Royal visitor checks out welcoming centre catering to needs of learning disability members
As she prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday, Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh visited L’Arche, a learning disability centre in Norwood High Street.
The charitably-run centre’s services include a day activities and workshop programme for people with learning disabilities, but also supports people with learning disabilities at home, in and around West Norwood.
Her Royal Highness, the wife of Prince Edward, was invited by Richard Keagan-Bull, a core member of L’Arche, after he spotted a video of The Duchess dancing with people with learning disabilities at a charity event on social media.
He is a big fan of the Royal Family, and thought it would be great if she could come and meet him and see L’Arche. So, supported by another member of the L’Arche community, he wrote to her. That was about a year ago. He received a response shortly before Christmas, saying that she would come on Wednesday and she was true to he word.
During the visit, The Duchess was shown how to make a candle by L’Arche London’s Craft Workshop, and enjoyed a cup of tea with members of the learning disability community, who wanted to find out about everything from the jewellery HRH was wearing, how many castles she owned, and what she thought of Jenny Agutter in Call the Midwife (she’s a fan, apparently).
Richard gave The Duchess a copy of his book, Don’t Put Us Away – about the joys and challenges of life with a learning disability – and they discussed how people with learning disabilities contribute to making the world a better, and more joyful place to be.
L’Arche is an international movement, bringing together people with and without learning disabilities in life-sharing Communities. The charity supports around 300 adults in 11 different community sites across the UK, and over 150 Communities in 37 countries worldwide.
At the end of the visit, everyone sang Happy Birthday to The Duchess, alongside Sunta Costa – a lady from L’Arche with a learning disability – who is also celebrating her 68th birthday this week.
The visit marks the end of L’Arche’s Jubilee celebrations, after opening their first UK community in Kent 50 years ago.
Pictured top: Richard Keagan-Bull with the Duchess (Picture: L’Arche)