HRH Princess Beatrice visited the charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) to see its transformative work with children, families and women affected by trauma.
She was accompanied by Berkshire Community Foundation’s (BCF) CEO Mrs Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL and Mrs Margaret Haines MVO, Chair of BCF’s Grants Committee along with 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, despite how the demand for its services was growing while the challenge to fund this vital work was increasing.
PACT has been building and strengthening families since 1911. It creates families through adoption services, provides lifelong adoption support through its voluntary adoption agency, it empowers women who face multiple disadvantages to make positive changes to their lives through its Alana House community project and it 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.HRH Princess Beatrice 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. Please visit our website at www.pactcharity.org/christmas-appeal for more information.
Picture (l-r): Berkshire Community Foundation CEO Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL, PACT’s Head of Communications and Engagement Emma Owen, PACT CEO Natausha van Vliet, PACT Adoption Service Director Lorna Hunt, HRH Princess Beatrice, High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire Alexander Barfield and PACT’s Director of Community Services and Development Kathryn Warner.
