Having, last month, won the Wales Award from The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health, EcoDysgu were delighted to receive a Royal Visit on the 24th of June 2009.

With continuing interest in the pioneering children’s education centre, HRH The Prince Of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall came to see for themselves what goes on at the 42 acre farm site in Tondu, Bridgend.

Young people from Yellow Wales, Bettws Youth and BCBC’s Youth Service took part in showing The Royal Couple what they experience and achieve at EcoDysgu.  Groups demonstrated pole lathe bodging, gardening, art, and metal forging as well as receiving their sessions of complementary therapies.  On the day Yellow Wales participants were also working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

This project which has received funding under the WCVA’s Volunteering in Wales grant scheme is innovative and involves conservation, the environment and complementary therapies. Everyone had a brilliant day, with the sun shining, high spirits and lots of laughter. Their Royal Highnesses spent much of their time chatting to the volunteers, young people, listening to their stories and experiences with great interest.

Julie Lyddon, founder of the ‘Learning to Heal – Healing to Learn’ model of education, delivered at EcoDysgu, said ‘We are delighted in winning the award. It is welcome recognition of our hard work and commitment, this visit has now offered us the opportunity to show how much we can all achieve together, in real terms’.

The centre has struggled to remain open over the last two years due to lack of funding for staff. It is hoped that much needed funding will come as a result of winning this award and the Royal visit.

Email this article to a friend