PRINCE Edward will visit an award-winning Mirfield charity next week.

The Queen’s youngest son will tour the Shepley Bridge Marina and meet volunteers at the Safe Anchor Trust.

His visit on Thursday will be the third time a member of the royal family has toured the trust and supported the work it does with youngsters on the waterways.

Les Moss, the trust’s founder, said the royal visit was an acknowledgement of all the hard work done by volunteers.

He added: “We have had royal visits before; Princess Anne has been twice.

“Prince Edward will be doing the formal opening of the marina project, meeting some of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme participants and some of our volunteers who do all the work.

“Everyone is looking forward to the visit. It is going to be a nice time for us.”

Mr Moss, a former chief probation officer, has been involved in four royal visits, so will not be nervous meeting the prince.

He said: “My experience of meeting Princess Anne was very good. She put everyone at their ease and got on very well with disabled customers and everyone.

“The visit has given us a focus as our season runs from March to October.

“So we have been getting ready for this visit, getting all the work done and preparing the boats over the winter months,” said Mr Ross.

The trust has taken about 50,000 people out on to the waterways since it was formed in 1995.

It has close links with the DoE Awards scheme and for the last eight years has given disabled or ‘hard to reach’ young people the chance to take part in its activities.

Eighteen months ago the trust took over the buildings at Shepley Bridge Marina and is now able to offer more activities to young people.

As well as outdoor water events, such as canoeing, the trust’s members also offer indoor activities.

And thanks to the Dow Chemical Company the trust has more land to use for its events.

The trust is an association which provides access to the canals and waterways for special needs groups, people with health and mobility problems and socially disadvantaged groups.

It also works in partnership with British Waterways, the police, the probation service and people who are ordered to do community work by the courts.

This gives the offenders the chance to make improvements to the towpaths and canal environment.