The Princess of Wales has visited a Surrey prison to learn how inmates are being supported by a charity to recover from their addictions.
Kate toured HMP High Down in Surrey ahead of Addiction Awareness Week to hear about the efforts of The Forward Trust she supports as patron.
The theme of this year’s Addiction Awareness Week is “Everybody Knows Somebody”, which aims to highlight the vast array of people across society who are affected by addiction.
The princess was given no special treatment, having to go through the security procedures that must be followed before visitors are allowed to enter the institution - a Category C men’s prison and young offender institution housing around 1,100 prisoners.
She revealed during the tour that she had suffered the hand injury during a trampolining session at her home in Windsor. A Kensington Palace spokesman said it was “a small injury, nothing serious”.
Serving prisoners working with The Forward Trust discussed with Kate their experiences and the support they are receiving from the charity and prison.
The Forward Trust delivers a range of services at HMP High Down, tailored to meet the needs of the men who reside there.
They include The Bridge, an intensive abstinence-based programme, Stepping Stones, a low to medium intensity intervention for those whose alcohol or drug consumption is at harmful or dependent levels, and Family Ties, a course of workshops focused on restoring healthy communication and trust between loved ones.
Before leaving Kate visited The Clink, an on-site restaurant which trains prisoners in hospitality, where she met with former prisoners and Forward Trust alumni.
