The Countess of Wessex got into the Valentine’s Day spirit early this year, by visiting a Shooting Star children’s hospice in West London
Sophie spent time talking to children and families supported by the charity at Shooting Star House in Hampton, which is one of two facilities run by the charity.
Countess Sophie visited her Patronage Shooting Star Children’s Hospice. (Simon Dopson/Shooting Star)
The Countess of Wessex took part in arts & crafts. (Simon Dopson/Shooting Star)
Sophie is Patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, and it is a role she has held since 2002, when she officially opened Christopher’s, the organisation’s Guildford-based centre.
During the visit, the Countess joined the children in the arts and craft activities to help create a ‘wall of love’ at the hospice.
The mother-of-two was also entertained by children, families and staff who performed a special ‘Friendly Hands’ Makaton version of The Beatles hit song, ‘All You Need is Love’. Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate, which is used by many of the children at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and their families.
The Countess of Wessex spoke to those who benefit from the charity. (Simon Dopson/Shooting Star)
Sophie’s patronage is a leading children’s hospice charity, which supports around 700 families who have a baby, child, or young adult with a life-limiting condition or who have been bereaved across London and Surrey.
Ruth, mum of 14-year-old Naomi, who’s supported by the charity said: “It’s really lovely to meet the Countess and see her interacting with the children, she’s so lovely with them and we had a really great afternoon with the other families too.”
The pandemic saw the Royal supporting the charity by volunteering her own time in helping staff and volunteers. This ranged from preparing meals for front-line workers to assisting in vaccine clinics.
The Countess of Wessex has visited Shooting Star a number of times since 2002, when she became Patron. (Simon Dopson/Shooting Star)
To mark Valentine’s day in 2020, Sophie was on hand to decorate Valentine’s Day biscuits and read to a group of youngsters at Shooting Star House.
In December 2020, The Countess of Wessex visited the Hospices charity shop in Hampton, to help the shop prepare for Christmas. Her Royal Highness heard about the impact of the pandemic on the hospice’s services and the shop’s trade. Like many organisations, charities have suffered a huge loss in income not only through donations but through shops being closed.
