Wednesday 22 January 2020

Kate Launches Landmark Survey: "My Ambition Is To Provide Lasting Change For Generations To Come"

The Duchess of Cambridge is launching her biggest project to date with a landmark UK-wide survey on early childhood. In 2018, Kate convened a steering group filled with experts across several fields including education, mental health and academia to focus on how to help families support children in their earliest years. Since then, we've seen Kate's public work largely focus on the area in addition to behind-the-scenes meetings and receptions. The fruits of the effort were revealed tonight with the survey which "aims to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come." It's being conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Royal Foundation and will last for a month.


The Duchess is marking the exciting news with a 24 hour tour visiting London, Cardiff and Surrey. It began earlier today with a visit to MiniBrum at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum.


Speaking about 5 Big Questions, the Duchess said: "Parents, carers and families are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I want to listen to them. As a parent I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children. The Early Years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime. I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most."


Kensington Palace said: "The launch of the survey follows eight years of work by the Duchess of Cambridge in which she has explored how experiences in early childhood often lie at the root of the hardest social challenges the country faces today. What we experience in the earliest years – from in the womb to the age of five – is instrumental in shaping our future lives."


The Palace added: "The survey contains five short questions and aims to spark a national conversation on the early years that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come. It is designed to bring together the thoughts of as many people as possible – recognising that everyone has a role in ensuring strong, healthy foundations for the youngest in our society that will positively affect their lifelong outcomes. The findings should provide a vital source of information for the early years sector, helping it to better understand public perceptions of the importance of the early years, and the first-hand experiences of parents, families and carers. This public feedback will also help to focus Her Royal Highness’ work through the Royal Foundation as she endeavours to provide children across the UK with the best foundations to lead healthy and fulfilling lives."


The five questions in the survey:

Question 1:
What do you believe is most important for children growing up in the UK today to live a happy adult life. Rank from most important to least important.

• Good physical and mental health
• Good friendships and relationships
• Access to opportunities
• Access to a good education

Question 2:
Which of these statements is closest to your opinion?

• It is primarily the responsibility of parents to give children aged 0-5 the best chance of health and happiness
• It is primarily the responsibility of others in society to give children aged 0-5 the best chance of health and happiness
• It is the shared responsibility of parents and others in society to give children aged 0-5 the best chance of health and happiness
• Don’t know

Question 3:
How much do you agree or disagree with this statement: The mental health and wellbeing of parents and carers has a great impact on the development of their child(ren)?

• Strongly agree
• Tend to agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Tend to disagree
• Strongly disagree

Question 4:
Which of the following is closest to your opinion of what influences how children develop from the start of pregnancy to age 5?

• Mostly the traits a child is born with (i.e. nature)
• Mostly the experiences of a child in the early years (i.e. nurture)
• Both nature and nurture equally
• Don’t know

Question 5:
Which period of a child and young person’s life do you think is the most important for health and happiness in adulthood?

• Start of pregnancy to 5 years
• 5-11 years (primary school)
• 11-16 years (secondary school)
• 16-18 years (further education)
• 18-24 years (young adulthood)
• Don’t know
• All equally important

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your views on the early years of childhood?

The results of the survey will be made available in March and will determine the next step in Kate's early years work. 


During today's engagement, Kate spent time with a group of children from Henley Montessori School and St Paul’s Nursery in Balsall Heath.


The little ones were thrilled to show Kate around their 'launderette' and 'mini-museum'.


Kate visiting the 'shop'.


More from Hello Magazine:

'There was a hilarious moment in the cafe when the door of a cupboard underneath a sink came off its hinges, prompting laughter. "I think we've broken the cafe," the Duchess laughed. She also spoke to parents and carers about the survey, including Giovanna Fletcher, whose podcast "Happy Mum, Happy Baby" is aimed at ensuring that new mothers do not feel alone.'

A video from the visit.


Click here to visit the 5 Big Questions website and participate in the survey.


Kate chose a sophisticated look with a mix of new pieces and repeats.


Kate wore Tabitha Webb's Pansy Pussybow blouse in green chevron. Made in the UK, the silk piece is now available for pre-order for £295 (with thanks to What Kate Wore for the swift ID).


The Duchess teamed the blouse with her navy £130 High Waisted Sport Luxe Trousers by Jaeger.


