LONDON.- The Foundling Museum announced that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has become its Patron. This patronage recognises the Museum’s unique work to transform the wellbeing and life chances of vulnerable children and young adults through creative collaboration with artists. Drawing on its landmark history, the Museum improves the skills, confidence and joy in life of young people at society’s margins.

The patronage is announced ahead of the Duchess’ visit to the Foundling Museum later today, where she will learn more about the Museum’s pioneering programmes, particularly its training programme for care-experienced young adults and creative projects with young psychiatric in-patients. The celebrated poet and Museum Trustee, Lemn Sissay MBE, has written and will recite a commemorative poem to celebrate the patronage. The poem responds to contributions from young people participating in the Museum’s programmes, about their hopes and dreams for the future.

On her visit, the Duchess will meet a group of care-experienced young adults who have completed the Museum’s ‘Tracing Our Tales’ training programme, which gives young care-leavers the skills to run creative workshops for visitors to the Museum. The Duchess will hear the positive effect the training has had on their self-esteem, mental wellbeing, education, and employment at the Museum and beyond. The Duchess will join a training session and be shown around the Museum’s current exhibition by the young workshop leaders.

Her Royal Highness’ acceptance of the role of Patron follows a previous visit to the Foundling Museum in December 2017, when she met families and children who have benefited from the Museum’s work.

The Museum brings its historic story of children in care to life, in ways that are meaningful for young people today, by working with outstanding artists from all creative disciplines, including its Foundling Fellows, who include Grayson Perry, Jacqueline Wilson, Lily Cole and Cornelia Parker. In doing so it enables disadvantaged young people to see the world differently and to imagine new possibilities for themselves. In this way, the Museum continues the legacy established by William Hogarth and George Frideric Handel in the 1740s and told in its displays.

Larissa Joy, Chair of Trustees, said: ‘We are delighted and honoured that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has become Patron of the Foundling Museum. We could not imagine a more perfect Patron. We look forward to working with her as we fulfil our mission to inspire people to make positive impact on society through the arts.’

Caro Howell, Director of the Foundling Museum, said: ‘The Foundling Museum is thrilled and honoured to receive the Duchess’ patronage. Her support is a huge boost to our work transforming the lives of vulnerable young people through the arts.’