Royal visit for Dinnington charity

The wife of the Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, visited Safe@Last to find out about how the charity had developed over the last five years.

The Duchess had previously visited the charity in 2007 to mark the opening of it’s children’s refuge, and she asked to revisit Safe@Last to see how they were doing.

She was greeted by Safe@Last patrons Lord and Lady Scarbrough and founder trustee Hilary Massarella. She then had a tour of the office meeting staff, volunteers, supporters of the charity and young people that have benefited from Safe@Last’s services.

Hilary said: “It was an honour and a privilege to welcome HRH The Duchess of Gloucester on her return to Safe@Last and a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase how we have continued to develop since her last visit.”

“We were particularly pleased to be able to give HRH the opportunity to have an in-depth chat with some of the young people we have worked with.”

“She was very interested to hear directly from the young people about their experiences of running away.”

Safe@Last works across the region providing a range of services to children and young people who run away or go missing from home.

Since the Duchess’ last visit the charity has developed a prevention and education programme, which educated children and young people about the risks and dangers of running away, a detached street work project, which provides positive activities for young people on the streets of Sheffield and has expanded their missing persons project, that offers one-to-one support.

Following her visit the Duchess officially open the Lifewise Centre in Hellaby.

Meanwhile The Duke of Gloucester visited the Rotherham Hospice and a glass factory, before the couple met up in Clifton Park.