FROM THE WEBSITE: Place2Be provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, building children’s resilience through talking, creative work and play. Place2Be provides children’s mental health services in 282 primary and secondary schools, helping them to cope with wide-ranging and often complex social issues including bullying, bereavement, domestic violence, family breakdown, neglect and trauma.
INFORMATION:
— Place2Be and the Art Room merged in January 2018. Before that Catherine was patron of the two separate charities (Art Room since January 2012 and Place2Be since April 2013).
— Past engagements from The Art Room have been added to this list.
EFFORTS:
February 21, 2012 – Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Visits Schools In Oxford – The Duchess of Cambridge visited Rose Hill Primary School in Oxford, England, where she engaged in discussions with the students and observed the therapeutic use of art at The Art Room, a program for which she is a patron. The Art Room aims to bolster the student’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence through artistic expression. During her visit, the Duchess observed eight children creating art based on the Edward Lear poem, “The Owl And The Pussycat,” which is known to facilitate open dialogue with children. As the children painted the story, the Duchess attentively observed their work. Following her visit to Rose Hill Primary School, The Duchess proceeded to Oxford Spires Academy, where she actively participated in an Art Room meeting. During the meeting, she attentively listened to the organizers discuss debriefing, training, and supervision processes for the Oxford charity staff.
June 15, 2012 – Performance Of ‘The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe’ In Kensington Gardens – The Duchess of Cambridge participated in a special production of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, presented by Threesixty Entertainment, on the historical grounds of Kensington Gardens with 150 young people from 12 different schools using the Art Room. During the intermission, the Duchess interacted with the children, aged five to 16, discussing their thoughts on the show’s first half, their enjoyment of the Turkish delight featured in the performance, and lightheartedly requesting them not to scream too loudly. She received a stuffed toy of Aslan, the iconic lion from the Narnia books, from student Suhani Kapoor. Juli Beattie, the founder and director of The Art Room, expressed that the invitation to the performance by the Duchess was an enriching experience for the children.
Beattie stated, “Having a royal patron like the Duchess of Cambridge is invaluable for a small charity like ours. Witnessing the children’s reactions was truly overwhelming. It was an extraordinary visual experience for all of them.”
Following the show, Kate met the cast and crew of the stage adaptation of CS Lewis’s novel, combining live-action and puppetry. She explored the three-meter Aslan, engaging with the puppeteers inside it and later posing for a photograph with the cast and the majestic lion.
Jonny Weldon, who plays Edmund, added, “Performing in front of her was an honor.”
Rebecca Benson, who portrays Lucy, mentioned their discussion about the plot, which centered around four children journeying to the enchanted world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe. “She mentioned that many children would be inspecting their wardrobes after the show,” she shared.
Charlie Burnell, the show’s producer, expressed their enjoyment in performing for the children. “It’s important to have a good balance of adults and children for this show,” he emphasized. “When there was a substantial group of children, and as the snow fell, they reached out for the snowflakes. It was a truly magical moment.”
April 22, 2013 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits Willows Primary School – On her recent engagement, the Duchess of Cambridge visited Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester, to introduce a new philanthropic undertaking associated with her newly acquired patronage, Place2Be. Upon her arrival, she engaged in a brief walkabout, during which she was presented with a dog hamper for her cocker spaniel, Lupo, by “school dog” Henry, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belonging to the headteacher, Anne Whitehead. Catherine graciously acknowledged the thoughtful gesture, expressing her gratitude to the adorable dog, saying, “Henry, you have gone to so much trouble.”
Despite the prevailing challenges of high local unemployment and poverty, the Willows Primary School has consistently maintained its standing as one of the city’s most outstanding primary educational institutions. Notably, Catherine’s visit to the area marked a continuation of royal support, following a previous visit by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who spent a significant period in the estate as part of an ITV documentary, ‘The Duchess on the Estate’, in 2009. UK residents also recognize the location as the backdrop for Channel 4’s ‘Shameless’.
The Duchess launched the M-Pact program, a collaborative effort between the Royal Foundation, Comic Relief, Place2Be, and Action on Addiction designed to assist families grappling with the impact of alcohol and substance abuse. This initiative blends Place2Be’s in-school counseling for children and parents with the expertise of Action on Addiction’s ‘Moving Parents and Children Together’ program.
