The Duke of Cambridge travelled to North Wales to visit Brighter Futures, a consortium of eight groups in Rhyl that encourage people of all ages to engage in community activities and issues. This is his first trip to Wales since the death of his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Brighter Futures’ website notes that the eight local groups “shares equipment, skills and facilities to reduce overall costs, reduce duplication, reduce waste and provide better quality services to meet the needs of our community.”
The local area – Rhyl West – is the poorest place in Wales, according to the Welsh index of multiple deprivation.
During an hour-long visit, William met with representatives of two Brighter Futures groups: Rhyl Men’s Shed and Rhyl Youth Group. Men’s Shed encourages men in the area to participate in a range of gardening activities as a way to reduce isolation, loneliness, poverty and social exclusion.
The area features a sports pitch, allotment and cafe and, during the pandemic the charity has provided food, PPE and sports equipment to local people. The duke said he was impressed at how a derelict space has been transformed.
On hearing there is a Men’s Sheds group on Anglesey, the duke said he was keen to return following his time with the RAF on the island.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliam met with volunteers for a woodworking session and discussed the impact of Men’s Shed on the community. He also helped plant an apple tree to mark his visit, and quipped, “Next time I come there will be 300 apples on it.”
He revealed that he hasn’t been much of a gardener, but that he’s going to read Monty Don’s book, at Kate’s urging, so that he can learn and join his father, the Prince of Wales, in the garden.
“My wife does all the gardening. I really like it but I have no idea what I’m doing,” he confessed to the volunteers.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliam was speaking to Brian Penney, 52, a co-ordinator for Men’s Sheds, part of the consortium and an initiative encouraging isolated men to build things and grow vegetables together.
The Duke ribbed the 52-year-old about the tiny children’s watering can he was using, as he was shown the group’s allotment, joking: “It’s good to see you have got really nice watering cans. Nice pink colour.
“That’s a lovely mermaid. Very masculine for the Men’s Sheds.”
William laughed as he added: “I always find something to embarrass people with.”
Mr Penney said afterwards: “He told me Kate is getting him into gardening. She’s going to get him Monty Don’s book.
“He said she wants to get him into it because Charles is into it, so it’s something for them to enjoy together. He was so down to earth, such a nice man.”
Embed from Getty ImagesRhyl Youth Group encourages young people to manage and deliver services to their community as a way to benefit themselves and their peers, and to develop self confidence. William heard about various Youth Group projects, including a sports club, café and tuck shop that saw 150 young people visit its facility every night before the pandemic began last year.
Embed from Getty ImagesSixteen-year-old Ellie Wilkinson has been attending the youth group since she was around nine months old, and now volunteers there.
“I’ve grown up coming here, but then obviously I’ve gone into young volunteering. I love it really.
“Hopefully in the future I’ll become a police officer, and I just like helping the community with loads of different things.”
Ellie got to speak to William, and said: “We had a nice chat with him. He’s very down to earth. It was great to see him.”
Kensington Palace notes that during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, Brighter Futures was played an important role in “supporting isolated and shielding local people by switching to mobile services, which included deliveries of food, PPE, sports and IT equipment, craft materials, and games to help alleviate the effects of the lockdowns.”
Staff thought the prince’s visit was a joke when it was first announced, but say he quickly put everyone at ease when he arrived.
Embed from Getty ImagesStephen Johnson, caretaker and coordinator of Brighter Futures Rhyl, said the organisation runs different groups every day, including men’s and ladies’ sheds, youth groups and a group for people with autism.
He said it was a shock when they found out William was going to be visiting.
“You don’t believe it’s going to happen to you – we’ve been picked and it’s a good thing.
“He seemed interested in the community, he wanted to see what’s going on during the pandemic, what’s happened with the community.”
He added that the pandemic meant people could not attend the centre, but group sessions will resume from 10 May as lockdown restrictions ease.
For those who want to watch, ITV has created an amazing video about the duke’s visit. This’s the only video I could find of the visit.
Cambridges News 
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