The poor weather failed to dampen spirits yesterday as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge visited Caerphilly.
The Duchess met young people and families at Action for Children’s Family Intervention Team at its centre in Caerphilly town. She also visited the charity’s Torfaen centre.
The visits were the first official engagements for The Duchess with the charity since taking over the role of Royal Patron in December from Her Majesty The Queen.
Caerphilly’s Family Intervention Team is run by Action for Children with funding from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and works with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, problems with family relationships and those who have or are likely to self-harm.
Her Royal Highness met young people and families at both services who have been helped by the charity. She also sat in on a private family therapy session in Caerphilly.
Escorting The Duchess on the visits was the chief executive of Action for Children, Sir Tony Hawkhead.
He said: “We were so thrilled to welcome Her Royal Highness back to Action for Children, now as our new Royal Patron, and introduce The Duchess to the specialised work we do with families in Torfaen and Caerphilly. The Duchess shares our passion for intervening early to help children, young people and their families who need it most in our communities and they were delighted to meet Her Royal Highness.
“The visit has created tremendous excitement and we are very grateful to Her Royal Highness for her continued interest in the vital work we do, not just in Wales, but at our 600 services across the UK. It is challenging work but our passionate and dedicated teams make a profound difference to people every single day and for The Duchess of Cambridge to see our teams in action was very special indeed.”
Brigitte Gater, director of children’s services in Wales, added: “These services do vital life changing work in the communities they serve and to have that work recognised by our new patron, The Duchess of Cambridge has been wonderful for all our staff, young and people and their families.
“Such recognition shines the brightest of lights on the issues young people and families face on a daily basis and it really matters that people are taking notice and that they are supported. We’ve had a fabulous day with our new Royal Patron and look forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness back to Wales soon.”
