Kate Winslet joined a charity teaching 15,000 students practical skills every year; its programmes are also helping preserve six endangered traditional crafts

Kate Winslet has joined The King’s Foundation as an ambassador, supporting the charity’s work to preserve traditional crafts and teach practical skills to future generations. The organisation runs education programmes that reach 15,000 students every year, covering subjects such as woodworking, embroidery, stonemasonry, weaving and traditional arts. According to the King’s Foundation, 200 future master craftspeople have received training from its tutors and experts, while six skills taught through its programmes feature on the Red List of Endangered Crafts. Winslet’s appointment was announced on June 27, 2025, during the charity’s 35th anniversary year.How is Kate Winslet supporting The King’s FoundationThe King’s Foundation announced Winslet’s appointment as its newest ambassador on June 27, 2025, during the charity’s 35th anniversary year. The actress said she was pleased to support an organisation whose work aligns with her interest in protecting the natural world and promoting sustainable communities.In a statement published by the foundation, Winslet said: “One of my passions is exploring ways that we can protect and promote the natural world – something I have in common with His Majesty! I am therefore thrilled to put this passion into practice by working with The King’s Foundation.”She also said she looked forward to supporting the charity’s work to “build sustainable communities and transform lives into the future”. Winslet's appointment brought her into a group of ambassadors that includes David Beckham, Sienna Miller, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, Maro Itoje, Alan Titchmarsh, Raymond Blanc, Sarah Beeny, Patrick Grant, George Clarke and Jools Holland.How does the foundation train 15,000 students annuallyAccording to The King’s Foundation, 15,000 students participate in its education programmes every year. These programmes focus on traditional skills and crafts, with the aim of developing the next generation of skilled craftspeople, artists and artisans.The foundation describes its work as an effort to protect the knowledge required to maintain traditional craftsmanship and support more sustainable ways of living. Its areas of expertise include traditional arts, woodworking, embroidery, millinery, stonemasonry, thatching and weaving.The organisation also reports that 200 future master craftspeople have been trained in traditional skills by its tutors and experts so far. Its programmes are designed to maintain a pipeline of skilled people in areas where traditional knowledge and expertise are increasingly rare.How is the foundation preserving endangered craftsOne highlight of The King’s Foundation is that six skills taught through its programmes are included on the Red List of Endangered Crafts. The list identifies traditional crafts that face the risk of disappearing, making the preservation and transfer of specialist knowledge an important part of the foundation's work.Through its education courses, the charity provides opportunities for students to learn practical techniques from experienced tutors and craftspeople. Its training covers different areas of traditional craftsmanship, helping students develop skills that can be carried forward into future generations.The foundation's work includes furniture making, building arts and crafts, and traditional arts. These programmes provide specialist learning opportunities for people interested in developing practical expertise in traditional disciplines.How does nature shape the foundation’s curriculumThe King’s Foundation delivers its education programmes through The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts and specialist facilities at Dumfries House, Highgrove Gardens and Trinity Buoy Wharf.The organisation says that learning in and from nature forms the basis of its curriculum across its education programmes. This approach is part of its philosophy of Harmony, which informs its work across traditional skills, education and sustainable communities.The School of Traditional Arts also provides dedicated opportunities for students to study traditional artistic practices. Alongside this, the foundation's specialist courses cover furniture making and building arts and crafts, providing different routes into traditional skills.How is the foundation preserving traditional craftsmanshipThe King’s Foundation's education work focuses on ensuring that traditional craftsmanship continues to be taught and practised. Its programmes bring together students, tutors and experts to develop practical abilities in areas where specialist skills are becoming increasingly uncommon.The charity's reported figures highlight the scale of its education activities, with 15,000 students participating annually and 200 future master craftspeople having received training from its tutors and experts. Its work also includes six skills featured on the Red List of Endangered Crafts.With Kate Winslet joining its ambassador group in June 2025, the foundation continues to promote its mission of building sustainable communities and transforming lives through education, traditional craftsmanship and heritage preservation.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.