Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) has welcomed its Patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York, to its offices in Green Park, Reading.

Her Royal Highness was received by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Berkshire, Mr James Puxley, who presented Mr Chris Barrett, Chair of Trustees, M’s Gerry Lejeune, OBE, Chief Executive; Mr Rory Carson and M’s Sally Saadeh of Oxford Properties.

After visiting BCF and meeting members of staff, Princess Beatrice visited a voluntary group supported by the Foundation; Dingley Family Centre in Reading where she was greeted by Lady Catherine Stevenson, DL, patron of the charity and a Trustee of BCF.

Berkshire Community Foundation raises funds for, and makes grants to, local charities and community groups addressing identified need across Berkshire.  With over 6,000 voluntary groups in the county it works with people who want to give locally but who may not know where to start.  It uses its local knowledge to connect supporters to the groups and communities they want to help, making sure their donations are effective and bring the greatest benefit to those most in need.

Last year BCF granted a total of over £900,000 to a wide range of local projects, addressing issues such as child poverty, unemployment, social isolation and homelessness.

The aim of the Foundation is to make a lasting and sustainable difference to local communities by building a permanent endowment fund to support community needs across Berkshire, now and in the future.

Gerry Lejeune, CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation said, “We were honoured to welcome our Patron on her first visit to the Foundation this morning and delighted in the interest and knowledge that HRH Princess Beatrice has shown in our work”.

Read more about our work and our impact in the local community.