Duchess of Cambridge wears £1,065 dress for visit to school, The Duchess of Cambridge today visited an inspirational sink-estate school which suffered devastation after it was attacked by arsonists just hours after news of her trip was announced.
The Willows Primary School on Manchester’s deprived Wythenshawe estate - which is used as a backdrop for the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless – has been held up as a beacon of hope and is now rated by Ofsted as Outstanding.
But on April 11 the school’s new £40,000 playground was torched by vandals, razing an enormous climbing frame known as ‘The Fort’ to the ground.
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Hundreds of children turned out to welcome the Duchess of Cambridge to the Willows Primary School on the Wythenshawe estate in Manchester on St George's Day
Kate chose an expensive silk dress by Erdem for the occasion and her blossoming bump was still small but much more visible in the loose silk dress
The crime was a huge blow to teachers, parents and children who had just found out that they would be receiving an official visit by the 31-year-old royal.
Fortunately, however, the community has rallied round in a remarkable way, working round the clock to rebuild the playground in time for the royal visit.
More...
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The Duchess, who is more than six months pregnant, was wearing a floral Erdem dress and blue suede heels, as she was greeted by hundreds of excited young children cheering and waving the national flag of England in honour of St George's Day.
Kate immediately went into a 40 minute private briefing with some of the children who have sought help and their counsellors.
Kate chatted to the locals and took time out to stroke a spaniel
Bethany Regan (left) climbed a tree with her sisters to try and get a better view of the arrival of the Duchess of Cambridge
Among those greeting her were star pupil Chloe Pomfret, ten, who presented a posy of roses and school 'executive dog' King Charles Cavalier Henry who was wearing a glittering union flag bow and presented a gorgeous gift hamper for William and Kate's dog, Lupo.
The Duchess appeared particularly delighted with Lupo's hamper and asked what was in it. 'Henry , you have gone to so much trouble,' she laughed.
Her blossoming bump was still small but much more visible in the £1.065 Sophia Visconti-bloom silk dress by Canadian designer Erdem.
Kate’s visit today is designed to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT, which is a partnership between the Duchess’ own Royal Foundation (which she co-chairs with Prince William and Prince Harry), Comic Relief, Place2Be and Action on Addiction. Kate recently agreed to become patron of the latter two organisations.
M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together) is designed to provide support for children affected by parental drugs or alcohol abuse.
Research suggests that more than a million youngsters nationwide are living in homes where their parents’ addictions have had a hugely detrimental impact on their lives and education.
For many children school can actually offer a positive, consistent environment, which can play a vital role in helping to overcome their difficulties at home.
The security operation in place ahead of Kate's visit to the school
Kate was at the school to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT
After her private meetings, the Duchess gave a short speech in which she spoke passionately about the issue of addiction.
She said: 'Addiction is a hugely complex and destructive disease and its impact can be simply devastating. All too often, lives and families can be shattered by it. Through my Patronage of Action on Addiction, I feel fortunate to have met a wide range of inspirational people who have overcome addiction. It is so encouraging to see that with the right help - like that of Action on Addiction - it can be conquered.'
She continued: ' But those who are addicted are not the only victims. I have been struck by the profound and deeply damaging impact it has on the children of affected parents. Research has shown that children of those who are addicted are seven times more likely to have addiction problems themselves. They are also brought up surrounded by fear, instability and chaos.
'Last year, I asked The Royal Foundation, which I share with William and Harry, to see what could be done to help these children. In partnership with Comic Relief, our Foundation commissioned a piece of research to explore this issue. Today, it gives me an enormous feeling of pride and excitement to launch a programme that will bring this research to life.
'Place 2 Be delivers exceptional specialist counselling services in schools. Action on Addiction’s M-PACT programme delivers life changing and expert support to families affected by addiction. The Royal Foundation has simply brought these two outstanding charities together to deliver a programme that will ensure Place 2 Be delivers exceptional specialist counselling services in schools.
'Action on Addiction’s M-PACT programme delivers life changing and expert support to families affected by addiction. The Royal Foundation has simply brought these two outstanding charities together to deliver a programme that will ensure that many children living with addicted parents will be identified, supported and guided to look towards a positive and hopefully, addiction free future.
