As Kate Middleton continues to promote her initiatives for better early childhood development, she’s visiting with women who are in very challenging situations as they begin their journeys as moms. On Tuesday, Kate visited the mother and baby unit at a prison outside London – one that an organization she supports as the Princess of Wales has made possible.
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As People reported, Kate visited with inmates at HMP Styal in Wilmslow, Cheshire, where she took in the mother and baby unit run by Action for Children, which Kate is a patron of. In the unit, expectant mothers and mothers of babies and young children who are serving time are able to care for their kids and are supported by trained staff.
Not only did Kate meet with the prison staff during her visit, but she also met three babies living in the unit, along with two mothers and their newborn babies.
Amanda Taylor, the organization’s Operational Director of Children’s Services, told People that Kate helped the inmates she met with feel “incredibly comfortable.”
“She just naturally helped the women to feel relaxed,” she told the magazine. “One of the women found it hard to talk and she spent some time with her at the end, talking to her one to one. She is very skilled at making people feel comfortable. These are very vulnerable women in a difficult situation.”
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According to The Independent, Kate seemed pleased with the work that’s being done in the mother and baby unit at HMP Styal.
“It is great that you are looking at the mother’s wellbeing as well,” she told a member of the staff. The best thing for baby is to have a mother whose emotional needs and wellbeing is met as well.”
Kate also met with former inmates who talked about how having access to services like the ones provided on the unit have helped them since leaving prison.
“I only left six weeks ago and I am just getting rolling with everything again,” the former prisoner said. “Thinking about work, nurseries. I have said so many times that I just wish I could take this nursery and put it in my home town.”
After hearing that the mother was only able to receive “so much” help that she needed by being sent to prison, Kate replied, “It shouldn’t have to take something like this to get access to something like this.”
So far, Action for Children has opened three mother and baby units, and a fourth is on the way.
