Duchess of Cambridge launches new helpline for families in need

The Duchess of Cambridge visited Family Action’s South London base to launch a new national support line for families in need on Tuesday morning.

The charity, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019, works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today through their helpline service ‘FamilyLine’.

Kate, wearing a green Beulah London dress, met with some of the staff and volunteers, as well as families and a group of young carers, who are supported by the charity.

The Duchess joined in with a training session about maternal mental health and perinatal support services – an area which links to her work and research about early years intervention.

Kate is working with a steering group of leading practitioners and academics from a range of disciplines, in order to drive forward a project to establish what more can be done in Britain to make a positive difference to the lives of children by focusing on their earliest moments in life, from pre-birth to infancy.

The Duchess also viewed the Family Monsters Project’s emotional short film, which aims to encourage families to talk about their everyday pressures, such as debt, addiction, lack of time together, relationship issues and mental health issues.

Kate watched the short film with Deidre Greenaway, 30, and her aunt Dawn Daley, 46, who have been supported by Family Action.

Deidre’s children, who are seven and nine, have Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which is a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along your nerves. She explained the charity have assisted her with helping the children at school and at appointments.

Dawn added the Duchess “felt like she was just another friend, she was easy to talk to.

“When we got emotional, she said were brave to share our stories. She was very compassionate.

“It’s good someone like Kate is there to let other people know that we all have our struggles.”

FamilyLine is open Monday to Friday 6pm – 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 1pm and can be reached by Freephone: 08008 802 6666, text message: 07537 404 282, email: familyline@family-action.org.uk.

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