Pupils Kelsey Evans and Scott Cunningham hand Duchess of Cambridge bouquet. Photo taken by Edinburgh Council.
Kate the Duchess of Cambridge, known as the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, came to Wester Hailes today to pay a visit to the Art Room in WHEC.
Her Royal Highness was welcomed by headteacher Lewis Patterson and accompanied by The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh the Rt Hon Donald Wilson, before meeting several pupils and visiting The Art Room to join in with one of their sessions.
The Duchess visited several areas in the city including St Catherine’s Primary School, The Art Room, and a tennis workshop organised by Judy Murray to see some of the charity work they have been doing to help the emotional well-being of children.
Photo taken by WHEC Social and RME department.
The Duchess is Royal Patron of The Art Room which is a charity offering art-based therapy to children and young people. The charity is working alongside local support agencies in the area to make the biggest impact within the Wester Hailes community.
In September 2014, The Art Room studio was opened to offer art as a therapeutic intervention to students of WHEC and the neighbouring primary schools. It was the first Art Room studio in Scotland.
Her Royal Highness meeting headteacher Lewis Patterson. Photo taken by Edinburgh Council
The Art Room believes in learning and achieving through art. Working with up to 72 students each week at the Wester Hailes Education Centre, The Art Room offers art as therapy for those who might be facing challenges in their lives. Since opening at WHEC over 40 students have used The Art Room, and the intervention is being extended to the neighbouring associated primaries.
Have a look below for our video of the opening on the Art Room. You can also see photos of previous Royal visits to Wester Hailes here.
