Students at IntoUniversity Walworth had a memorable surprise this week, as they were joined by two very special royal visitors, The Prince and Princess of Wales, who marked their 15th Wedding anniversary by visiting the centre.
Students at IntoUniversity Walworth had a memorable surprise this week, as they were joined by two very special royal visitors, The Prince and Princess of Wales, who marked their 15th Wedding anniversary by visiting the centre.
IntoUniversity was chosen as one of the 26 charities to benefit from Their Royal Highnesses’ Royal Wedding Gift Fund in 2011, providing donations at a pivotal moment in the charity’s development. The Gift Fund was set up before their wedding so that anyone who wished to give them a wedding gift could instead donate to their chosen charities in celebration of their wedding.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday 29th April, welcomed The Prince and Princess of Wales to IntoUniversity Walworth, where Their Royal Highness observed a ‘FOCUS Day’ for Year 5 students from Victory Primary School. Pupils enjoyed a range of interactive activities designed to introduce university life and inspire interest in future study, including an exploration of Astronomy, team-based challenges and a creative design task focused on living in space.
At the time of the Royal Wedding Gift Fund in 2011, IntoUniversity operated six centres in London. Today, it has grown into a national network of 46 centres across England and Scotland, supporting more than 60,000 young people each year.
Their Royal Highnesses early support provided both financial assistance and a powerful vote of confidence in IntoUniversity’s mission to support children facing disadvantage to achieve their full potential through education. The organisation has supported over 250,000 young people, helping to raise attainment, build confidence and open up pathways to future study and careers.
Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder, at IntoUniversity said:
“Fifteen years ago, Their Royal Highnesses’ Royal Wedding Gift Fund provided generous support at a crucial moment for IntoUniversity. It not only helped us to continue our work, but also gave us the confidence to grow. Today, we are supporting tens of thousands of young people across the UK each year, and it was a privilege to share a part of that work with Their Royal Highnesses in person. We remain deeply grateful for the support of the Royal Wedding Gift Fund which has had a lasting impact on so many lives, and to Their Royal Highnesses for visiting IntoUniversity Walworth. It was a truly memorable day for our young people and the charity, one we will be talking about for years to come.”
Jennifer, Year 5 teacher at Victory Primary School, said:
“Today was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to meet The Prince and Princess of Wales. The children were brilliant, they engaged confidently, asked thoughtful questions and really embraced the experience. I’ve worked closely with IntoUniversity for six years and have seen first-hand the impact of their support. The way they engage with pupils, both in school and beyond, makes a real difference to their confidence, learning and aspirations. Opportunities like today are incredibly special for our children.”