Kate wore her navy suede Emmy London Josie pumps.


Kate accessorised with her Monica Vinader Siren Wire earrings.


And the UFO No More team identified Kate's new bracelet as the £110 Maya Torque Aquamarine and Godl Bangle.

Tomorrow morning, the Duchess will join parents at LEYF Nursery in Southwark for the nursery drop off, before helping nursery workers serve breakfast to the children. She will then travel to Cardiff to attend a baby sensory class at Ely and Careau Children’s Centre where she will hear about the support that parents receive.


It promises to be a packed day, I'll see you all then!

56 comments:

  1. Go Kate go!!! You are doing such incredible work, focusing on this very vulnerable and crucial time in children's lives. The impact could be profound, long standing and life changing. Bravo Kate!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow what a nice surprise to see this unfolding!!! Thank you Charlotte for posting this. I saw it on DailyMail, but was waiting to see it more from you πŸ₯°. I cannot wait to see how this project unfolds! I bet the Duchess Is extremely excited and motivated of what this could do for children and parents alike. She looked beautiful for the occasion! ❣️

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kudos to Kate. She does ‘royal’ very well! Poised, polished, professional.
    Jane in TX

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful work! Bravo Kate.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Duchess looks wonderful! And shows no sign of stress over recent events; I imagine her schedule will be impacted to some degree, to say nothing of the personal emotions she and Prince William may feel, but she seems energized by the presence of young children and this is an interesting next step in her work. It is good to have her listening to parents, families, etc., who so often may feel "talked TO" rather than "talked WITH."

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the fact that her mission is to ask everyone what she should focus her work on and then she can go about making it happen! . Speaks to gaining support and buy in from everyone. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kate looks fantastic! The color of her blouse is perfect for her, and thr pants are perfect for her visits!
    Wonderful to see her project(s) take fruition, over the years, to this point, where she can collect data & evaluate its' progress - major undertaking & effort I wish her much success! I hope she get plenty of solid input!
    Wishing Kate & her teams the very best! Such important work and you can see how sincere she is about the children and carers. Thank you, Charlotte! Love that you published the survey, details, and so many photos of the students and babies! So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gosh I love Kate's beautiful smile and to see her interacting with children. She is so good with kids.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my so great! Love her outfit and love the work. She looks great and what a wonderful way to work through what needs to be addressed. An attempt at real solutions. I am impressed.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good job Kate!

    ReplyDelete
  11. As a preschool teacher in the US I can say those questions are extremely well worded and thought out. You can't just glibly answer. They make you think. I can't wait to see the results! I liked Kate's outfit. It was colorful and elegant, but still made her accessible to playing with children!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This may sound negative, and I dont know how to ask it without sounding critical. So I will preface it by explaining my personal background a bit.
    I have three college degrees, one of which is an Advanced Profressional Degree. I was well on my way to a Doctorate, but opted for a Masters. My coursework was theory and statistical in nature. So polls and survey questions are not unknown to me. What I want to know is what is the point of this? Who is collecting the data and how is it being analyzed and dissiminated? What are the larger implications the data will be used for? I had a college professor that once said surveys and polls are dangerous because they can lead generalizations which in turn overlooks the deeper issues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a fellow commenter involved in statistics (psychology research), I understand your questions.
      The survey's website has a privacy section: https://5bigquestions.org.uk/privacy-policy/, detailing data storing/sharing practices.
      The Foundation contracted with Ipsos MORI, a well-known market research company in the UK to conduct the survey. As Ipsos MORI is a member of the Market Research Society, I presume the administration of the entire research project and their code of conduct are bound to be in line with the MRS' professional guidelines. On the Ipsos MORI website they reference the conduction of quantitative and qualitative pilot studies to determine the 5 questions.
      Whilst taking survey results at face value (especially if those with poor generalisability etc.) without accompanying data from other sources could be disadvantageous, these data are imperative for triangulation, which ultimately ensures comprehensive understanding of an issue. Also, my understanding is that the data is not collected for scientific research purposes, rather looking at caregivers' attitudes towards children's needs during the early years.

