Yorkshire day of engagements for Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales will be undertaking a day of engagements in Yorkshire on Thursday, Clarence House has confirmed.

To start the day, Prince Charles will be based in the city, starting with a visit to Her Majesty’s Prison Leeds where he will meet those involved in his Mosaic ‘through-the-gates’ mentoring programme.

The prison has a diverse range of prisoners, including a significant Muslim population which accounts for 15 per cent of current inmates.

Mosaic, an initiative of Business in the Community of which the Prince is president, has been operating its mentoring programme at the prison for two years. It focuses on preparing Muslim prisoners in the final six months of their sentence, giving them advice and training to help them to fully reintegrate into the community following their release. Mentors then spend a further six months mentoring former inmates in the community.

Staying in Leeds, The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Campaign for Wool which works to promote global awareness of wool’s qualities, will visit Abraham Moon and Sons’ mill in Guiseley. It is the last mill in the country that processes raw wool into finished fabric all on one site.

Owned by John Walsh, whose family took control of the company in 1920, it employs more than 200 staff and makes luxury woollen cloth for the fashion and interior industries.

Prince Charles will then be travelling into North Yorkshire and as patron of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association and a patron of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, he will tour the Wensleydale Creamery and meet farmers involved in his Dairy Initiative in Hawes.

The Creamery is a major employer in the Yorkshire Dales and a major investment to build a new on-site creamery is almost complete. Further whey processing equipment is due to be installed in the coming months.

Ahead of the royal visit, David Hartley, the Creamery’s managing director, said: “With a heritage that spans centuries and family roots that are firmly set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, we’re extremely proud to be where we are today and we’re thrilled to be welcoming HRH Prince of Wales on his visit to the Wensleydale Creamery.”

The Prince’s Dairy Initiative was inspired by his long-held concerns about the future sustainability of UK dairy farming. Managed by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, the programme aims to improve the resilience of the dairy supply chain.

During what is a packed schedule, the Prince will also then meet representatives of the Ure Salmon Trust to learn about their conservation work on the River Ure and will meet some of the members of The Dales Pony Society, of which he is also patron, ahead of the group’s annual autumn ride, at the award-winning Berry Farm Ship in Swinithwaite, Leyburn.

His trip concludes with two final engagements, a visit to The George and Dragon Inn, Hudswell, Richmond, which was saved by the community to be run as a co-operative in 2010 where he will meet local residents and community groups, and then a visit to the Parachute Regiment training company at Helles Barracks, Catterick.

As the Regiment’s colonel-in-chief, Prince Charles will meet staff from all four battalions and recruits undergoing training.