The Princess Royal visited Ruskin Mill College, marking a significant event for the college and its wider educational charity, Ruskin Mill Trust.
During her visit, Her Royal Highness met with key members of staff, trustees, and guests, and viewed an exhibition showcasing the activities and successes of each of the Trust’s centres. The Princess Royal then moved on to the workshops, where students demonstrated a variety of skills including sheep shearing, wool dyeing, and weaving. One student proudly presented Her Royal Highness with a gift made from the college’s fleece.
The second part saw The Princess Royal visit the college’s valley workshops, where she observed students engaged in green woodwork, blacksmithing and the biodynamic fish farm.
The visit concluded in the courtyard where Her Royal Highness heard music from the Ruskin Mill College choir, and met four alumni students, each sharing their personal journeys and successes. Members of the Ruskin Mill College Student Council presented Princess Anne with a hamper filled with biodynamic produce from the college’s own farm and gardens.
Ruskin Mill Trust operates across the UK, offering outdoor learning environments, utilising practical land and craft activities to support the development of work and life skills in young people with autism and other learning differences. Working with hand, head, heart and place, through practical activities, performing arts, therapies, culture and social enterprise, Ruskin Mill Trust helps individuals to re-imagine their potential through its research-informed method Practical Skills Therapeutic Education.