Step One Charity Patronage
Step One Charity is deeply honoured to have had the support of Her Majesty The Queen as our Patron from 1946 to 2022.
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Step One Charity Patronage
Step One Charity is deeply honoured to have had the support of Her Majesty The Queen as our Patron from 1946 to 2022.
Her Majesty The Queen, Patron 1946-2022
The Queen became our Patron shortly after her first visit to St Loye’s (as Step One was formerly known) in 1946, as Princess Royal. She visited us on several occasions over the years to open facilities and meet our staff.
We are immensely grateful for Her Majesty’s 75 years of patronage and her commitment to our work in supporting people with mental health issues and hidden disabilities to live more independently.
Her Majesty’s visits
In 2010, during her Diamond Jubilee year, The Queen visited our Exeter offices with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. In 2016, our trustees and fundraising supporters were delighted to attend The Patron’s Lunch at The Mall in London, an event to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.
Her Majesty’s funeral
We were honoured to have a representative from Step One Charity attend the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday 19th September 2022.
Sue Sutherland, OBE, Chair of Trustees at Step One Charity, comments on her attendance:
“I felt so privileged to be able to represent Step One at Her Majesty’s state funeral. She has been our Patron since 1946 and it was an opportunity to give thanks and express our gratitude for her unwavering support over so many years. It was a momentous occasion and so well organised. I was sat in the Nave and although the guests in the Abbey included so many Heads of State and other VIPs, it felt very much as if we were all equals and humbled by the event.
The service focused very much on Her Majesty’s inspiring service to the Nation and the Commonwealth and her commitment to the causes she held dear, which of course included Step One. It was such an honour to be there. It was a very emotional experience, with the most heartfelt moment being the Queen’s Piper playing ‘Sleep Dearie Sleep’ as the congregation left Westminster Abbey.”
Honouring the Queen’s legacy
We are immensely grateful for Her Majesty’s continued commitment to our work in supporting people with mental health issues and disabilities to live more independently. Her legacy will live on in the work that we do.
- There are many ways to honour the Queen’s legacy and to continue her support for Step One Charity. You can:
- Make a donation to Step One Charity in the Queen’s name
- Volunteer your time at Step One Charity
- Become a patron of Step One Charity
- Talk about mental health and encourage others to seek help if needed
By taking these steps, you can help to carry on the Queen’s legacy of supporting people with mental health challenges. Thank you for your support.
