Three Surrey-based organisations showcase their work to The Earl of Wessex.

25th June 2018 | Royal Visits to Surrey

Three Surrey-based organisations showcase their work to The Earl of Wessex.

Three Surrey-based organisations showcased their work to The Earl of Wessex on one action-packed day in June. At Box Hill School in Mickleham, His Royal Highness met students engaged in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. Box Hill School has been a DofE testing centre for over 50 years and the school was proud to receive a special presentation from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at St James’s Palace in 2012 to mark this milestone. During this visit, The Earl of Wessex opened the new £5m Sports Centre and watched students from across the year groups participating in a variety of activities in the impressive facilities.

Next stop on the Royal tour was at Oakleaf Enterprise in Guildford, where the Royal visitor helped celebrate the 21st anniversary of Oakleaf Enterprise and to raise awareness of the work this registered charity does in the local community to support adults experiencing mental illness. His Royal Highness met with Oakleaf clients who have made – and continue to make – huge progress, and also recognised the valuable contribution made by the Oakleaf volunteers who, in 2017, received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Finally, The Earl of Wessex visited Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s Bike Project in Guildford (now also operating in Walton-on-Thames). There, he met with participants in the project and acknowledged the contribution of partner organisations and volunteers. This social enterprise collects unwanted bicycles from the public and other organisations and then provides free skills, accredited training and work experience for local jobseekers and young people to refurbish these bikes. Good quality second-hand bikes are then sold to the local community at an affordable price, to sustain the organisation.