      Delete
    2. Thank you Anon 13:16 for such a thoughtful, well explained response. The survey does indeed seem to be focused on caregivers' attitudes, which is a step forward in understanding the problems. cc

      Delete
  13. I was looking at the four items for question 1 and was really having a hard time picking the most important one! I guess the answer will give a clue as to what people are thinking and help to guide education. I hope this ends up providing some needed services, especially in what may be unsettled financial times. Like in the US, I'm sure there are many, many who are food insecure, who need daycare and job training, and need housing, and then they can have a base on which to provide their children with what they need to have happy and mentally healthy lives.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I honestly don’t really get this. It is a 5 question survey- if that is her biggest project to date I think we need to ask some hard questions. It’s a survey were in at least two cases the “right” answer is already obvious if you read the options/if you know the intentions of Kate’s work. I do not get what they think will come of this. Her dedication to the early years is known. What is coming from it if the survey confirms her point of view? What if it doesn’t ( Question 5)? Will she change her direction? What happens if the participation is extremely low?
    This feels like a major step back in terms of her carved out role. Maybe if it wasn’t praised as her “biggest” project but just as one of many?
    While I agree that early years are often overlooked the way she goes about it is pretty fluffy sometimes. I miss the recognition of the real struggles and hurdles that normal people face. And I don’t talk people with problems here but just ordinary life. She seems to have a clear idea about mental health/addiction/criminal struggles but has no idea what the living/financial/work-life Reality of the ordinary majority is. It’s sad because I think her focus is great and needed.
    I will hold my breath now and see what is happening in March and what the next steps are going to be- because right now I am not impressed.
    C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C., you raise valid points, but I think the questionnaire is just laid out carefully so that even "average joes" can participate. I include myself as an average joe because I thought the questionnaire was good, not too difficult, but I could still decide about my opinion. I dare to say this here is most definitely not everything Kate has done or found out yet. It is just getting people to paticipate by asking simple, but possibly divisive questions. I hope the EY initiative has some strategies ready and maybe after seeing results they can either adopt the strategy or make some changes before properly launching it.
      To what happens if the participation is low...my best guess is, if that is the case, we'd never know (lol), and we'll only know numbers if the participation is higg/satisfactory.
      Ella

      Delete
    2. C. What a harsh and negative comment! It seems that you do not have an understanding about how long range child development projects run, perhaps it might to do well to try to educate yourself a bit before making such uninformed critical judgements. You might want to google the long range child development survey conducted by top doctors at Sinai in NYC who are doing 25 year case study of children from womb to their twenties. Also, long range child development surveys have led to environmental impact studies on child development. What HRH is embarking on is life changing work, and it might do you well to understand it rather than openly attack it.

      Delete
    3. @Anonymous 11:26: I dare say I do have quite an all right knowledge about long range studies and statistics. Especially regarding the education sector which sometimes includes even the early years.
      Are you seriously comparing this 5 Question survey to a 25 year study? Because you will find yourself dissapointed.
      And I don't think voicing concern, critic or dissapointment is "attacking". If so, you should ask yourself why you think is ok to attack me. (Which I don't think you did by the way.)
      I am a huge supporter of the DoC, but I certainly have no problem to voice praise or criticism. But I am getting really really annoyed that people try to shut down criticism on this blog. If only praise is welcome this community will loose its balanced atmosphere and become a simple fanfic-yes mam place.
      C.

      Delete
    4. There is a nice article on BBC regarding the launch of this initiative. One of the quoted areas from the article indicate the following which may provide somewhat of an answer to your question:

      "Royal engagements can cover a vast number of areas but for the duchess an increasing amount of her work is targeted at early years.

      This new survey will ultimately help provide important data for all those working in the area of early years, and will also inform the kind of work the Duchess of Cambridge gets involved with in the future.

      Those who have worked with her in this area say she is totally committed and isn't just a figurehead.

      She has built up an expertise and wants to prevent the same problems affecting the same families generation after generation."

      Link to the article: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51192909

      Regarding Catherine's outfit for this event, I like the blouse with the fun and colorful pattern and am happy to see her wearing trousers … I just think they are a bit long but maybe that's just me thinking about how the hem will get scuffed from touching the ground.

      Border Terrier lover :-)

      Delete
    5. I think the survey is brilliant because it gets the public involved. It's not just Kate doing her initiative and making a speech about what issues she feels needs to be tackled and then implementing a plan. Families can have input into what they feel needs to be addressed. It's like a group national effort with information being collected at the ground level, so its more of an active rather than passive program in respect to the people who will be helped. Instead of strictly being Kate's project, it becomes "our" project by engaging the public in desigining its format. I think it's a great idea.

