June 17, 2011 6.14 pm This story is over 159 months old

Prince Edward visits Lincoln Pelican Trust

Royal visit: Prince Edward visited Lincoln Pelican Trust to unveil a plaque and see the work that happens at the charity.

Prince Edward visited Lincoln Pelican Trust on Friday, June 17, to unveil a plaque and see the work happening at the charity.

The Trust gives people work experience, on-the-job training and guidance for unemployed adults in Lincolnshire.

Charlotte Kutarski, a trustee at the Pelican Trust, explained that the organisation was set up 1989 and wanted a guest at their birthday party from the Royal family.

She said: “The Prince came to support us because the Pelican Trust takes learners from quite a big catchment area around and about in Lincoln, not just Lincoln city, but you quite often find that people haven’t heard of us.”

The Earl of Wessex arrived at the building on Crofton Street at around 2.50pm and, after meeting some of the people who work and learn at the Pelican Trust, he unveiled a plaque.

Afterwards, the Prince was given a wooden handmade crib for his daughter Lady Louise, and a handmade wooden steam engine for his son Viscount Severn.

The gifts were made in the woodwork department of the Trust and were given to him by one of the enrolled learners, Lindsey Ramshaw.

Speaking before the Royal visit, Kutarski said that the Prince should learn something from today’s event: “Most of our clients are people who have suffered quite severe mental illness for whatever reason.

“Then there are some with learning disabilities and we have some physical disabilities as well.

“So he’ll see a whole spectrum of people who benefit from our organisation and I think he will be quite impressed.”

As well as celebrating the work of The Pelican Trust, Prince Edward visited Lincoln Minister School and will later attend the 75th anniversary dinner of the Association of the Friends of Lincoln Cathedral.

Photos: Samantha Fisher for The Lincolnite