Prince William and Kate Middleton are paying a surprise visit to Northern Ireland.
The 40-year-old new Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in the country on Thursday for a one-day visit, their first since Queen Elizabeth passed away.
The couple was there to check out intercommunity groups that assist people of different backgrounds. They started out by going to PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland (PIPS Charity), which offers crisis care to people who are in danger of suicide and self-harm, in Belfast.
PIPS has noticed a significant increase in people seeking assistance since the coronavirus epidemic began, with a spike of more than 500% among young people. The charity’s “Little Boxes of Hope” care packages, which are given to children after their time with the charity to aid in their recovery and make sure that their parents and guardians feel better equipped to cope, were packed by William and Kate along with volunteer counselors. Children are helped through art therapy.
The couple discussed the life-saving efforts with the charity’s employees and counselors, including how it has worked to break down barriers to help those who are contemplating suicide.
Its “no appointment needed” service is one of its objectives, and it also trains the reception personnel to assist customers who are in need. A client of the organization whom Prince William and Kate also spoke with will discuss their individual struggles and how PIPS is assisting them in overcoming them.
