The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit South Wales

 

First stop was the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Mumbles Lifeboat station - one of Wales’ busiest RNLI lifeboat stations. Their Royal Highnesses spoke to crew members about day-to-day life as part of a team which provides 24-hour rescue services to those facing difficulties at sea. Lifeboat operations in The Mumbles have been looked after by the RNLI since 1863 and the service frequently helps the greatest number of people for a single station in Wales.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by crowds on The Mumbles seafront before enjoying a local treat - a trip to Joe’s Ice Cream Parlour, where the gelato is freshly churned each day.

Whilst sampling the ice cream, they they chatted to local parents and carers about The Duchess’s landmark survey on the early years ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’. The survey was launched on the 21st January and aims to spark a UK-wide conversation on raising the next generation.

The Duke and Duchess visited Tata Steel in Port Talbot to meet employees and their families at the UK’s largest steel plant, which has been operating on the site for over one hundred years. The plant is a vital employer in the area, providing over 4,000 jobs to members of the local community. Their Royal Highnesses joined a discussion with company directors and trade unions before spending time with workers in the plant’s Hot Strip Mill, and in its Training Academy.

The final engagement of the day was at the Bulldogs Development Centre - a partnership between Bulldogs Boxing & Community Activities and Port Talbot Amateur Boxing, which helps to support young people in the community who may have been affected by adverse childhood experiences and mental health issues, and gives them a sense of belonging through fitness and boxing. Their Royal Highnesses’ visit to The Bulldogs coincides with Children’s Mental Health Week which takes place between 3-9 February 2020. Set up by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, of which The Duchess of Cambridge is Patron, the week shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

The Bulldogs’ work is focused around a programme which it uses to help young people achieve their goals and improve both their physical and mental health through five pillars: personal development; open access; education, employment and training; fitness and boxing; and support services. Bulldogs Boxing has so far helped support over 1,500 young people. The Duke and Duchess joined children and young people participating in different fitness and teamwork activities, before meeting a group of volunteers who help deliver the programmes.