A royal time for Perth’s volunteers

Apr 10 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A royal time for Perth’s volunteers

YOUNG people and the voluntary sector were at the heart of a visit to Perth on Tuesday by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

The first stop for the youngest son of the Queen and Prince Phillip was Balhousie Castle, regimental home of The Black Watch which held a very special affection for his grandmother, the Queen Mother.

Prince Edward met youngsters and adults involved in the award-winning Black Watch Army Cadet Outreach Project – a youth diversion project run as a partnership between the Black Watch Army Cadet Force, Tayside Police, Perth and Kinross Council, and three east Perthshire primary schools, Alyth, Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie.

It was explained to the royal visitor that the pioneering project set up seven years ago works with children in their final year of primary school. It gained national recognition in 2007 when it won the Best UK Outreach Project award.

Alongside civic and military dignitaries greeting Prince Edward on his arrival at Balhousie Castle were army cadet Corporal Shaun Miller, dressed in a 19th century Black Watch uniform, S/Sgt Mhari Barnes, the Lord Lieutenant’s cadet for Perth and Kinross, and Outreach Project leader Douglas Pover, who is also a serving police officer.

The royal visitor went in to Balhousie Castle to visit the Colonel in Chief’s room, dedicated to the Queen Mother, and be given a briefing on the Army Cadet Force and the Youth and Community Outreach Project.

In the castle grounds he saw this year’s Outreach Project participants and army cadets taking part in drill, camp craft and military heritage stands. Nine senior cadets from the Black Watch Battalion mounted a drill display.

Prince Edward took time to chat to some of the young people, and was introduced to teachers and police officers involved in the Outreach Project.

He was presented with an outreach polo shirt by cadet Nathan Dunn from Blairgowrie, a former Outreach participant, and as the prince was driven off to his next engagement, he was cheered by the outreach participants who had lined the castle drive to wave him goodbye.

Prince Edward then turned his attention to young musicians when he visited Perth Concert Hall in his capacity as patron of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. He met members of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland during rehearsals for their evening concert.

Among this orchestra of Scotland’s most talented young classical musicians are Kirsten Hall from Blairgowrie, Crieff’s Andrew Blair and Joshua Gibb, and Steven Segaud, Forgandenny.

The royal visitor’s final destination in Perth was to the local voluntary sector hub, The Gateway in North Methven Street.

Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) hosted the one hour visit, where he met with representatives from the charity’s Young Carers Project, The Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre, CVS, Volunteer Centre and PKAVS fundraising team.

Staff, volunteers and service users introduced their services, displaying photographs and sharing stories of the impact of their work on the community of Perth and Kinross. The Earl of Wessex heard specifically about PKAVS’ recently established Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme which will support teenage young carers in achieving the award.

A variety of other charities based at The Gateway, including Home-Start Perth, ME Research UK, and Crossroads also enjoyed the opportunity to meet the royal guest

The visit to The Gateway culminated in tea and cakes with elderly service users and invited guests at The Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre’s Day Club.