'I would like to thank The Royal Foundation for all that they have done to make this happen. Thank you also to Comic Relief, Place 2 Be and Action on Addiction for working so brilliantly with them. The cycle of addiction needs to be broken. My hope is that through this specialist and targeted delivery of care, these children will have the best possible start in life – the one that they deserve.'
Afterwards comedian and Comic Relief ambassador John Bishop gave a moving speech about the affect of addiction on young children but couldn't resist opening with a wise crack about being a Liverpudlian being brought to Manchester after their home team had won the Premier League for the 20th time with, he joked, 'the Duchess as a warm up act'.
Duchess wears £1,065 dress to 'Shameless' estate visit
Fire engulfed the children's fort at The Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester earlier this month
Members of the community helped clear up after the arson attack at the Willows Primary School ahead of the visit by the Duchess of Cambridge
The Willows, which has been open since 1999, has around 430 pupils and has been labelled outstanding by Ofsted for the last seven years.
Head teacher Anne Whitehead said of the vandal attack: 'It was such a shame as the school has been so inspirational that there hasn't been any trouble for many, many years. But the way the community has rallied round has been remarkable and so heartening. We have received so much in the way of donations that we are going to be able to build an extension to the playground which is marvellous.'
While it has not been possible to rebuild the climbing frame in time for Kate's visit since the arson attack, an army of volunteers wielding buckets and brooms have helped to clear up the area for today’s engagement while a local business, Creative Play, has re-laid a new surface so there is no sign of the fire that wreaked such devastation.
‘We're determined to rebuild the fort with the help of the local community and others and have had offers already from companies wanting to help us with this,’ said head teacher Ann Whitehead.
‘We were all devastated when we heard about the fire. But we're not going to let them beat us.
‘The response has been so overwhelming and restored my faith. People just turned up out of nowhere to help clear the place up.’
Greater Manchester Police Inspector Caroline Hemmingway added: ’These arson attacks caused significant damage but could easily have resulted in far more serious consequences if the fire had spread to the school.
‘There has been an overwhelming response from the community, local residents, students, councillors, community wardens, police officers and staff have been out in force and have between them pledged to rebuild the playground.’
The Wythenshawe estate is the backdrop for Channel 4 comedy Shameless
Duchess On The Estate: The Duchess of York spent time on the estate as part of an ITV1 documentary in 2007
Housing almost 70,000 people, the notorious, sprawling Wythenshawe estate – sandwiched to the south of Manchester between the M56 and the city’s airport - is the second biggest of its kind in Europe and has been plagued by unemployment, crime and social disorder.
When David Cameron visited the estate in 2007 as part of his much-maligned ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign, a young local was pictured behind him pretending to cock a gun against his head.
Then in 2009 another royal Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, famously tried to help locals as part of a ridiculed ITV documentary dubbed The Duchess and The Estate in which she spent 10 days living and working there.
In recent years, however, new funds have been ploughed into Wythenshawe as part of a major programme of re-development.. The area’s schools, particularly its primary schools, are a particular success story.
Benita Refson, chief executive of Place2Be, said: ‘We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Action of Addiction which will help our two organisations reach even more of the children and their families that need our help and to provide them with expert support, ensuring that they face better prospects and brighter futures.
‘We are tremendously grateful that the Duchess of Cambridge is supporting this project and attending the launch.’
THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE SWAPS HIGH STREET FOR HIGH FASHION
During her pregnancy 31-year-old Kate has continued to wear non-maternity fashion.
Today she chose a demure £1.065 knee-length silk dress by Canadian designer Erdem featuring his signature 'Visconti-bloom' print, with her six month bump cleary visible underneath.
The tunic style dress features elbow-length sleeves and a square neckline. and is billed as and elegant alternative to a little black dress.
Kate dressed her six-month-old bump in a £1,065 Sophia Visconti-bloom silk dress by Erdem
As the dress appears on the Matches.com website, where it is billed as an elegant alternative to the LBD
The Willows Primary School on Manchester’s deprived Wythenshawe estate - which is used as a backdrop for the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless – has been held up as a beacon of hope and is now rated by Ofsted as Outstanding.
