HRH The Princess Royal visits CPFT | News

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal met with staff and service users during a special visit to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

Her Royal Highness undertook the visit in her role as patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

The Princess Royal spoke with members of the Peterborough Adult Locality Mental Health Team at their base at the Town Hall in the city as they held a celebration of pioneering developments in community-based occupational therapy.

During the visit Her Royal Highness - who was accompanied by Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire and a former Chair of CPFT - was welcomed by senior Trust leaders, the Chair and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and local authority partners.

Her Royal Highness also met with occupational therapists from the Fenland and Huntingdon Adult Locality Teams, support workers and service users to hear first-hand how innovative therapeutic pathways - spanning sensory work, reablement, vocational activity, green space programmes, and group therapies - are supporting patients with their recovery, independence and wellbeing.

The visit incorporated therapy spaces across the building and conversations with staff about their approach to patient‑centred care.

Steve Grange, Chief Executive Officer at CPFT (pictured right with Deputy Chair Karen Daber) said: “The visit was a proud moment for our occupational therapy teams, whose dedication and innovation have transformed mental health support in our communities.

“It was a privilege to showcase their work and the meaningful impact it has on the lives of local people.”

Odeth Richardson, Chair of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists said: "The Peterborough Adult Locality Team is showing what’s possible when occupational therapists are given roles that truly draw on their expertise.

"By leading community mental health care and ensuring people receive the right support at the right time, early OT involvement prevents needs from escalating and delivers better outcomes for individuals and services alike."

The team supports people aged 17 to 65 who are living with severe mental health conditions and have complex psychiatric needs. It is made up of a variety of staff including mental health clinicians, occupational therapists and support workers.

Allied health professionals are the second largest workforce at CPFT behind nurses. Nine of the 14 recognised AHPs professions are represented at the Trust.

CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough, social care, and learning disability services.

The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and in June 2025, CPFT was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.

ENDS