 That's the verdict of the man who's about to step into the role of High Sheriff this week on the 'fabulous' work of the youth and prison charities that he's worked with.

Former property chief, CEO and Deputy Lieutenant Jim Carter (DL) is a passionate advocate for OnSide, a national charity aiming to develop Youth Zones in all major urban centres in the UK. 

The 69-year-old, who first became involved with the charity around 15 years ago and was until recently a board member of the Preston and Chorley Youth Zones, is still hugely supportive and involved with its ground breaking work.

"I honestly have found it to be fabulous," he says. "I've had a lump in my throat from seeing what can be achieved by kids who've come in, troubled, with no self-esteem and left with careers.

"Some have gone on to become singer/song writers, others have come in with little to no communication skills and have become youth workers in their own right. Engaging with local businesses has occasionally led to careers with them."

All of which means that among his priorities, during his tenure as High Sheriff, will be promoting the charity which has previously seen lots of support from the likes of Prince Harry and Tony Blair.

Never one to shy away from the frontline, Jim is also a member of the Employment Advisory Board at HMP Lancaster Farms, working alongside chairman of British supermarket chain Booths Edwin Booth to help released prisoners to find work and accommodation. Talking to prisoners on the wing has been particularly enlightening.

"They are adults who have been in trouble," he says, matter of factly, "and we are trying to rehabilitate them by getting them back into accommodation and work. It's very moving – you go on these visits and talk to some of them, and they tell you that they do wish they hadn't done it, and I would like to give them the chance to speak to young people and let them know where they went wrong.”

During his year of office, Jim has an ambition to bring the national charity 'Getting Court' to Lancashire. This organisation is a preventative and educational initiative that aims to keep young people out of trouble.

Yet behind his down to earth attitude lies a stellar career of some standing. A proud holder of a Master of Laws and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Jim has notched up an extensive career in property and construction across public and private sectors.

It includes nearly four decades at the Eric Wright Group, a large Lancashire based company providing services in construction, property and civil engineering, where Jim rose through the ranks to become Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman before retiring completely at the end of 2024.

Philanthropy has also shaped his professional life somewhat, since the company is owned by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust, which invests profits back into the community by  working with a broad range of charities, mainly in the north-west of England. 

Other strings to his bow include senior positions in his professional body, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), where he became the first chairman of the newly created management board, leading significant modernisation for which he received an award for an outstanding contribution to the profession. He also became an Honorary Fellow of the University College of Estate Management.

"My own professional skills have been relevant in my support for establishing new Youth Zones particularly in the development phase and working with local authorities,” he adds.

As a long time board member of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Jim also chaired the City Deal Board – no mean feat, since it secured more than £400m of government infrastructure funding for Preston and South Ribble.

Yet despite all his professional accolades, the father of one, who moved to Chorley from Bolton with his wife, Annabel, more than 30 years ago, says his 'heart skipped a beat' when he received the phone call from the Palace, notifying him of his appointment as High Sheriff of Lancashire.

"I'm hugely proud," he admits, adding that his father Frank and brother Robert, together with his daughter Rachel will be on hand at the Installation ceremony on  4 April at County Hall.

He added:

"My father will be 98 in June – I don't think he ever anticipated that the troublesome son at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton would end up being Lancashire's High Sheriff."

Although the High Sheriff role incorporates all the traditional, ceremonial functions of promoting the county and engaging with communities, as well as providing support to the judiciary, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lancashire Police, Jim also hopes that in addition to achieving his charitable aspirations, his year in the role will also bring people together.

"I have never wanted to do something just for the sake of doing something," he said. "When I said yes, I made up my mind to try to do something positive for Lancashire, and the role of High Sheriff does give a chance to bring people together and encourage them to speak to each other.

"If people are at odds, I will encourage them to talk, not for political reasons, but simply because I think it's better when people talk to each other, and work together for the benefit of the wider community."