OXFORD.- The Duchess of Cambridge announced that she will become a Royal Patron for The Art Room, a small charity based in Oxford and London which uses art to provide therapy for children and young people with challenges.

The Founder Director of The Art Room Juli Beattie said: “This is wonderful news. On behalf of all of our Trustees and staff and the children and young people we support, I want to thank The Duchess for choosing The Art Room. It is a fantastic endorsement of the work we do and the role that art and creativity can play in helping children and young people whose start in life has been difficult.”

The Art Room was set up in Oxford in 2002 to offer art as therapy to children and young people aged between five and 16, using art to raise their self esteem, confidence and independence. Many are disengaged from mainstream education and are disruptive or withdrawn; some may have specific learning difficulties and all have been identified as needing special time away from school. The results from the projects have been extraordinary. The charity now works with over 12 schools, providing art as therapy for 270 children every week.

Having considered a large number of requests for patronage, The Duchess decided to support only four charities in the UK and one volunteering role. The Art Room was chosen as one of this small group as the charity’s aims reflect The Duchess’s interest in the arts, particularly art therapy.

The Art Room will also be invited to join The Princes’ Forum, an initiative started by The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry in 2006 to bring together their charitable interests. The forum will consist of 32 organisations once the organisations affiliated to The Duchess are included.

“Every school should have an Art Room” Anthony Browne, Children’s Laureate 2009-11