The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has been championing early childhood development, and on Tuesday, the 43 year old Royal visited HMP Styal in Cheshire to meet with female inmates benefiting from the services offered by the Mother and Baby Unit. It is an initiative run by Action for Children.
Kate’s visit aimed to underscore the significance of nurturing, consistent mother-baby relationships for a child’s growth, even in the most difficult circumstances. The unit’s goal is to foster a strong bond between mother and child, aligning with research that indicates crucial psychological attachment processes occur between infants and their primary caregivers during the first few months of life, which impacts later development.
Donning a full-length brown checkered coat over a knitted brown skirt, turtle neck, and suede boots, Kate was guided through the main gate by prison governor Nicky Hargreaves. Carrying an umbrella, Kate chuckled as she had to duck and navigate her umbrella while both women tried to pass through the gate simultaneously.
As she strolled through the prison grounds, numerous female inmates peered out from their accommodation blocks to sneak a peek at the Royal guest. There were loud wolf-whistles and cat-calls, but also shouts of: “We need more funding. Tell them the truth!”.
Kate was seen smiling and waving to other inmates from a portacabin window during her visit. The prison has a separate area for pregnant women and mothers, where they are supported by trained staff and early years experts, reports the Mirror. These professionals ensure that the babies have regular experiences like going for walks, shopping, and bus rides. They also organise overnight stays with other family members to help establish a strong bond within a wider network.
The Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) aim to foster a strong bond between mother and child, especially in the crucial first few months. The hope is that these units will help break the cycle of re-offending, which currently stands at 22.3 per cent for female offenders in England and Wales.
During her visit, the princess met with staff and former residents to learn about the high-quality nursery provision, targeted intervention, and parenting support provided. She also visited the on-site nursery and chatted with current inmates on the MBU about how Action for Children has been supporting them.
Kate has made the promotion of the early years development of children one of the key elements of her public work. Today’s visit was Kate’s fifth public engagement in just over two weeks as she continues her gradual return to official duties since completing her cancer treatment.
