Herefordshire prepares for Royal visit

Toddlers, parents, and looked after children will be dusting off the bunting, and putting on their glad rags in preparation for a Royal visitor next week.

Some of the county’s youngest and some of the oldest will have the opportunity to meet HRH The Countess of Wessex when she visits Herefordshire on Wednesday March 17.

Arriving in the county at 12noon, The Countess’s first engagement will be at Growing Point, a registered charity based in Holme Lacy that uses horticultural therapy to help children and adults with disabilities.  As well as meeting some of the county’s civic dignitaries HRH will learn about the history of Herefordshire’s Growing Point before touring the site and meeting staff, users and volunteers. Groups present will include Scope (individuals with learning difficulties), Over 60s, Barrs Court School and Ledbury ABI Transitional Living Unit.

Her next visit will be Breast Haven, Hereford for lunch, before arriving at Herefordshire Council’s Centre 18, Symond Street, Hereford at 2.20pm to meet some of the county’s looked after children. 

Developed specifically for young people in care, Centre 18 provides a meeting place where young people in care can get together on a regular basis.  The centre also provides them with support and new skills helping them make the transition to independence.

During her visit, The Countess will meet some of the young people who use the centre including a group who will be painting a new mural outside.  Amongst a range of other activities, The Countess will enjoy learning about the listening tree, a unique project developed by young people, before planting an apple tree in the grounds of the centre to commemorate her visit.

Leaving Centre 18 at 3pm, The Countess will visit the HOPE Family Centre in Bromyard for 45 minutes where she will meet families and be introduced to the trustees and council staff.  The Countess will be offered a cup of tea before beginning a tour of the building and a chat with members of the computer group, volunteers and supporters of HOPE.

Thanks to more than £1.3 million funding from Advantage West Midlands and Europe through the Rural Development Programme for England, the centre is about to embark on an exciting building project and will become one of the county’s first new co-location centres.  The Countess will get an exclusive peek at the plans and meet some of the architects involving in developing them.  HRH will also meet some of the three and four year olds in the butterfly room, some two year olds in the caterpillar room and staff in the sensory room.   

 

Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We are very proud of our looked after children and are delighted The Countess is going to spend some time getting to meet them.  I believe they are looking forward to talking to her about all the things they enjoy doing at Centre 18 and showing off some of their cooking skills too.

“We are also very proud of our children’s centres, and have great plans to change the way we deliver services for children and families over the next few years.  HOPE Family Centre was one of the first children’s centres to open in Herefordshire and will be one of the first new co-location centres to open as well, so it is fitting that The Countess should meet some of our youngest customers there.”