A royal visitor has seen the life-changing trauma recovery work carried out by a Berkshire charity.
HRH Princess Beatrice visited Parents And Children Together (PACT) to witness the charity’s transformative efforts with children, families, and women affected by trauma.
She was joined by Berkshire Community Foundation’s (BCF) CEO Mrs Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL, Mrs Margaret Haines MVO, Chair of BCF’s Grants Committee, and Mr Alexander Barfield, High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire, who was adopted through PACT.
The PACT team welcomed HRH Princess Beatrice to its Reading headquarters and shared the life-changing outcomes being achieved.
This is despite the growing demand for its services and the increasing challenge to fund this vital work.
Since 1911, PACT has been building and strengthening families.
It creates families through adoption services, provides lifelong adoption support through its voluntary adoption agency, empowers women facing multiple disadvantages to make positive changes to their lives through its Alana House community project, and supports children to heal from the trauma of domestic abuse through its Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K) programme.
PACT backs the Violence Against Women and Girls campaign and is committed to ending domestic abuse, increasing school attainment, and improving outcomes for looked-after children.
HRH Princess Beatrice joined a craft session with children currently being supported through BB4K and met some of the women in Alana House, including joining a trauma-informed yoga session.
She was presented with a posy by the children and an art print by the Alana House women, who produced it themselves during a therapeutic art session.
Similar prints are available to purchase from the PACT website.
PACT is proud to be one of the UK’s leading adoption agencies and has been rated by Ofsted as outstanding in its last three inspections.
Last year, 78 children were placed with PACT families.
PACT chief executive Natausha van Vliet said: “HRH Princess Beatrice was keen to hear from beneficiaries who shared their inspiring stories of resilience and recovery, highlighting the transformative impact of PACT’s services.
“As PACT continues to expand its services to meet the increasing demand, and like many charities in the current climate, PACT faces funding challenges.
“We are grateful for the support of our funders and the local community but the challenge continues to secure the continuing funding we need to ensure that we can support those who need us.”
There are many ways you can Give a Little Light and bring a brighter Christmas to the women, children, and families PACT supports.