Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh tours the innovative Salesian Cullum Centre Centre for autistic students.

24th April 2023 | Royal Visits to Surrey

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh tours the innovative Salesian Cullum Centre Centre for autistic students.

The National Autistic Society welcomed Her Royal Highness, who is the charity’s Royal Patron, to Salesian Cullum Centre in Chertsey for autistic students. The innovative Centre supports autistic pupils to attend a mainstream school close to home, while receiving the tailored support they need.

The Duchess spent time chatting to staff and students, and visited their classes including art, cooking and speech and language games. A photography student was also given the opportunity to join the official photographer to experience covering a Royal visit.

The tour was led by Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, and Ros Pool, Cullum Centre Headteacher. Guests included Nicholas Wood Dow, Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, Paul Gower, Salesian School Headteacher, and Simon Cullum, Vice President of the National Autistic Society and Trustee of the Cullum Family Trust.

The National Autistic Society’s six Cullum Centres support autistic students to get the support they need to thrive in mainstream school settings. With generous financial support from the Cullum Family Trust, the centres provide specialist support that ensures pupils can maximise their potential and are prepared for their futures. With six successful Cullum Centres in place, the charity hopes to build a further seven over the coming years.

Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome The Duchess of Edinburgh to our Salesian Cullum Centre. It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce her to the brilliant work being done by our Cullum Centres to support autistic students within mainstream school settings. We are so grateful for her continued support for autistic children, young people and adults, and their families.”

Simon Cullum, Vice President of the National Autistic Society and Trustee of the Cullum Family Trust, said: “We aredelighted to welcome Her Royal Highness to see first-hand the difference our Cullum Centres make to autistic children and their families.”

The visit followed World Autism Acceptance Week, which was held from Monday 27 March to Sunday 2April to help improve understanding of autism and attitudes towards autistic people.

Her Royal Highness tours the innovative Salesian Cullum Centre Centre for autistic students.

The visit followed World Autism Acceptance Week, which was held from Monday 27 March to Sunday 2April to help improve understanding of autism and attitudes towards autistic people.