The Duchess of York met with some of the hardest working community groups and volunteers during a tour of Burnley and Padiham yesterday.

Sarah Ferguson saw first-hand some of the wonderful work being done by charities in the run up to Christmas in some of the most deprived wards in Lancashire.

Whilst she spent time with schoolkids, she was even asked about her nephew Prince William by one cheeky pupil.

In the morning she was welcomed to the Padiham Green Church of England Primary School by the choir where she spent time with pupils during the Breakfast Club.

The Duchess toured the Forest School with the pupils and heard about the work of Dr James Fleming, the Padiham GP who started the ‘Fresh Food Initiative’.
 
The Duchess, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, visited then visited UCLan’s School of Medicine at Victoria Mill to hear about community support schemes and met medical students who want to specialise in tackling motor neurone disease, a fight that is close to the her heart. 

She was welcomed to UCLan by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Cathy Jackson who said: “The Duchess learned about the pathways that UCLan has created for widening access to a medical degree and the part we are playing in educating the local community about health.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The Duchess visited the UCLan School of Medicine and meet with staff and students.

At Burnley FC the Duchess saw the club's work in the community and met with members of the Building Bridges project. 
 
The Duchess stopped off at the Down Town Community Kitchen which is supported by The Message Trust and Burnley Together.  

She was shown through the range of services on offer to the local community through Burnley Together.

At St Matthew’s Lunch Club the Duchess met families from some of Burnley’s most deprived areas, hear their stories and hand out Christmas presents. 

As an extension to their food projects, earlier this year St Matthew's started the Wednesday lunch club, which is run by volunteers.

It provides home made lunches at no cost to the community and has regular attendance of between 50 to 60 people. 

Lancashire Telegraph: The Duchess meets with Colin Schofield, St Matthew’s Lunch Club. Mr Schofield sadly lost his wife a short while ago after 66 years married.

Father Alex Frost, of St Matthew’s Church, Burnley, said: “It was such a joy to welcome Sarah, Duchess of York during this time of Advent; particularly as her kindness through the generosity of her charity Sarah's Trust has supported our church and community over a number of years.    

"By her visit and by showing love to the hundreds of people of Burnley, I pray it brings hope, joy and encouragement.

"It is also my hope this is just the beginning of a long a valued association between the Duchess and the town and that her visit was as joyous for her as it was for us.” 

The Duchess then met with staff and pupils and spent time with Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn and also went on to visit Holy Trinity Primary School.

The busy schedule ended with the Duchess meeting the Burnley Council leader Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, and representatives from Building Bridges at the Jamia Masjid Ghausia in Hebrew Road.

Lancashire Telegraph: The Duchess was welcomed to Padiham Green Church of England Primary School where she spent time with pupils during their Breakfast Club

Cllr Anwar said: “There’s a strong spirit of independence and resilience among local people and that’s really come to the fore as times have got tougher for everyone.

“A massive amount of hard work goes on quietly and without fanfare behind closed doors thanks to the efforts of local people and organisations who are working closely together.

“People all over the country are facing the same challenges as we have in our borough. I like to think that here, at least, it’s brought us together to help each other through tough times.

“I’m sure the Duchess got an insight into that fantastic work during her day with us and she went away impressed with what she heard and saw.”

 

Nicola Larnach, Burnley Together co-ordinator said: "It was brilliant to have the Duchess visit Down Town to learn more about the services we deliver that help people support themselves.

"She was very keen to know all about what we provide, from the community grocery through to the training kitchen, and café.

“We were able to give her an insight into how partnership working, bringing different organisations and people together, can make a real positive difference to people’s lives and help them get through some really challenging times.

“Down Town has proved a massive success and I’m certain the Duchess went away impressed by what she saw and heard.”

Pictures courtesy: @cofelancs / Burnley Together / Down Town