But on April 11 the school’s new £40,000 playground was torched by vandals, razing an enormous climbing frame known as ‘The Fort’ to the ground.
Scroll down for video
Hundreds of children turned out to welcome the Duchess of Cambridge to the Willows Primary School on the Wythenshawe estate in Manchester on St George's Day
Kate chose an expensive silk dress by Erdem for the occasion and her blossoming bump was still small but much more visible in the loose silk dress
The crime was a huge blow to teachers, parents and children who had just found out that they would be receiving an official visit by the 31-year-old royal.
Fortunately, however, the community has rallied round in a remarkable way, working round the clock to rebuild the playground in time for the royal visit.
More...
All these women were blooming at six months. So... why is Kate's bump so tiny?
Should have kept your jacket on! Prince Albert and Princess Charlene sport his 'n' hers blazers to tennis – but prince reveals his growing paunch when he hits the court himself
REVEALED: Extravagant, opulent (and some might say, garish): Inside Michael Winner's 47-room Kensington mansion as it goes on sale for £50 MILLION
The Duchess, who is more than six months pregnant, was wearing a floral Erdem dress and blue suede heels, as she was greeted by hundreds of excited young children cheering and waving the national flag of England in honour of St George's Day.
Kate immediately went into a 40 minute private briefing with some of the children who have sought help and their counsellors.
Kate chatted to the locals and took time out to stroke a spaniel
Bethany Regan (left) climbed a tree with her sisters to try and get a better view of the arrival of the Duchess of Cambridge
Among those greeting her were star pupil Chloe Pomfret, ten, who presented a posy of roses and school 'executive dog' King Charles Cavalier Henry who was wearing a glittering union flag bow and presented a gorgeous gift hamper for William and Kate's dog, Lupo.
The Duchess appeared particularly delighted with Lupo's hamper and asked what was in it. 'Henry , you have gone to so much trouble,' she laughed.
Her blossoming bump was still small but much more visible in the £1.065 Sophia Visconti-bloom silk dress by Canadian designer Erdem.
Kate’s visit today is designed to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT, which is a partnership between the Duchess’ own Royal Foundation (which she co-chairs with Prince William and Prince Harry), Comic Relief, Place2Be and Action on Addiction. Kate recently agreed to become patron of the latter two organisations.
M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together) is designed to provide support for children affected by parental drugs or alcohol abuse.
Research suggests that more than a million youngsters nationwide are living in homes where their parents’ addictions have had a hugely detrimental impact on their lives and education.
For many children school can actually offer a positive, consistent environment, which can play a vital role in helping to overcome their difficulties at home.
The security operation in place ahead of Kate's visit to the school
Kate was at the school to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT
After her private meetings, the Duchess gave a short speech in which she spoke passionately about the issue of addiction.
She said: 'Addiction is a hugely complex and destructive disease and its impact can be simply devastating. All too often, lives and families can be shattered by it. Through my Patronage of Action on Addiction, I feel fortunate to have met a wide range of inspirational people who have overcome addiction. It is so encouraging to see that with the right help - like that of Action on Addiction - it can be conquered.'
She continued: ' But those who are addicted are not the only victims. I have been struck by the profound and deeply damaging impact it has on the children of affected parents. Research has shown that children of those who are addicted are seven times more likely to have addiction problems themselves. They are also brought up surrounded by fear, instability and chaos.
'Last year, I asked The Royal Foundation, which I share with William and Harry, to see what could be done to help these children. In partnership with Comic Relief, our Foundation commissioned a piece of research to explore this issue. Today, it gives me an enormous feeling of pride and excitement to launch a programme that will bring this research to life.
'Place 2 Be delivers exceptional specialist counselling services in schools. Action on Addiction’s M-PACT programme delivers life changing and expert support to families affected by addiction. The Royal Foundation has simply brought these two outstanding charities together to deliver a programme that will ensure Place 2 Be delivers exceptional specialist counselling services in schools.
