Walking the County Line of Dorset to raise awareness of County Lines

Turning county boundaries into protection, not exploitation

Between June 25th and the end of October, I’m walking over 200 miles around Dorset’s county boundary to shine a light on county lines exploitation—where vulnerable children and adults are drawn into drug networks, violence, and are coerced and controlled by criminal gangs. Dorset has 19 known operational county lines and some of the highest drug deaths in the country. Child exploitation is hidden in plain sight, with the youngest child trapped in county lines Dorset being aged just 8

In my year as the High Sheriff of Dorset, my role is to highlight the challenges to our judiciary, our police and emergency services and the wonderful people who live in the County. So this is not just a walk. It is about awareness, prevention, and supporting the services and charities that work every day to protect us and work up stream to ensure those most vulnerable to exploitation are kept safe..

This is Dorset. Walking together to protect its most vulnerable.

Why this walk matters

Across Dorset, hidden in plain sight, vulnerable children from all types of backgrounds are drawn into County Lines and criminally exploited. Those at increased risk include children living in deprivation or poverty; experiencing parental substance misuse; having learning difficulties or special educational needs; having mental health challenges; being in care or known to children’s services; school exclusion and/or going missing. Over 40% of offences in the prison population are linked to drugs, and many individuals are themselves trapped in dependency.

This walk is about:

• Raising awareness and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to stay safer

• Supporting organisations that provide opportunity, hope and skills to vulnerable young people

• Standing with organisations creating safer futures, safer spaces and secure environments for young people

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💛 How your donation helps

Your support will go directly ( via The Dorset Shrieval Charitable Trust) towards Dorset charities who work with vulnerable young people or in areas of deprivation providing opportunity, safe spaces. skills or diversionary activities. Chosen charities include Future Roots, Escape Line, The Front Line Skate Park , Bournemouth YMCA and The Talk About Trust Drug Education Charity.

Every donation helps turn awareness into action.

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💛 Donate to support my walk

• £25– keeps the journey moving (every mile of awareness counts)

• £50– keeps Z, my dog going – he will walk every day

• £100 – sponsors a leg of the walk

• £250 – supports a full day’s stage

• Custom amount – every donation helps

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💛 Sponsor a specific leg of the walk

You can choose to directly sponsor a specific part of the journey.

Each stage is made up of individual daily walking challenges. You can:

• Choose a day (for example: Charmouth → West Bay)

• Make a donation of any amount

• Leave a message naming the day you are sponsoring

We will encourage you to post and share the day you are supporting and if you are happy we will give you a shout out on that part of the journey as it happens.

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The journey

I will be walking the county boundary in five stages, covering approximately 208–216 miles.

Stage 1: Charmouth → Portland (25–27 June)

Stage 2: Weymouth → Shell Bay (9–12 July)

Stage 3: Sandbanks → Cranborne (5–8 August)

Stage 4: Shaftesbury → Sherborne (23–26 September)

Stage 5: Sherborne /Chedington → Lyme Regis (21–25 October)

Along the way, I will be joined by the coastguard, volunteer organisations, and local supporters. Please do join me. You can email me via highsheriffofdorset@gmail.com or keep up to date with the journey via Facebook

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The charities

Funds raised will support 10 local Dorset charities, including:

• Future Roots

• Escape Line

• The Front Skate Park

• The Talk About Trust Drug Education Charity

• The Bournemouth YMCA

Each organisation plays a vital role in providing awareness and education, diversionary activities or supporting young people affected by deprivation, homelessness, lack of opportunity education or skills, exploitation or vulnerability.

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Join the journey

You can take part by:

• Walking a mile, a day, or a full stage

• Hosting or supporting us along the route

• Sponsoring a leg of the walk

• Or donating whatever you can

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Every step matters

Every donation helps protect a young person

Thank you so much for your support.