The Royal Borough was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to Windsor Family Hub this week to meet parents and children who benefit from this essential local service.
The Princess visited our hub to learn and experience how the centre supports families in the local area.
During her visit on Tuesday 6 June, she met staff, parents and children. She was shown a range of support services, including health visitor sessions, baby massage and a stress management course which are used to support emotional and psychological wellbeing.
The Princess thanked staff for doing an 'amazing job' and said: "To see this kind of service on our doorstep is so important. We need families up and down the country to have this opportunity and to connect with one another."
The council is so proud of the support we provide via our children's services partner Achieving for Children, and our thanks to the team for their ongoing work and Her Royal Highness for the wonderful visit.
Staff and parents commented on how at ease the Princess made them feel, especially considering they were only told of the special guest visit about half an hour before her arrival. It was great to hear how openly parents spoke about their personal stories, as well as positive feedback on the services offered by the Family Hub.
The visit is part of the ongoing work by the Princess of Wales around early years development and education. It forms part of her 'Shaping Us' campaign which was launched at the beginning of the year through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of creating a supportive, nurturing world for young children to improve their mental and physical health, especially in their early years.
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said: “We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to the Windsor Family Service Hub. We're proud of the services and support we provide and the team were delighted to show Her Royal Highness around the Hub and to meet parents and children who benefit from these essential local services.”
Lin Ferguson, Director of Children’s Services, said: “It was a privilege to host the visit of the Princess of Wales to our Windsor Family Hub. I am so proud of our amazing staff who were able to showcase the excellent work they undertake every day with vulnerable children, young people and families.
"We know that the first few years of a child’s life are critical in shaping their future and Her Royal Highness heard how the support that families receive from the Family Hub has helped them to be even better parents. A big thank you to all of our parents, children and staff for making this a morning to remember.”