'Action on Addiction’s M-PACT programme delivers life changing and expert support to families affected by addiction. The Royal Foundation has simply brought these two outstanding charities together to deliver a programme that will ensure that many children living with addicted parents will be identified, supported and guided to look towards a positive and hopefully, addiction free future.
'I would like to thank The Royal Foundation for all that they have done to make this happen. Thank you also to Comic Relief, Place 2 Be and Action on Addiction for working so brilliantly with them. The cycle of addiction needs to be broken. My hope is that through this specialist and targeted delivery of care, these children will have the best possible start in life – the one that they deserve.'
Afterwards comedian and Comic Relief ambassador John Bishop gave a moving speech about the affect of addiction on young children but couldn't resist opening with a wise crack about being a Liverpudlian being brought to Manchester after their home team had won the Premier League for the 20th time with, he joked, 'the Duchess as a warm up act'.
Duchess wears £1,065 dress to 'Shameless' estate visit
Fire engulfed the children's fort at The Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester earlier this month
Members of the community helped clear up after the arson attack at the Willows Primary School ahead of the visit by the Duchess of Cambridge
The Willows, which has been open since 1999, has around 430 pupils and has been labelled outstanding by Ofsted for the last seven years.
Head teacher Anne Whitehead said of the vandal attack: 'It was such a shame as the school has been so inspirational that there hasn't been any trouble for many, many years. But the way the community has rallied round has been remarkable and so heartening. We have received so much in the way of donations that we are going to be able to build an extension to the playground which is marvellous.'
While it has not been possible to rebuild the climbing frame in time for Kate's visit since the arson attack, an army of volunteers wielding buckets and brooms have helped to clear up the area for today’s engagement while a local business, Creative Play, has re-laid a new surface so there is no sign of the fire that wreaked such devastation.
‘We're determined to rebuild the fort with the help of the local community and others and have had offers already from companies wanting to help us with this,’ said head teacher Ann Whitehead.
‘We were all devastated when we heard about the fire. But we're not going to let them beat us.
‘The response has been so overwhelming and restored my faith. People just turned up out of nowhere to help clear the place up.’
Greater Manchester Police Inspector Caroline Hemmingway added: ’These arson attacks caused significant damage but could easily have resulted in far more serious consequences if the fire had spread to the school.
‘There has been an overwhelming response from the community, local residents, students, councillors, community wardens, police officers and staff have been out in force and have between them pledged to rebuild the playground.’
The Wythenshawe estate is the backdrop for Channel 4 comedy Shameless
Duchess On The Estate: The Duchess of York spent time on the estate as part of an ITV1 documentary in 2007
Housing almost 70,000 people, the notorious, sprawling Wythenshawe estate – sandwiched to the south of Manchester between the M56 and the city’s airport - is the second biggest of its kind in Europe and has been plagued by unemployment, crime and social disorder.
When David Cameron visited the estate in 2007 as part of his much-maligned ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign, a young local was pictured behind him pretending to cock a gun against his head.
Then in 2009 another royal Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, famously tried to help locals as part of a ridiculed ITV documentary dubbed The Duchess and The Estate in which she spent 10 days living and working there.
In recent years, however, new funds have been ploughed into Wythenshawe as part of a major programme of re-development.. The area’s schools, particularly its primary schools, are a particular success story.
Benita Refson, chief executive of Place2Be, said: ‘We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Action of Addiction which will help our two organisations reach even more of the children and their families that need our help and to provide them with expert support, ensuring that they face better prospects and brighter futures.
‘We are tremendously grateful that the Duchess of Cambridge is supporting this project and attending the launch.’
THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE SWAPS HIGH STREET FOR HIGH FASHION
During her pregnancy 31-year-old Kate has continued to wear non-maternity fashion.
Today she chose a demure £1.065 knee-length silk dress by Canadian designer Erdem featuring his signature 'Visconti-bloom' print, with her six month bump cleary visible underneath.
The tunic style dress features elbow-length sleeves and a square neckline. and is billed as and elegant alternative to a little black dress.
Kate dressed her six-month-old bump in a £1,065 Sophia Visconti-bloom silk dress by Erdem
As the dress appears on the Matches.com website, where it is billed as an elegant alternative to the LBD
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