Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will attend The Clink Charity’s Open Day in London on 10 September, marking her first engagement as Patron of the charity. The Princess Royal became Patron of The Clink Charity in 2025, recognising its work to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation and support.
Announcing the forthcoming visit, The Clink Charity said: “We are delighted to announce that our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, will attend The Clink Charity’s Open Day on 10 September.
“This will be Her Royal Highness’s first engagement as Patron of The Clink Charity, and we are honoured to welcome her as we showcase the work of The Clink and the people who make it possible.”
The Open Day will take place at the charity’s home at Bessemer Park in Herne Hill, South London, bringing together the different areas of its work in hospitality, food and horticulture. Visitors will hear directly from graduates and beneficiaries, alongside taking part in horticulture and cookery masterclasses and meeting teams from The Clink’s restaurant and bakery operations.
Behind the event is a model that has made hospitality central to rehabilitation and employment.
The Clink works with people in prison and young people at risk of entering the justice system, using training, recognised qualifications and continuing support to help people rebuild their lives. Its activities span restaurants, prison kitchens, a bakery, events catering, gardens and a training café.
The approach combines practical experience with qualifications and a route towards work. The charity works with a national network of employers and other organisations to help students move into employment and successfully resettle following release.
The scale of that work is significant. In 2025 The Clink trained almost 400 students across the UK, delivered around 420 City & Guilds NVQ qualifications and provided structured post-release support to 119 people. At its restaurant at HMP Brixton, nearly 70% of students progressed into further education or employment.
For hospitality employers, that connection between training and sustainable employment is particularly relevant at a time when the industry continues to examine how and where it finds, develops and retains talent.
The Clink has increasingly worked directly with hospitality businesses to create those pathways. Earlier this year Benugo announced a five-year partnership with the charity which, from September, will make the business a preferred employment destination for graduates of The Clink’s programme at HMP Brixton. The partnership will provide access to training, mentoring and career progression across Benugo’s estate.
The Princess Royal’s visit on 10 September will consequently shine a light not only on rehabilitation, but on the role hospitality skills and employment can play in enabling people to build a different future.
The event is private and by invitation only.
Donna Marie Edmonds, Chief Executive, The Clink Charity, is a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board