Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visited Action for Children projects in Wales yesterday, her first as patron of the charity since she took over a number of organisations from The Queen in December.
Kate first travelled to Torfaen near Newport, South Wales, where she spent time at MIST (Multidiscipline Intervention Service Torfaen), the only service of its kind in the British principality. They seek to address complex mental health needs, including those who are in the care system, children in need of speech therapy, or those who are at risk or have a history of self-harm.
Here, the Duchess had a go at pool with some of the children who use the charity, but admitted she wasn’t very good at the sport, and failed to pot any balls – her 15-year-old opponent, however, did!
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, plays pool on a visit to Wales in her role as patron of Action for Children (Kensington Palace)
A statement from Kensington Palace said the Duchess was ‘proud’ to succeed Her Majesty in supporting the charity and that she ‘firmly believes that every child who needs it should be given the best support at the earliest opportunity’.
Action For Children cares for disadvantaged children from across the UK, from before they are born until they are into their twenties. The organisation helps all types of families, supporting children and carers through fostering or adoption, and intervening early to stop neglect and abuse.
As Kate left the centre, she was presented with flowers by two local girls who asked the VIP guest about Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Duchess of Cambridge told them how old her children were and that they ‘would have loved to have met you’, before they hugged her in goodbye.
It was then to the Caerphilly Family Intervention Team, where Catherine learnt about their work with children with emotional issues. Mostly the children who are assisted by the organisation have poor family relationships or those
who have or who are likely to self-harm.
Here, the Duchess sat in on a family therapy session which helps families understand certain behaviours.
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Today’s Royal Families have an even more important path than those before them – we live in a different world -people are turning into animals, so many have lost their faith and in need of hope and role models. Thank You for being a Path2
Change!