The Duke of Gloucester last week paid a visit to the Aldingbourne Country Centre in Chichester to see how the facilities there support adults living with learning disabilities or autism to lead independent lives.
“It was an honour to provide a guided tour of our facilities and introduce HRH The Duke of Gloucester to the people we support,” said Peter Stanley, the General Manager of the Aldingbourne Country Centre.
“He appeared very interested in our charity and took the time to engage in conversation with staff and the people we support.”
During his visit to the newly-opened Quarry Building which makes up part of the Centre, the Duke of Gloucester learned about its environmental and sustainable design and met with the staff and some of the people who use the building’s services.
The Duke of Gloucester met with the Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex, John Shippam, upon arrival. Shippam is also a trustee of the Aldingbourne Country Centre. Others who greeted the Duke include the High Sheriff of West Sussex, a Councillor, a Chairman of the West Sussex County Council, and the Chair of the Trustees of the Aldingbourne Trust.
After visiting the Quarry Building, the Duke of Gloucester toured the outdoor facilities, the wood recycling enterprise, the furniture restoration project, and met with more people supported by Aldingbourne Trust.
The Duke’s visit culminated in a tree-planting ceremony and a lunch with the trustees, volunteers, and those supported by the Trust.
The Aldingbourne Country Centre was first conceived in 1978 by three parents who wanted to ensure their sons were able to live independent lives once they reached adulthood.
Per the Centre’s official website, “Today [we] provide a range of services for more than 1,000 people with learning disabilities including autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Down’s Syndrome, as well as for people who also live with physical disabilities.
“We operate more than a dozen social enterprises as part of our forward-thinking approach to providing opportunities alongside residential care services, supported living and outreach services for people in their local communities.”
