The Prince of Wales
Advanced Search

Focus

The Prince of Wales meets young people
The Duchess of Cornwall visits Pakistan with The Prince of WalesTRH attend the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, FrancePrince William and Prince Harry

Focus

The Duchess of Cornwall has become the President of Barnardo's

The Duchess of Cornwall becomes President of the children's charity Barnardo's

13th November 2007

The Duchess of Cornwall has become President of Barnardo’s, one of the leading children’s charities in the United Kingdom.

Her Royal Highness has taken over the role formerly held by Cherie Booth QC, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and will today carry out her first visit to a Barnardo’s project.

The charity works directly with over 110,000 children, young people and their families in the UK every year.

Barnardo's runs 383 vital projects across the UK to help some of the most vulnerable children and young people to believe in themselves.

The charity covers a diverse range of social issues; from family drug misuse to disability; from youth crime to mental health; from sexual abuse to domestic violence.

The aim of Barnardo’s is to bring out the best in every child, and this is firmly rooted in the belief that all children deserve the chance to fulfil their potential.

Some of Barnardo’s projects include:

  • family centres and playschemes
  • fostering and adoption services
  • care and community projects for disabled children
  • parenting courses
  • support for young carers
  • counselling for children who have been abused and who self-harm
  • advice on substance misuse
Barnardo's vision is that the lives of all children and young people should be free from poverty, abuse and discrimination and that with the right help, committed support and a little belief, even the most vulnerable children can turn their lives around.

Martin Narey, Barnardo’s Chief Executive, said: “We are simply delighted that Her Royal Highness has agreed to become President of Barnardo’s.

“Her support will be invaluable and help us continue to champion the cause of disadvantaged children.

“Her appointment will be warmly welcomed by our 6,700 staff and 11,000 volunteers and I am confident that she will find her involvement with us extremely rewarding.”

Today Her Royal Highness will visit High Close School in Wokingham to meet young people benefiting from this Barnardo’s project.

The school has residential units and supports and educates children and young people with behavioural difficulties, many of whom have been excluded from mainstream education.

The staff work hard to prepare the young people to return to their local schools or head off into employment.

Her Royal Highness will drop in on science, maths and drama lessons, and will meet a number of young people at the school.

Click here to read the news story.
Click here to find out more about The Duchess's Charities and Patronages.