The Duchess of Cornwall yesterday opened Barnardo’s WellBeing Hub sensory room in Ilford, before heading to the William Morris art gallery. On both occasions, she joined in with arts and crafts.
The new sensory room for the children’s charity will provide therapeutic support to children and young people with disabilities, and met with service users, supporters, as well as care workers and volunteer of the centre.
We are delighted that our Royal Patron, The Duchess of Cornwall, has arrived to meet the amazing children and young people at our Wellbeing Hub in Ilford. pic.twitter.com/MSHdaJ5EJl
— Barnardo’s (@barnardos) February 21, 2019
During a crafts session, Camilla met Connie, a nine year-old girl, having her nails painted with different colours by a volunteer. While watching the future Queen Consort said: “Oh my goodness, you’re having different colour on your nails – you’re going to be very, very beautiful by the end of the day.”
Camilla also met incredible children and teenagers supported by the organisation, as young as nine, who wash, feed and support a parent or close family member as well as attending school.
Barnardo’s new innovative Wellbeing Hub will support dozens of local vulnerable children and young people to help recognise and overcome the impact of past trauma and cope with their additional responsibilities, including young people who have left care and children who help care for a loved one at home. The care-leaver service at Barnardo’s Wellbeing hub, run in partnership with Redbridge Council, will support 143 care leavers.
The Duchess of Cornwall became President of the organisation in 2007, and in 2016 took over as Patron of Barnardo’s from The Queen .
At the end of the visit, the Royal was joined by the charity’s chief executive Javed Khan, to cut the ribbon and open the new centre. She also cut a large cake featuring the charity’s logo to mark the occasion.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Mr Khan paid tribute to the organisation saying its ran programmes puts the ‘childhood’ back into the lives of young carers.
Later on, the Duchess visited the William Morris gallery in Walthamstow to view an exhibition.
William Morris is best known for his textile designs in the late 19th century, reviving traditional British textile arts and methods of production. Camilla got to see examples of his work, which included woven textiles, and even some book illustrations and borders.
Whilst at the gallery, Camilla met with staff, visitors and children taking part in learning activities, trying her hand at roller printing with Bethany and William, 10 and seven-years-old respectively, choosing a royal blue paint to match her outfit and seemed very excited with the children as they were painting.
@ClarenceHouseThe Duchess of Cornwall visited the William Morris Gallery Walthamstow, and tried her hand at block printing with schoolchildren She liked her print so much she took it home. pic.twitter.com/XhwgCdkjJI
— Arthur Edwards (@ArthurJEdwards) February 22, 2019
Camilla also toured the gallery with curator Rowan Bain, and complimented the place saying it’s a “hidden gem”.
During the tour, The Duchess of Cornwall also revealed she would redecorate one of her residences with Morris wallpaper, which are world famous for expertly crafted floral patterns. Might a room in Clarence House be due for renovation…?