During her visit, the Duchess, together with comedian John Bishop, interacted with children and educators and had the opportunity to plant a tree within the school’s premises. Additionally, they engaged with individuals who had participated in programs offered by Place2Be and took a tour of the school, including its recently refurbished playground. Notably, this playground had been rebuilt by the local community and school staff after being subjected to a devastating arson attack a mere two weeks before the royal visit. The concerted efforts of local residents, businesses, and Willows Primary staff ensured the timely restoration of the playground, including the installation of rubber matting and the removal of debris, in preparation for Catherine’s visit.
November 20, 2013 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Attends Place2Be Forum – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, participated in a forum for the Charity Place2Be at the offices of Clifford Chance in London, England. The discussion revolved around addressing the pressing challenges encountered by today’s children and exploring ways to assist them in overcoming these challenges and developing resilience. For over a decade, Clifford Chance has supported the children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, providing pro bono legal, technical, and strategic assistance. This support encompasses advisory services on intricate matters such as contractual, data protection, corporate, employment, and real estate issues. Furthermore, Clifford Chance offers regular professional training to Place2Be staff members on IT skills and business writing. Additionally, the firm extends the use of its Canary Wharf meeting rooms and conference facilities to Place2Be. It encourages its business services employees to contribute their professional skills to assist the charity.
Place2Be is crucial in delivering integrated mental health and emotional support services within schools, serving 75,000 children across over 200 schools in some of the most underprivileged areas of the UK. The recent event brought together esteemed health and education experts, including Professors Stephen Scott and Tanya Byron, to deliberate upon crucial challenges faced by today’s children and deliberate on effective means to guide them towards resilience. Key topics addressed during the event included cyberbullying, self-harm, special educational needs in today’s children, addiction prevention, empowering parents to raise well-adjusted children, and strategies to elevate aspirations, access, and achievement.
February 14, 2014 – ICAP Art Room Opening At Northolt High School– The Duchess of Cambridge opened The ICAP Art Room at Northolt High School, a facility that provides art therapy to underprivileged youth at risk of school exclusion. This initiative was made possible through a generous donation from Charity Day 2012, which funded the establishment, operational costs, and equipment for the art room.
During her visit, The Duchess engaged with students, participated in an Art Room session, and conversed with ICAP volunteers involved in the room’s renovation. Notably, speeches were delivered by Michael Spencer, CEO of ICAP, Gloria Lowe, Headteacher of Northolt High School, and Jon Snow, Charity Patron.
The ICAP Art Room offers art therapy to children and young people aged five to sixteen to foster self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence. Many participants face disengagement from mainstream education, emotional and behavioral challenges, withdrawal, or learning disabilities.
November 19, 2014 – Duchess Of Cambridge Attends The Place2Be Wellbeing Schools Awards Reception – On a memorable occasion, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, graciously hosted the inaugural Place2be Wellbeing in Schools Awards Reception at Kensington Palace in London, England. This event spotlighted the unheralded champions who have significantly contributed to enhancing children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing within educational settings. The Duchess bestowed the Child/Young Person Champion Award during the ceremony. Additionally, Her Royal Highness spoke with all 20 awards finalists, including Bailey, the esteemed winner, whose remarkable transformation from reticence to confidence and determination exemplified the program’s positive impact. His nominator remarked, “Bailey has demonstrated to his peers the importance of individuality and the possibility of achieving success and popularity without conforming to societal norms.” Furthermore, Catherine engaged in discussions with attendees, including Benita Refson, the visionary founder and president of Place2Be.
July 01, 2014 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits An M-PACT Plus Counselling Programme – Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, undertook a visit to Blessed Sacrament School in Islington North London, to assess the progress of the M-PACT (Moving Parents and Children Together) Plus Counselling Programme, which aims to assist children between the ages of 8 and 17 in coping with parental addiction. The eight-week pilot initiative seeks to equip educators and administrators with the skills to recognize young individuals whose parents struggle with substance abuse and to provide them with the necessary support. The MPACT Plus program is a collaborative effort between Action on Addiction and Place2Be, both of which the Duchess supports as a royal patron. She previously unveiled the MPACT program alongside John Bishop of Comic Relief last year. The visit held significance as it marked the first anniversary of the MPACT program. During the visit, the Duchess participated in discussions with a steering group of head teachers and charity workers involved in implementing the M-PACT Plus scheme. Displaying a keen interest, she sought updates on the program’s achievements and posed pertinent questions, such as the parent’s reaction to their children’s revelations and the challenges in engaging parents due to associated stigmas.
