News
The Duchess visits an innovative sports centre and the Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science in East London
29th January 2008
The Duchess of Cornwall today cheered on toddlers competing in a mini Olympics at a centre offering sports and education opportunities to young people in East London.
The Duchess spent time chatting to the two-year-olds and their parents and posed for photos at the Score Centre as well as watching basketball, cricket and football lessons.
The centre is run by Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme and provides a base for the University of East London's sports coaching and development schemes.
The centre opened in 2005 and now offers activities to about 1,500 children and young people a week, many of whom would be otherwise excluded from sporting, leisure and educational opportunities.
The Duchess presented certificates to members of the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) football league.
She told PMA director Martine Morris that she was developing an interest in the sport.
The PMA football league is made up of young people who have suffered mental health problems and now has 12 teams playing in two leagues across London.
Ms Morris said: "When these people left hospital there was nowhere for them to go and it's therefore easier to relapse.
"Some couldn't get out of bed when they joined the team. Now they're getting on a bus and coming to training.
"The football team is a great support network and helps with their social skills."
The organisation is now working with the Football Association and hoping to expand into a national league.
Neil Taylor, the programme's chief executive, said the centre had reached many young people who may never have had an opportunity to join sports teams.
He said the centre's sports programmes acted as a "carrot" for young people, who could then have access to health facilities and educational training within the organisation.
The Duchess then opened the new Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science in Stratford, east London.
The Duchess, who is Patron of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, toured the podiatry clinic to observe students giving a consultation and visited the orthotics suite to meet students making plaster casts, before being shown demonstrations in the sports science and physiotherapy laboratories.
She then joined special guests including Olympian javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson to declare the centre officially open.
Click here to find out more about The Duchess's patronages.