Prince William and Kate Middleton Launch a £1.8 Million Fund to Support Frontline Workers
Mental health has long been a focus of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and this week, through their Royal Foundation, the Cambridges announced a new £1.8 million (roughly $2.3 million) fund to support the needs frontline workers, both now and in the future.
Per a press release from Kensington Palace, this money has been distributed through grants to "ten leading charities at the heart of mental health and frontline support" in the UK to increase their services as demand rises.
"As a result of The Royal Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, and in partnership with NHS England, individual grief trauma counselling from Hospice UK will be available for all frontline workers," reads the statement.
"In addition, over 250,000 emergency responders will have access to peer-to-peer support, training and mental health resources from Mind’s Blue Light mental health support programme, building on the support that is already available from other sources, including employers and OurFrontline."
Other initiatives to receive funding include the crisis text line Shout 85258 and the chat program offered by The Mix; Best Beginnings, a program which supports pregnant women and new parents; and Place2Be and the Anna Freud Centre, which offer resources for teachers, children, and parents.
Earlier this week on the Sandringham Estate, the Duke and Duchess met with four representatives from groups which will benefit from the fund ahead of the announcement.
“Over recent months we have all been in awe of the incredible work that frontline staff and emergency responders have been doing in response to COVID-19, but we know that for many of them, their families, and for thousands of others across the UK, the pandemic will have a lasting impact on their mental health,” the Duchess of Cambridge said to the group, which included two emergency responders and two mental health counselors.
Prince William added: “It’s great to hear how The Royal Foundation is supporting you and many others to build resilience and give you the networks you need through its COVID-19 Response Fund, which will help ten leading charities continue their crucial work.”
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