- Duchess of Cambridge visited 23rd Poplar Beaver Scout Colony in east London to help children earn a badge
- Kate, who is five months pregnant, wore a black UK Scouting hooded top with black skinny J Brand jeans and boots
- She worked as a volunteer for the Scout Association when she and Prince William lived in Anglesey, North Wales
- Duchess helped the Beavers, aged between five and eight, learn about life with disabilities
- She cut up chocolate with a boxing glove and learned sign language to help Scouts earn disability awareness badge
The Duchess of Cambridge exchanged high end fashion for a hoodie as she helped out a Beaver Scout colony tonight.
Kate,
who is five months pregnant, wore a black UK Scouting hooded top with
black skinny J Brand jeans and boots as she helped eager youngsters to
ice a cake blindfold.
Kate
worked as a volunteer for the Scout Association when she and Prince
William lived in Anglesey, North Wales, and looked delighted to be
helping children at the 23rd Poplar Beaver Scout Colony earn a new
badge.
Scouting
for royals: The Duchess of Cambridge exchanged high end fashion for a
hoodie as she helped out a Beaver Scout colony tonight, teaching the
eager youngsters at the 23rd Poplar Beaver Scout Colony to ice a cake
blindfold
It
promised to be a messy evening as the Duchess helped the Beavers, aged
between five and eight, learn about life with disabilities.
As
well as teaching the children to ice a cake, Kate cut up a chocolate
bar with boxing gloves, learned the Scout Promise in sign language, and
helped children put a wet suit on blindfolded, supported by two-times
world para triathlon champion Steve Judge.
In return, the children earned a disability awareness badge.
The
Duchess went to the meeting at Old Ford Primary School in Bow in the
East End to highlight the Scout Association’s new campaign, Better
Prepared, designed to bring Scouting to 200 of the most deprived parts
of the country.
Good cause: The Duchess of Cambridge
learns sign language as she meets one young girl at the newly
established Scout colony. Her visit was in support of the Scout
Association's 'Better Prepared' campaign – a project designed to reach
200 of the most deprived areas in the country
Shown the ropes: Kate was shown around
by Carlos Lopez-Plandolit (centre), the Beaver Scout colony leader, who
became a volunteer about a year ago after coming to Britain five years
ago from Spain to work for a technology company
Jam packed evening: As well as
teaching the children to ice a cake and learn the Scout promise in sign
language, Kate was due to help the children to cut up a chocolate bar
with boxing gloves and put a wet suit on blindfolded
Royal seal of approval: The Duchess gives a thumbs up sign to one young Scout after she masters the promise in sign language
But
the movement, which has 446,000 youth members and already works in 70
of the 100 most deprived parts of the UK, will need to recruit 1,000
more adult volunteers to make it happen in those 200 areas.
Across
the country, Scouting needs 16,000 more adult volunteers to ensure that
it can give the 40,000 young people on its waiting lists a place.
The
Beaver Scout colony in Poplar and Bow was launched last year. Wayne
Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner of The Scout Association, said: 'We’re
delighted that the Duchess has been able to help us celebrate the launch
of Better Prepared – a project designed to reach 200 of the most
deprived areas in the country, so all young people can access
life-changing, everyday adventure.
Task master: Kate looks concerned as she is handed a red boxing glove for her next assignment at the meeting
Getting to grips: Kate attempts simple tasks, such as chopping up a chocolate bar while wearing a pair of boxing gloves
Getting the giggles: Kate got stuck in
to the activities, laughing as she joined a group of Beavers trying to
cut up and eat Mars Bars using boxing gloves to simulate those with
mobility or coordination problems
Reaching out: The Duchess tries to
grab a plastic fork while wearing her boxing glove, to the amusement of
Scout leader Mr Lopez-Plandolit
Familiar: Kate worked as a volunteer
for the Scout Association when she and Prince William lived in Anglesey,
North Wales, and looked delighted to be helping children at the 23rd
Poplar Beaver Scout Colony win a new badge
One of the gang: The Duchess was
quickly given a UK Scouts scarf of the 23rd Poplar group tied in a
friendship knot and got down to activities with the children
'The Duchess has seen at first-hand how Scouting helps young people develop, during her time as a volunteer in North Wales.'
He
added: 'Where else, for £1.50 a week, can young people develop skills
such as leadership, organisation, drive, loyalty, commitment, passion
and compassion, and self-confidence? These are the attributes that young
people need in order to get ahead in life.
'As
we look for 1,000 adult volunteers to help us launch 200 new Scout
groups, we are working to make it as easy as possible for adults to fit
volunteering in around their busy lives – this is how we change our
society: with many people doing a little bit.'
