The Duchess of Cambridge today visited the Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies, continuing her work with addiction and mental health causes.
Catherine’s visit comes a day after she attended the ICAP Charity day with her husband, closing deals on the phone to raise funds for some of their charities.
The Duchess met with staff and students helping to raise the standard of counselling. I-images.
Wearing a teal dress by designer Emilia Wickstead and a coat by high street store Reiss, the mother-of-two was there to see the centre’s work, and what it provides in relation to education and professional development for addiction counsellors.
The Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies, together with the University of Bath, is helping to raise the standards in the field of addiction treatment by training counsellors to a higher level. It is the only charity-owned and operated centre of its kind in the UK.
The Duchess, patron of the charity Action on Addiction, met the course tutors and examiners, before participated in a tutorial group discussing their training.
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One moving story came from Anna Elston, who was an alcoholic. Her three children were put into foster care, before she turned her life around, completing a universtity degree in addiction counselling.
Kate, 33, also observed a graduation-style ceremony to celebrate the completion of the course for some students. So far 200 people have graduated from the centre.
Nick Barton, chief executive of the charity, said the Royal was ‘very keen to learn’.
Catherine is continuing her work with mental health causes at the Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies. I-images
“You can tell from the quality of her questions,” he continued. “She’s hearing from students for a session to hear about why she chose this course and what good it’s been for them and what it’s going to do for them. She’s genuinely interested which is great.”
Kate praised the students who graduated from their university course in and posed for photos: “Let’s do one with your hats,” she suggested, referring to the mortar board graduation caps.
The Duchess congratulates Anna Elston and other graduates on completing the addiction counselling degrees pic.twitter.com/BbL0uh6S2G
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 10, 2015
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The Duchess’ last engagement with Action on Addiction was in September, visiting a women’s prison in Surrey.
Meanwhile, Catherine’s husband, Prince William was at Keogh Barracks in Aldershot to present medals to military medics.
The Duke of Cambridge helped recognise the work of medics fighting the Ebola outbreak in west Africa. I-images
These personnel helped in Sierra Leone, fighting the Ebola epidemic.
The Ebola outbreak was one of the worst episodes in history: 11,312 of the 28,457 people infected since December 2013 died. It is only recently that the status of the problem has been lowered, as the virus has been contained.
Army medical staff from the UK and overseas, along with RAF and Royal Navy personnel, received their medals from The Duke of Cambridge, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards. It marks their contribution to the campaign, as well as their service abroad.
After the parade, the Duke had tea with some of the medics, nurses and personnel, and their families. Later on, William viewed a display of the protective clothing and equipment which the medics used during their time abroad.