      Delete
    6. Well, I don't think we should look at this project through the lens of scientific research. Longitudinal studies like that conducted by Sinai aim to contribute to the scientific consensus on the issue. By all means (first and foremost they contracted a market research company), this is somewhat of an attitude survey, aimed at gauging contemporary families' views on children's needs during their earlier years, a layperson consensus if you like.
      With regards low participation rates, the interpretation of the results would be influenced as there is no assurance that the final sample of participants were representative of the general population.
      Again, I believe we shouldn't apply stringent empirical criteria on Catherine's project as it is ultimately an interesting, non-scientific project that provides a glimpse of what parents believe the most important for their children during these formative years.

      Delete
    7. Just to add my two cents. I don’t read it as this questionnaire is her biggest project yet, but that it is part of her biggest project yet, Early Years. Which will consists of lots of events, projects and initiatives over the coming years. This questionnaire is merely part of it.
      As to the scientific value of the questionnaire, I think the value of the survey is not really in the results. It is more about making people think about priorities as they complete it. And also to make people on the grassroots feel involved in her project. She has spent a lot of time “listening” to the experts, hearing from the man on the street seems apt. I do wonder though how they are going to market it outside the Cambridge fandom. With Heads-together they had the sport angle to reach a wider audience.

      Delete
    8. I also work with research-based articles and you absolutely HAVE to know your sample audience. However, if she receives 1 million responses from an unknown sample, it should still serve her purpose, although I'm not sure what the purpose is. If 75% of people do not chose education as the most important, what does that mean? She can focus on education, which is good, but I cannot decide which of the four responses for Q1 is most important.

      Delete
    9. Becca in Colorado23 January 2020 at 21:20

      C, I agree with you and had the same questions.

      Delete
  15. the duchess is doing a great job she extremely motivdated and passionate on her work as she mother and a wife as for the outfit she for winning

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am wondering if this was the big announcement that was hinted at around Christmas? She is making a huge effort to make her early childhood focus meaningful. Looking forward to seeing how this will unfold and I wish everyone involved all the very best success in this important sector of society.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Judith of Michigan22 January 2020 at 05:41

    I can’t express how excited I am about the Duchess next phase for her Early Years work! My entire professional career focused on maternal/child health and I strongly agree with her assessment that this area is the foundation for a healthy (physically and mentally) future for children. How she approaches her work may seem slower and less exciting in the moment than some here would have preferred but it has the potential for a large and lasting impact! I’ve also wondered if Catherine Quinn was specifically hired to help the Duchess develop the blueprint for her long range plans and work, especially when Ms. Quinn’s background is considered. And if the fact that she is leaving may only to do that her hire had very specific goals and those goals have been met. I’ve always tried to have a perspective in my personal life that the glass is half full, rather than half empty. Which leads me to wonder why others here so often feel things are half empty. After trying to analyze the whys and what’s of all the Royal activities of the past few weeks, my conclusion is why I originally started following Charlotte‘s wonderful blog - to enjoy and learn from the life and stay of such amazing Duchesses (yes both)! The fashion is pure fun to see and the activities as Charlotte shares all the background information educational. So today it’s fun to see Catherine’s very sharp outfit which she look terrific in and fascinating to learn of the introduction of the next phase of her work! May we enjoy more and more wonderful posts from Charlotte on both Duchesses life and style!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said Judith!! cc

      Delete
    2. I like your conclusion, Judith. :)

      Delete
  18. Mary Anne - Sydney22 January 2020 at 06:44

    ‘Show me a child to the age of seven and I will show you the man’ is a comment attributed to st Francis Xavier and adopted by the Jesuits. This is such an important time in a child’s life and such a crucial time in a parent’s journey. It is great to see our littlest ones being given a voice by someone as well- spoken and widely listened to as Catherine.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the initiative of 5 big questions and its launch mini-tour today. In line with Kate's typical way of work, she seems eager to have everything well researched and thought out. The survey seems great to me and I am curious what the results will be.