January 15, 2015 – Officially Naming The Clore Art Room At Barlby Primary School – The Duchess of Cambridge officially opened The Clore Art Room at Barlby Primary School in Ladbroke Grove, West London. The Art Room, a charitable organization, targets 5 to 16-year-olds with emotional and behavioral challenges. There are eight Art Rooms in schools across Oxfordshire, London, and Edinburgh, providing art as a form of therapy to enhance children’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence. During her visit, Catherine interacted with students from the school and a nearby primary school and engaged with students who utilize The Clore Art Room’s facilities. The Duchess also participated in a round table discussion with various individuals associated with The Art Room charity, including former students, education professionals, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, renowned potter Grayson Perry (the charity’s Patron), and Dame Vivien Duffield, Chair of the Clore Duffield Foundation. During the discussion, the attendees emphasized the therapeutic value of art and explored methods through which children benefit and progress through art.
The Clore Art Room provides therapeutic assistance to students of Barlby School and the neighboring Oxford Gardens School. Operating five days a week, its highly skilled practitioners engage small groups of children aged between five and 11 years in 1-hour 45-minute sessions. Each week, up to 104 children can benefit from the Art Room’s approach in sessions tailored to nurture students’ confidence, self-esteem, and independence through creativity and self-expression. Starting September 2015, The Clore Art Room aims to expand the delivery of this unique intervention to other Primary and Secondary Schools in the Borough. The official naming ceremony marks the collaboration with the Clore Duffield Foundation, whose generous support has facilitated this new early intervention provision for West London.
February 16, 2015 – Video Message For UK’s First Children’s Mental Health Week – The Duchess of Cambridge delivered a video message supporting the UK’s First Children’s Mental Health Week as royal patron of Place2Be. This marks the inaugural designation of a week aimed at raising awareness about children’s mental health issues. In her address, Her Royal Highness highlighted the challenges faced by many children in coping with the impact of various problems such as bullying, bereavement, and family breakdown, which can lead to more serious mental health concerns if left unaddressed. She emphasized the stigma surrounding mental health, underscoring the need for a change to ensure that children receive the necessary support.
The Duchess stressed the positive impact of offering mental health support in a school environment through Place2Be, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in preventing childhood issues from escalating in later life. The video message, filmed at Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School in Beckenham, kick-started a week-long campaign by Place2Be. This initiative follows a recent survey of 864 parents, revealing that a significant portion would feel embarrassed if their child sought counseling at school, and some would not encourage their child to partake in such support, demonstrating the evident barriers and misconceptions surrounding children’s mental health care.
You can watch her video message here.
October 26, 2015 – BAFTA Charities Forum Event – Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry participated in The Charities Forum event hosted by BAFTA, which featured a screening of “Shaun The Sheep.” They engaged with children and representatives from various charities and Aardman Animations during the event. Notably, students from Chalkhill Primary School, affiliated with Place2Be, were in attendance.
The guests participated in crafting models of Shaun the Sheep, engaging in various craft activities, partaking in the traditional British game of “welly wanging,” and participating in an on-stage live animation demonstration organized by Aardman Animation, the renowned creator of Shaun the Sheep films. Additionally, during the event, a lighthearted moment occurred when Prince William humorously called for Catherine, the Duchess, to perform a playful walk, resulting in her engaging in a skit with a young girl on stage.
October 27, 2015 – 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala in aid of the Art Room – Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, graced the 100 Women In Hedge Funds Gala Dinner In Aid Of The Art Room at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Serving as a royal patron, she presented the 100WHF 2015 European Industry Leadership Award as a part of the 100 Women in Hedge Funds’ Philanthropic Initiatives, an organization dedicated to charitable causes. The Duchess bestowed the Industry Leadership Award upon Elizabeth Corley, the CEO of Allianz Global Investors.
November 18, 2015 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Attends Place2Be Headteacher Conference – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge gives a speech at the Place2Be Headteacher Conference at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, England. The Duchess was attending as patron of the charity and as part of her ongoing work on the mental health of children. The event brings together senior leaders from Place2Be partner schools in England, Scotland and Wales to increase knowledge and understanding of children and young people’s mental health and share ideas and expertise to help build children’s emotional resilience.
