The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Walton Charity

On Thursday 18th January, Walton Charity hosted a visit from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, where she met a number of Elmbridge community groups.

The Duchess was received by Ms Christine Howard, a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, at Burview Hall, where she met Walton Charity’s Chair of Trustees, Sarah Tomkins; and Paula Walsh, Chair of Elmbridge Mencap, who are based at Burview Hall.

Her Royal Highness met the Walton & Hersham Foodbank team, learning about their 10-year anniversary and their new project called ‘The Bridge’. The Duchess helped to sort donations and prepare emergency food packages for local people in crisis, before moving on to meet members of the Charity’s independent living schemes’ art group, where she admired their latest artwork.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Walton Charity Foodbank staff

The Duchess then joined in the excitement of a parachute game with the members of Elmbridge Mencap’s Day Service and the pupils of neighbouring Walton Leigh School, before having fun in the kitchen cutting out cookies during the cookery session. Moving to the games room, Jean Rigden, Trustee of Elmbridge Mencap, shared her family’s history of the charity she has spent 50 years volunteering for and The Duchess enjoyed a game of table football with members of the Day Service, before heading outside to be shown their new sensory garden.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Walton Charity Mencap games

Outside, The Duchess joined Walton Charity’s Community Allotment volunteers to sow spring seeds and planted a tree with the Elmbridge Tree Wardens group.

Her Royal Highness then joined the Guided Wellbeing group where she wrote a word of gratitude on a pebble – this was then added to the group’s mandala* before the children from Rewilding Forest School presented her with a portrait of The King, made entirely from leaves!

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Walton Charity meets tree wardens

Moving back inside to the warmth of Burview Hall, The Duchess unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit. The Duchess was then presented with a birthday cake to celebrate her forthcoming birthday before the whole group joined in song to sign happy birthday to her.

The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Walton Charity group image

Walton Charity
Walton Charity is a local charitable foundation supporting people in Elmbridge who are experiencing financial hardship. Walton Charity works with local partners and the community to tackle issues of poverty and inequality, homelessness and isolation in our local area.

The Charity was established over 800 years ago and has a strong track record of providing grants and housing to those in need.

Walton Charity offers:

  • Direct grants for individuals
  • Community grants for local organisations and schools
  • Independent living for people aged over 55
  • Social housing for single people of all ages
  • Properties and land for use by the wider community
  • Low-cost allotments for rent and a community allotment space
  • Support for the Walton & Hersham Foodbank

Elmbridge Mencap
Burview Hall is one of Walton Charity’s community properties. Walton Charity actively encourages local people, charities and community groups to use the Charity’s land and green spaces.

The original Mencap building was owned by Elmbridge Mencap and stood on Walton Charity’s land for 33 years but in 2000 the building was demolished to make room for a new purpose-built hall, twice the size of the original building, and is owned by Walton Charity.

Elmbridge Mencap use the hall to run regular activities and social clubs for people with learning disabilities and their families. Their Family Fun sessions are particularly popular, providing a fantastic opportunity for local families to meet and socialise. The hall is also used by other local charities specialising in support for learning disabled people and by the neighbouring special needs school, Walton Leigh School.

Walton & Hersham Foodbank
The Walton & Hersham foodbank is one of four foodbanks in the borough of Elmbridge. It is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

The foodbank provides three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred in crisis and the food parcels are distributed via three local churches.

There is a growing need for foodbanks. During 2023 4,931 people were fed, compared with 3,981 in 2022.

The Walton & Hersham foodbank marked their 10th anniversary this year with a challenge for community groups and businesses to fill 10 Mini cars with donations of food. The challenge was a huge success, and 20 Minis were filled with 2.2 tonnes of food and essentials.

The Bridge
Based in a shop just of the High Street in Walton on Thames, the project offers long term support for working families who are struggling with rising living costs but cannot access government or other support.

Downstairs there is a shop without a till and upstairs a quiet space where families can access specialist support and advice from local organisations. Regular wellbeing activities, such as yoga, are available too.

About Walton Charity’s Independent Living Housing (Art Group)
Walton Charity has two independent living schemes – Fenner House and Mayfield – in Walton offering accommodation for people aged over 55. Many of the residents were previously in danger of becoming homeless or were homeless.

Walton Charity’s Community Allotment
Walton Charity has created a Community Allotment at the largest of their four allotment sites in Walton on Thames. It is a place for people from all walks of life to come together, socialise and learn new skills. It encourages those who feel isolated or who face barriers because of mental or physical health conditions to join in regular outdoor activities, building confidence and independence.

Walton Charity’s Tree Canopy Project
Following the success of their community allotment, Walton Charity has created a new Tree Canopy Project in the beautiful woodlands off Rydens Road in Walton on Thames.

This community woodland project gives local residents the opportunity to get outdoors and active through the following initiatives:

  • Tree Warden Scheme
    Elmbridge Tree Wardens are a volunteer group working with Elmbridge Council to plant trees and hedges in Elmbridge. They work from a base within Walton Charity’s Tree Canopy project where they have a tree nursery and organise regular sessions for volunteers.
  • Rewilding Forest School
    Rewilding Forest School runs sessions for children throughout the year within Walton Charity’s Tree Canopy Project. Their holistic approach helps children to understand, learn and respect the natural world around them. They support children to develop self-esteem, independence, and confidence through child-led play in an outdoor environment
    Following the success of Rewilding Forest School at the Tree Canopy Project, they opened a second site within the woodlands of Burview Hall for home schooled children.
  • Guided Wellbeing’s Women’s Wellbeing Hub
    They offer a diverse range of nature-based workshops and activities suitable for all ages, and offer programmes designed to enhance well-being and foster sustainable living. Their Community Garden Wellbeing Project is a community space and garden for local women to meet other women, engage in educational activities, seasonal crafts, cooking workshops and regular gardening activities. Currently they are running Green Gym sessions every Friday, helping women to gain fitness through a variety of garden activities.

The Duchess of Edinburgh dancing

All Photos by Steve Porter

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