Anything Kate can do... Pippa Middleton shows off her charitable side at a centre for deaf children (but she might need tips from her sister on posing for the cameras)

While big sister Kate was speaking out about addiction on the Wythenshawe housing estate Pippa Middleton was doing her own bit for charity, albeit a little closer to home.
The 29-year-old recently became an ambassador to the Mary Hare School for deaf children in Berkshire and today she was on hand to open the centre's new £2million boarding house facilities.
Wearing a smart two-piece boucle suit the duchess's sister posed playfully for the cameras alongside the school's new mascot, a large wicker hare created especially for today's ceremony.

Pippa Middleton opened new boarding house facilities at the Mary Hare School for deaf children today

Pippa wanted to work with the charity after being introduced to their work through a family friend and guests at the event included the supporters who have helped the school to raise the funds required for the £2 million project. 
The willow sculpture of a giant hare was made especially for the opening by artist Tom Hare and funded by the Worshipful Company of Basket Weavers.
The Mary Hare School is a charity for profoundly and severely deaf children and young people from all over the country.

Pippa said: 'It gives me great pleasure to be a supporter of Mary Hare and make a difference to the lives of deaf children. I wanted to help out, because this is a local charity close to my family's home and I have been charmed by the inspiring children that attend, not least for their charismatic and heart-warming attitude to life.'

Pippa posed in the sunshine with a willow hare sculpture made to mark the opening

Kate's little sister wore a smart boucle skirt suit for the charity event at the school in Berkshire

Like so many charities, Mary Hare depends on fundraising to provide its services to deaf children and their families.
They hope Pippa's support will benefit the organisation in many ways – not only with fundraising but also to help promote the School to more families of deaf children in the UK.
Mary Hare Principal Tony Shaw said: 'Mary Hare spends a lot of time and energy  finding new ways of telling families of deaf children about its work.  We really value Pippa’s support which will undoubtedly bring the School to the attention of a much wider audience.
'I want every family of a deaf child in the UK to know about all the options for their child’s education, and that includes Mary Hare School.'

The Mary Hare school depends on fundraising to provide its services to deaf children and their families and hopes that Pippa's support will increase awareness of their efforts

Pippa became an ambassador for the school recently after being introduced to their work by a friend

Kate visited the Wythenshawe housing estate in Manchester today to launch a new school counselling service