Sophie, Countess of Wessex visits The Treloar Trust in Hampshire

This week, Sophie visit Treloar School and College in Holybourne, Hampshire. The Countess of Wessex spent time with her patronage on Wednesday, arriving in beautiful sunshine, in time to try her hand at a game of Polybat, a version of table-top cricket!

The Countess was welcomed to Treloar by Rear Admiral Ian Henderson CBE (Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire), and – as Royal Patron of the Treloar Trust – she was introduced to Mrs Jessica Taplin, the new Chief Executive Officer of The Trust, along with Mr Alistair Mackintosh, the Chair of Trustees, who escorted Her Royal Highness on a tour of the school.

Sophie meets students in the sunshine at Treloar School. (Royal Family)

Beautiful weather for our fabulous royal patron the @RoyalFamily Countess of Wessex to visit @treloars students today. Thank you for making us all feel so special! pic.twitter.com/HnpuSZbqoq

— Treloar Trust (@treloars) June 5, 2019

The Treloar Trust provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to children and young people with severe physical disabilities from all over the UK and overseas. The Trust was founded back in 1907 by Sir William Purdie Treloar, whilst he was Lord Mayor of London. He wanted to create a school and hospital outside the City of London, for children with non-pulmonary tuberculosis.

Queen Alexandra was involved with fund raising for the school, opening the Queen’s Fete at Mansion House, to raise funds for the appeal. Treloar opened its doors in 1908 and has grown and developed ever since, becoming one of the UK’s leading providers for disabled children and young adults. It offers outstanding teaching, professional care, and therapies, so that every single student can live, learn, achieve and work towards a future where they are able to live as independently as possible.

During the tour, Sophie visited a variety of classrooms, including the PE, Design and Technology and Science departments. During her visit, the Countess met current students of the school and college to talk to them about what daily life at Treloar is like and met staff in the Speech and Language Department to discover more about their work.

Thank you to Chairman of Hampshire Country Council @hantsconnect Councillor Charles Choudhary for joining @RoyalFamily HRH Countess of Wessex @treloars for a tour around our School & to meet our amazing disabled young people. A great & inspirational day! #achieve. pic.twitter.com/Ily1STs0zF

— Treloar Trust (@treloars) June 7, 2019

Sophie takes a turn at table-top cricket (Royal Family)

Her Royal Highness also met some of the younger members of the school during a very special Sensory story session, led by the Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy Staff.

As Royal Patron of The Treloar Trust, Sophie has visited Treloar School and College many times. Back in 2012 she opened the new campus and Wessex House, followed by a further visit in September 2015, when she officially opened Evans House, a new accommodation facility; it houses 14 en-suite rooms along with six flats, all designed with the purpose of helping Treloar College students learn to live as independently as possible. She returned again in May 2017 to open Gauvain House.

It was a pleasure to welcome Councillor Keith Budden of @EastHantsDC, alongside HRH The Countess of Wessex @RoyalFamily on Wednesday to showcase the work we do at @treloars and meet some of our inspirational young people. The Primary classes enjoyed meeting you all! pic.twitter.com/ZFGxOfUAqf

— Treloar Trust (@treloars) June 7, 2019

The students at Treloar are faced with extreme complex and often multiple disabilities, and this often goes hand-in-hand with other conditions, including learning difficulties, visual impairment, mental health problems and life-limiting conditions.

Treloar School aims to ensure that every single student leaves the school having achieved at least one nationally recognised qualification, and tries to enable all students to achieve long-term goals of living a more independent life and being able to make a meaningful contribution to their community, through employment or higher education.

The Treloar Trust has five core values: Working Together, Embracing Continuous Self and Team Improvement, Acting with Integrity, Respecting Diversity and Commitment to Delivering Excellent Services.

We were delighted that @alton_council Town Mayor, Councillor Graham Titterington, joined us @treloars on Wednesday, in the company of HRH the Countess of Wessex @RoyalFamily, to meet with our amazing young people and see just what they are capable of. Thank you for your support! pic.twitter.com/GKNOspP1F2

— Treloar Trust (@treloars) June 7, 2019

Jessica Taplin, CEO of The Treloar Trust, had this to say after Her Royal Highness’s visit on Wednesday: “We are honoured to have Her Royal Highness’s long standing Patronage. It means a very great deal for our students and committed team to have her spend such quality time with us. They were all overjoyed to meet her and show her what they were able to achieve.”