The Willows Primary School

Kate Middleton calls addiction a hugely complex and destructive disease in speech 

on Wythenshawe estate visit 

 

On April 23, 2013, the Duchess of Cambridge visited The Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester to launch a new school counseling program that is a partnership between The Royal Foundation, Comic Relief, Place2Be and Action on Addiction to reduce the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on children and their families. 

The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge kicked off a busy working week today launching a counselling programme in an inspirational sink-estate school in Manchester. Kate, 31,  showed her 28-week baby bump in a floral Erdem dress and blue suede heels as she met staff and pupils at The Willows Primary School on the deprived Wythenshawe estate.

The school is used as a backdrop for Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless and suffered devastation shortly after Kate’s visit as announced when its new £40,000 playground was torched by vandals. But the community rallied round to clear up the playground and head teacher Ann Whitehead said they were “not going to let them beat us”. She added: “The response has been so overwhelming and restored my faith. “People just turned up out of nowhere to help clear the place up.” 

Kate’s visit today was to highlight a new school counselling programme called M-PACT, which supports children whose parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol. The programme is a partnership between the Royal Foundation, Comic Relief and Kate’s charities Place2Be and Action on Addiction.

She was accompanied by comedian John Bishop, a Comic Relief ambassador, and was greeted by hundreds of excited children cheering and waving the national flag of England in honour of St George’s Day. At the entrance she was met by Chloe Pomfret, 10, who presented a posy of roses, and school ‘executive dog’ King Charles Cavalier Henry who was wearing a glittering union flag bow. 

Kate looked delighted when she was given a gorgeous gift hamper for her dog, Lupo. She asked what was in it and laughed: “Henry , you have gone to so much trouble.” During her visit Kate gave a rare speech and described the issue of addiction as a “hugely complex and destructive disease.”

She continued: “All too often, lives and families can be shattered by it. “Through my Patronage of Action on Addiction, I feel fortunate to have met a wide range of inspirational people who have overcome addiction. “But those who are addicted are not the only victims.  

“I have been struck by the profound and deeply damaging impact it has on the children of affected parents. “Research has shown that children of those who are addicted are seven times more likely to have addiction problems themselves. “They are also brought up surrounded by fear, instability and chaos.”

Launching the new counselling programme, she added: “My hope is that through this specialist and targeted delivery of care, these children will have the best possible start in life – the one that they deserve.”

Afterwards comedian and Comic Relief ambassador John Bishop gave a moving speech about the affect of addiction on young children but couldn’t resist opening with a wise crack about being a Liverpudlian in Manchester after their home team had won the Premier League for the 20h time.

The notorious Wythenshawe estate, home to almost 70,000 people, is the second biggest of its kind in Europe and has been plagued by unemployment, crime and social disorder. When David Cameron visited in 2007 as part of his ‘hug a hoodie’ campaign, a youth was pictured behind him pretending to cock a gun against his head.

Recently, however, new funds have been ploughed into Wythenshawe as part of a major programme of re-development and the area’s schools, particularly its primary schools, are a particular success story.

Kate, who is due to give birth in mid-July, plans to continue royal duties throughout her pregnancy until mid-June, and her schedule has been organised so she has several public engagements in a row then the chance to rest behind the scenes.

Kate met staff members and volunteers from Place2Be; teachers and parents from The Willows Primary School; and privately she met with with children who have used the services of the program. Kate was accompanied on her visit by British comedian John Bishop, a Comic Relief ambassador.