. The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation, the Bagshot Park Charity, later renamed the Wessex Youth Trust, in 1999 to support initiatives and charities that help children and young people. After twenty years of operation, the Wessex Youth Trust reverted back to an earlier name, the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust, in 2019 and its management was transferred to the
private office of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. It was announced that the trust's broad charitable objectives would not change, however, their future efforts would be aimed towards supporting a different range of charities. In July 2023, the trust's remaining funds were transferred to the Edinburgh Trust No. 2, which was originally set up in 1964. In 2000, Sophie became
patron of a number of organisations, including
Foundation of Light (formerly
Sunderland A.F.C Foundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football. Moved by the death of her friend
Jill Dando in 1999, the Countess became a trustee of
UCL Jill Dando Institute, an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001. In 2003, she became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust, which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society. Later that month, she became patron to
The Scar Free Foundation, a medical research charity coordinating funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research. In 2003, she succeeded
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as patron of the
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Also in 2003, she became patron of the Moor House School & College, which specialises in helping children who have
Developmental language disorder. Sophie, who was a
Brownie as a child, became the new president of
Girlguiding UK in 2003, following the death of
Princess Margaret in February 2002, and remained in that position until 2024 when she became the organisation's patron subsequent to
the Queen's death in 2022. She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to support
the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and reach more young people to help them develop skills that can transform their futures. The Countess became president of the Brainwave Centre in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay. In June 2003, she became patron of the
Greater London Fund for the Blind, which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London. In August 2003, the Countess received patronage of the
National Autistic Society, passed down from
Anne, Princess Royal. In 2004, she joined
St John Ambulance as grand president, and heads the work of St John's County Presidents, who provide a variety of support for their local St John members. She was associated with
ChildLine for many years, preceding her appointment as their first ever royal patron in 2005. In 2006, she lent her support to the
Born in Bradford research project, which investigated causes of
low birth weight and
infant mortality between 2007 and 2010. In September 2006, she was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In the same year, she became patron of
England Hockey. Sophie is a supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of show president of the
Royal Bath and West Show in 2010 before becoming vice patron in 2011. She is also patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and has been patron of the Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012. Sophie works to support the 'Campaign for Wool', which was set up by the then-
Prince of Wales, and aims to promote the use of British wool. During her 2013 trips to India, and Qatar, the Countess visited numerous facilities in her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Her work on the issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative. In June 2013, she was appointed global ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, an umbrella body co-ordinating organisations running the Duke of Edinburgh's Award worldwide. She has been the founder and chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice. On Sophie's 50th birthday, she became vice patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 for
Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The trust was a time-limited foundation and closed on 31 January 2020. In November 2015,
100 Women in Hedge Funds announced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF's Next Generation initiatives. In September 2016, Sophie took part in a cycling challenge from the
Holyrood Palace to
Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary. Linking Environment And Farming named Sophie as its new honorary president in October 2016. In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador, which supports and celebrates the successes of young women. In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money for
Shooting Star Chase, a children's hospice of which she is patron. During the same month, after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron of
NSPCC,
Blind Veterans UK and
British Cycling Federation. The Countess of Wessex was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017. In May 2017, as patron of the
British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association Sophie attended its 90th anniversary and commemorative athlete awards dinner. The Ice Maiden, five
British Army women, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition across
Antarctica in October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions. In January 2018, Sophie became the Royal Patron of the Nursing Memorial Appeal. The Appeal aims to create a memorial dedicated to the 1,500 nurses who gave their lives in First and Second World Wars. In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president. In January 2019, Sophie became the patron of the
Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which saved her life during her ectopic pregnancy in 2001. On 29 January, she was elected president of the Royal Smithfield Club, which promotes the education and knowledge to advance best practice in the meat and livestock industry. On
International Women's Day March 2019, Sophie officially announced her involvement in taking a stand against sex crimes in conflict zones, joining
Angelina Jolie to work with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) as well as Women, Peace and Security (WPS) formed 20 years ago to tackle the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to promote the positive role women play in building peace and stability. On 25 April 2019, it was announced that the Countess, along with her husband and her brother-in-law, the
Duke of York, had each been appointed vice president of the annual
Royal Windsor Horse Show. In May 2019, she took over the patronage of the
Chartered Management Institute from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. in
Washington, D.C. In April 2020, the Countess helped Rhubarb, a catering company, in preparing and delivering food to NHS staff amidst the
coronavirus pandemic, an initiative organised by
Ian Wace. Sophie has also volunteered at local food banks, including the Hope Hub and the Lighthouse, in Surrey and delivered parcels to the homeless during the pandemic. In September 2020, Sophie, alongside her husband and children, participated in the Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in support of the
Marine Conservation Society. In February 2021, as grand president of St John Ambulance, the Countess started working as a care volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre. In May 2021, Sophie become royal patron of
Wellbeing of Women, a charity focused on all areas of women's reproductive health across a woman's life course, from menstrual health to menopause. A patron of this charity, she later discussed her own struggles with menopause and how it affected her memory. In July 2021,
Princess Alexandra handed over the patronage of
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to Sophie. In December 2022, Sophie was honoured at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, where she received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work concerning sexual violence in war zones. In February 2025, she became patron of the
Mothers' Union, following in the footsteps of
Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II. ==Public image and style==