A bite to eat: Kate also had a go at
eating a bit of chocolate bar using chopsticks. 'No pressure,' the
Duchess muttered to herself, as the cameras were trained on her
Helping hand: Kate teaches the young girl how to use the chopsticks to pick up sweets during one activity
Proud: The little girl manages to eat a
fizzy lace with her chopsticks, thanks to the help of the Duchess who
is clearly pleased with her efforts
Surprise visitor: The children had not
been told beforehand that the Duchess was coming and when she arrived,
one older Scout shouted out: 'Oh my God, it's Princess Kate'
Kate
was shown around by Carlos Lopez-Plandolit, the Beaver Scout colony
leader, who became a volunteer about a year ago after coming to Britain
five years ago from Spain to work for a technology company.
'It's the most exciting thing that happened to me in five years,' said Carlos, 31.
'Scout
groups like the one that the Duchess is visiting this evening give
young people access to some fantastic opportunities that they might not
have access to otherwise.
Under instruction: Kate helped guide
the hands of Fynley Gooch, 7, as he sat with a neckerchief covering his
face and tried to squeeze icing over a fairy cake
Offering support: The Duchess holds the chocolate cake still so the young boy can decorate the treat without making a mess
No peeking! Kate laughs as she lifts the Scout's blindfold to make sure he is not peeking as he tries to ice the chocolate cake
'As someone who had never considered volunteering with The Scout Association until recently, I can’t recommend it enough.
'It’s
a brilliant experience for those who love adventure and working with
young people. Being a volunteer changed my life and I am proud I can
change the life of the young people in the community in which I live and
work.'
The
children had not been told beforehand that the Duchess was coming and
when she arrived, one older Scout shouted out: 'Oh my God, it's Princess
Kate.'
She
was quickly given a UK Scouts scarf of the 23rd Poplar group tied in a
friendship knot and got down to activities with the children, practising
learning how to use sign language to say the Scout Promise.
The Duchess helped one group of children put on blindfolds to simulate blindness but did not have a go herself at that stage.
At
the next table, however, she certainly got stuck in, joining a group of
Beavers trying to cut up and eat Mars Bars using boxing gloves to
simulate those with mobility or coordination problems.
Taking part: At the final table, Kate
sat with a group of children trying to put icing on some fairy cakes
while blindfolded. She used her Scout scarf to cover her face and show
the children what they needed to do
Changing places: After finishing
Fynley's cake, Kate had a go at being blindfolded and he took his turn
to guide her in decorating the cake
She
also had a go at eating a bit of chocolate bar using chopsticks. 'No
pressure,' the Duchess muttered to herself, as the cameras were trained
on her.
At
the final table, Kate sat with a group of children trying to put icing
on some fairy cakes while blindfolded. She used her Scout scarf to cover
her face and show the children what they needed to do.
She
took her blindfold off and helped guide the hands of Fynley Gooch, 7,
as he sat with a neckerchief covering his face and tried to squeeze
icing over a fairy cake.
It
was getting increasingly messy and chaotic on her table, as the
blindfolded boy sitting on her other side, Kai Benjamin, 8, flapped his
hands around trying to find a cake.
Pleased with her handiwork: Kate lifts
her blindfold, after Fynley helped her to ice the cake and seems
impressed with her efforts
Follow my lead: Kate had used her Scout scarf to cover her face and show the children what they needed to do
Rewarded for their efforts: When she
had completed her cake decorating, Kate joined the 20 Beavers sitting in
a circle and then, when everyone stood up, went around the circle,
presenting each with a disability awareness badge
After finishing Fynley's cake, Kate had a go at being blindfolded and he took his turn to guide her in decorating the cake.
Fynley turned out to be not as patient as Kate, however, and at one stage walked off.
Carlos,
the Beavers' leader spotted him making a break for it. 'It's OK, he's
here,' he said, returning Fynley to the Duchess. 'Can you tell me please
when he walks away,' Kate said, giggling.
When
she had completed her cake decorating, Kate joined the 20 Beavers
sitting in a circle and then, when everyone stood up, went around the
circle, presenting each with a disability awareness badge. 'Well done,'
she told each Beaver. 'Oh my gosh, look at all your badges,' she said to
one. 'How many? Have you been counting them?'
Then
Kate joined all the Beavers in using sign language to say the Scout's
Promise - 'I promise to do my best, to be kind and helpful and to love
my world' - before singing along to their farewell song 'Goodnight
Beavers'.
After
she had left, Carlos said: 'It was amazing. She's really spontaneous.
She's naturally gifted with children. I think she had a great time.'
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