February 17, 2016 – Guest Editing The Huffington Post – Kensington Palace was temporarily turned into a newsroom as The Duchess of Cambridge played guest editorfor The Huffington Post. The Duchess of Cambridge, launched an editorial series called #YoungMindsMatter that aimed to encourage conversations with children about mental health. The Duchess discussed articles, blogs and videos shencommissioned from leading figures in the mental health sector, including from Place2Be, to raise awareness about the importance of supporting children’s wellbeing.
February 24, 2016 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits Edinburgh – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge joins headteachers from schools in Edinburgh for a discussion about the mental health challenges of their school communities during a visit to the Place2Be charity at St. Catherine’s Primary School in Edinburgh, Scotland.
September 16, 2016 – Visiting Stewards Academy With ‘Heads Together’ – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge went “back to school” at Steward’s Academy in Harlow, England. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Steward’s Academy as part of their Heads Together campaign, to find out more about the pressures faced by young people when they are going through big changes in their lives, and learn about the support from peers and parents that can help them get through these changes. Stewards Academy is a partner school with Place2Be.
November 22, 2016 – Tea Party In Honour Of ‘Dippy’ The Dinosaur At The Natural History Museum – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends a children’s tea party with pupils from Oakington Manor Primary School in Wembley, at the Natural History Museum to celebrate Dippy the Diplodocus’s time in Hintze Hall in London, United Kingdom. The Duchess painted “dinosaur eggs” and shared cake with the children. The children were brought to the museum by Place2Be.
November 22, 2016 – Place2Be Wellbeing In Schools Awards – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends Place2Be Wellbeing in Schools Awards at Mansion House in London, United Kingdom. The Duchess of Cambridge, joined students, teachers and school Leaders to celebrate the inspiring ambassadors of positive mental health in Place2Be schools. The Duchess also gave remarks at this event.
February 06, 2017 – Attending Place2Be Big Assembly With ‘Heads Together’ – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge attend the Place2Be Big Assembly with “Heads Together” for Children’s Mental Health Week at Mitchell Brook Primary School in London, England. The Duke and Duchess met with staff and students and took part in the Assembly which was led by the students themselves and included role plays about being kind and a performance by the school choir. The Duchess also gave a speech.
October 10, 2017 – World Mental Health Day Reception At Buckingham Palace – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend a reception on World Mental Health Day to celebrate the contribution of those working in the mental health sector across the UK at Buckingham Palace in London, England. Head Teachers from Place2Be schools in Lancashire, Cardiff, Leeds and Glasgow joined the other guests and organisations who have made a difference in raising awareness of mental health.
October 16, 2017 – Attending The Charities Forum Event – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry attend the Charities Forum Event. Students from three Place2Be Partner Schools were invited by STUDIOCANAL, BAFTA Kids and Belmondto to board the Belmond British Pullman train and chat with Their Royal Highnesses. During the visit Their Royal Highnesses also met the cast and crew from the forthcoming film Paddington 2 at Paddington Station.
November 08, 2017 – Attending Place2Be School Leaders Forum – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the annual Place2Be School Leaders Forum in London, England. The Duchess of Cambridge joined leaders from schools that work with Place2Be to share ideas about how best to positively affect children’s mental health and provide practical support to children, young people and their families in the school environment.
January 10, 2018 – Visiting Reach Academy Feltham With Place2Be – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the Reach Academy in London, England. Reach Academy is a school working in partnership with Place2Be and other organisations to support children, their families and their whole school community throughout their school career.
March 07, 2018 – Opening New Place2Be Headquarters – Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge officially opened the new headquarters of children’s mental health charity Place2Be in London, England. Catherine met staff, counsellors, teachers and school leaders who’ll be use the centre as well as pupils from Albion Primary School who took part in an exercise on ‘friendship’ which is part of the latest training for school-based counselling. The Duchess also offered a few words praising everyone for their work to support school leaders and parents, and for being at the forefront of efforts to give every child the best start in life.
February 05, 2019 – The Duchess of Cambridge Visits London Schools – The Duchess of Cambridge visited Lavender Primary School in support of Children’s Mental Health Week which is run by Place2Be. During her visit, The Duchess met teachers and students taking part in Children’s Mental Health Week activities and sat in on two different lessons focusing on the importance of physical and mental health. Her Royal Highness also watched pupils taking part in the school’s Daily Mile challenge which teaches children about the importance of being active. The Duchess then joined a group of parents talking about the challenges of putting in place good routines and habits around sleep, screen-time, healthy eating and exercise.
