The Duchess of Cambridge visited two projects helping children in Gwent yesterday as part of her first trip to see the work they do since becoming patron of a children’s charity.

The duchess attended a special event at MIST (Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen) in Mamhilad, to learn more about the service which provides support for children with a range of mental health difficulties. The duchess spoke to foster carers and staff to learn about the difference it is making in the community, and also to service users.

Fifteen-year-old Craig Davies welcomed her to the centre, which is currently the only one of its kind in Wales.

“Before I met the duchess, I was a bit nervous but it was very good to meet her,” said the Cwmbran teenager.

“With her visiting, we can show her how well the service is doing for children in Torfaen. I do feel very lucky – not many people get this opportunity to meet her,” Craig added.

MIST has been running for 12 years and is supported by Torfaen County Borough Council and the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), as well as the charity Action for Children. The duchess became the charity’s patron in December 2016, replacing the Queen in that role.

As she left, 10-year-old Chloe Bartlett and eight-year-old Ypapanti Galimitakis presented the duchess with bouquets of flowers.

Chloe, of Cwmbran, said: “It was lovely to meet her and it was something that I was wanted to do.

“I said to her that I hoped she would come again and it was nice to talk to her.”

“I had been to London before as I am a big fan of the royal family and now I am more of a fan. It would be great if she could bring her two children as well.”

Ypapanti, of Pontypool, added: “She told me that my dress was very pretty – she liked it.

“It was awesome to have met her. I felt tingling in my bones and I was so excited this morning when I found out.”

Before she left, the duchess said to the pair: “It was a treat to meet you.”

The centre provides support for children and adolescents with complex needs, such as mental health issues and looked after children. MIST also provides support for foster carers, including Sean Wharton, a foster carer from Upper Cwmbran.

“We spoke about what it was like to be a foster carer and I told her about the importance of being there for the children, no matter what, and creating that safety net around them,” said Mr Wharton, 48.

“It was a privilege really to speak to someone who has taken an interest in the care of children. She has taken the time out to come to this organisation who are doing some good work, while recognising foster carers and the role they play.”

“She referred more to adolescents and teenagers and what the situation was in Wales. We discussed that at great depth but she was interested in younger children and the difficulties facing them.

“She is very aware of the troubles in bringing up children as her mother herself, but she got to learn about the difficulties facing foster carers too,” added the foster carer.

Jennie Welham, the children’s service manager, was proud to welcome the duchess to the centre, and added that a similar unit will be introduced in Caerphilly in the future.

“It is a very exciting time for us to have the opportunity to show the duchess the service and the impact it makes in the local area,” said Miss Welham.

“As a patron for Action for Children, she will be aware of the issues facing childhood and adolescent mental health services and she is very interested in the subject of mental health in children.

“The more we can speak out about the issue, the better it will for young people, particularly those in care.

“MIST is the only service of its kind in Wales and it has been running for 12 years, approaching 13. It is part-funded by Torfaen County Borough Council and the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. They’ve shown a real commitment to keep these resources in the current economic climate.

“The fact she has come here to see this innovative and first-of-its-kind service in Wales, it shows how important it is.

“I am most proud of the commitment and passion shown by the team – the foster carers including the specialist and therapeutic carers and the birth families as well as the young children.

“They were able to tell the duchess themselves about the difference MIST has made in their lives,” she said.

The charity’s CEO, Sir Tony Hawkhead, was similarly proud to welcome the duchess to the centre in Torfaen.

“We are absolutely delighted that our new patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, has visited us for the first time in this role and at this project in Torfaen,” he said.

“It is very important as it fits completely with her strong interest in children’s mental health and in taking action early to support children and supporting families.

“We are very proud of it as we know it works and it was great to show her around and to meet the young people and families.

“Her visit signifies how much we believe in this project.

“The good news is that we will be unveiling a new MIST project in another Gwent authority and with the duchess’ visit, we hope that other Welsh authorities will take an interest in it to help children who really need the help. They are children in care, they can be expensive to the local authority in a sense but are hugely in need of support. This project can make a huge difference to their lives,” said Sir Tony.

The duchess then made her way to the Caerphilly Family Intervention Team (FIT) which is also run by Action for Children. The project, which is funded by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, works with children that have emotional and behavioural difficulties, problems with family relationships and those who have or who are likely to self-harm.

Upon arrival the duchess was met by mayor of Caerphilly council Dianne Price and her consort Ernie Price as well as the Assembly Member for Caerphilly Hefin David. She was then shown into the centre where she was briefed by children’s services manager Elaine Simpson who set up the service 12 years ago.

Mrs Simpson said: “The duchess was really interested and really informed. She was asking lots of questions and understood the value of the work that we do. It was a great honour and privilege, she was incredible with the families.”

The duchess then went to meet some of the people who benefit from the work of the FIT team and spoke to people in a closed session about what they had been through.

Christine Jones, of Caerphilly, and her grandchildren nine-year-old Emily Davies and seven-year-old Alfie Thomas who all use the service took part in the session.

Ms Jones said: “It’s been absolutely amazing to see her. I thought she would have been a bit stuck-up, but she wasn’t, she was really down to earth.

“My grandchildren loved it and she spent a few minutes with both of them asking them what they do and what the centre does for them. It was brilliant to be a part of the day.”

The final part of the visit took place in the family therapy room where the staff can watch families interacting to understand the reasons behind certain behaviour. She then met with all the centre’s staff to thank them for the visit and was presented with a posy by seven-year-old Emily and five-year-old Casey Johnson.

As the duchess left the building she was greeted by well-wishers and was given a bouquet by two-year-old Freya Turner and her sister five-year-old Gwen who are both from Ebbw Vale.

Their grandfather Paul Turner said: “It was smashing, for the duchess to come over and speak to the girls. It was well worth coming down to see her.”