May 07, 2019 – The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Launch The King’s Cup Regatta – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a previously unannounced visit to Cutty Sark, to launch The King’s Cup Regatta. The event coincided with the announcement that The Duke and Duchess will host the new annual sailing event in August on the Isle of Wight as well as go head to head as skippers of individual sailing boats in an eight boat regatta race, to raise awareness and funds for eight of their Patronages. The winning team will be awarded The King’s Cup, a historic trophy first presented by King George V at Cowes’ Royal Yacht Squadron in 1920. The Duchess’s chosen charities are Action on Addiction, Place2Be, The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, and The Royal Foundation in connection with Her Royal Highness’s Early Years programme. During their visit The Duke and Duchess joined children from Place2Be in trying out sailing simulators and they also unveiled the King’s Cup. Upon their departure they took a moment to greet crowds in an impromptu walkabout.
July 01 , 2019 – ‘Back To Nature’ Garden At Hampton Court Place – The Duchess of Cambridge invited six children from Place2Be Partner School, Hampton Hill Junior to the unveiling of her garden at the Royal Horticultural Society Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. During the event, Catherine joined students and patients from her other charities for special outdoor activities, including looking for insects, exploring dens and a treasure hunt. The garden, which features a waterfall, bee-friendly wildflower meadow and a pond, was showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier in the year. The design has been developed further to create additional opportunities for children and families to interact with nature and is double the size of the original. Linda Eversley, Place2Be School Project Manager, who accompanied the six Hampton Hill children, said: “I felt really proud watching our children talking confidently with the princess. It’s something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
August 08, 2019 – Inaugural King’s Cup Regatta – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge kicked off the Inaugural King’s Cup Regatta at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The Royal couple went head to head in the regatta to raise awareness and funds for eight of their charitable causes. The Duchess skippered the boat representing her early years initiative with the Royal Foundation. Catherine’s other represented charities were Action on Addiction, The Anna Freud Centre, and Place2Be. Longstanding Place2Be Ambassador Katie Thistleton was part of the team. The teams took part in two races to determine the overall winners. In the second race, many boats – including the Duchess of Cambridge’s – were disqualified for not going back and starting the race at the line. Katie and Place2Be came third in the second race. Prince William gets the bragging rights as Bear Grylls accepted the trophy on behalf Prince William’s charity Tusk. The Duchess of Cambridge was awarded the wooden spoon for coming in last.
September 10, 2019 – ‘Back To Nature’ Garden At Wisley – The Duchess of Cambridge, opened her Back to Nature play area at The Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden Wisley in Woking, Surrey. Inspired by The Duchess’ previous Back to Nature gardens, which Her Royal Highness co-designed, this garden included a hollow log from her RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, and the wildflower meadow and rolling hill showcased at Hampton Court. The new play garden featured two connected tree houses and slides. Ten children, aged 7 to 9, from Place2Be’s partner school Barlby Primary, were invited to try out the garden. The children enjoyed a range of outdoor activities including maypole dancing, a coconut shy, planting seeds, balloon modelling, learning circus skills and meeting animals in a petting farm. Angelica McMillan, Place2Be’s Westway Cluster Manager, who accompanied the children to Wisley said: “The children from Barlby School enjoyed the gardens and all the activities that were so thoughtfully prepared. They were especially excited to be invited to meet with the Duchess of Cambridge and TV chef Mary Berry, who shared some lovely cakes with them. The Duchess invited the children to enjoy the ‘Back to Nature Gardens’ to reinforce the importance of connectedness with nature and its impact on their emotional wellbeing.”
February 04, 2020 – The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit South Wales – On an away day to South Wales The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took on a variety of engagements highlighting local organisations and businesses. One of their stops included a visit to the Bulldogs Development Centre, a gym which uses the power of boxing to involve, educate and inspire young people and their families. They hope to create ‘Champions in the Ring and in the Community’. The visit comes during Children’s Mental Health Week, which is run by Place2be.
December 08, 2023 – “Together At Christmas” Carol Service – Staff members were joined by St. John’s CE Primary School as they were invited to attend the magical carol service at Westminster Abbey. Individuals were nominated in recognition of their outstanding work in caring for children, young people and families. The service was attended by inspiring individuals and families from all corners of the UK, including midwives, health visitors, early years practitioners, nursery teachers, community volunteers, and members of The Royal Family. The evening was filled with beautiful carols, musical performances, and poignant readings, making it an extraordinary and festive occasion. The service airs on Christmas Eve as part of a special program on ITV1 and ITVX.