    As for fashion...this is a miss for me. There has been an abundance of pussy bows lately and I am quite overwhelmed by this trend. The pattern makes the shirt look kind of messy. The pants look too big and too long for Kate, especially combined with the loose/oversized shirt. I guess the outfit is practical, but not even Kate can pull it off. Still I love her hair and makeup today and also I think she chose pretty accessories.
    Ella

    ReplyDelete
  20. Excellent work, this is exciting project and looking forward to following the progress. Nice to see Catherine on a mini tour. Wonderful outfit.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I extremely appreciate that she’s not going for fashionable causes but for things she really cares about. I’ve seen a lot of negative comments dismissing her work because there are no results. We live in a world in which success is only measured by likes and sales. Catherine’s work will be impossible to quantify but if her aim of providing a lifelong change is acquired only for a small percentage of population I would declare this a success.

    Ps I love the fun blouse!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Zora from Prague22 January 2020 at 09:28

    Great news! I'm so glad Kate is doing this and sorry I cannot participate in the survey as it only concerns the UK. I'm sure the survey brings important data and a lot of work can then be focused on this vital stage in kids' lives. As a matter of fact, when one becomes a parent everything is so new and challenging, it is sometimes just about trying to cope. I remember how lost I was the whole first year of my firstborn's life (despite having the support of my husband and both sets of parents). I didn't know any new mums and it felt lonely. It got better after a while but the whole new chapter began only when our son was 4 and his younger brother one and we started to attend a Mother Centre once a week. Being among other mums, talking to them, sharing my anxieties (and joys) with them was crucial for me. I finally gained confidence through that group and I'm sure it was a huge benefit for my mental health and our kids' well-being. With the third son, things were so much easier. I just can't stop thinking about how important the early years are. So I applaud Kate for shedding more light on the fact that children need good foundations from the very beginning and I'll be very interested in the results of the survey, as well as in what the next step in Kate's work will be.
    Looking forward to hearing more about today's engagement! Thank you so much, Charlotte!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zora, I share in your support of Kate's early years initiative. There really can't be enough emphasis on how important it is to provide children with a good foundation, but also ensure that the parents are equipped to help build it. Being a new parent is so daunting and different for everybody and there certainly isn't a manual. Most of the time the focus is on the child's milestones and not necessarily what the parent is going through; you're right about how sometimes its just about coping. So glad that you were able to find a Centre, it helps to just have somebody listen and let you know you aren't alone, and other times its about sharing and learning tools to help you cope. Think that perhaps this is part of Kate's goal to ensure parents have access to that type of support. I am reminded of the Queen's speech about 'baby steps'...this survey seems like a good beginning. cc

      Delete
    2. Zora from Prague23 January 2020 at 20:26

      Thank you, CeCe! I haven't thought about the Queen's speech; I've watched it once again and this is what she said: "...It is often the small steps... that bring about the most lasting change." I think Kate's intention to provide a lasting change for generations to come really echoes HM's words. And I think it's very wise to build on this - getting to know how parents and carers feel about their kids' early years. Last but not least, Kate's vision seems to reach quite far - to the years when she'll be Queen Consort; if she goes forward with her efforts, people will respect her for it, knowing that she has been genuinely interested in their opinions and needs from early on. What better qualification could there be for someone in such a role?

      Delete
    3. Well said Zora! Thank you for providing the actual quote from the Queen's speech, I hadn't paraphrased it right (must have been thinking babies :)), but seeing it now it really is a powerful statement. I think you are right about Kate's intention to provide a lasting change for future generations and that she strives to be the embodiment of what she believes. Every year, at the beginning, I try to write down a mantra to remind myself of throughout the year, think I just found what to put in my journal! cc

      Delete
  23. Love the cause. Love her pants. I wish she would give up the pussy bow. Ages her unnecessarily. She is really hitting her stride. Nice to see

    ReplyDelete
  24. Theresa, from Paris22 January 2020 at 13:17

    Beautiful and inspiring... It is wonderful to see the Duchess so happy and dedicated. I think back to her first steps after her marriage and how we were all rooting for her with you, dear Charlotte. It's great to see she has found her stride. Wishing her all the very best.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kate really is in her element when she is with children. I feel the survey is going to start conversations about early child development, and we will have to see where it takes Kate's initiative over the next year(s). As for the fashion, I am happy to that she is wearing trousers. I love the colors in the blouse and the chevron stripes, but not so sure about the bow. However, it works for this visit, as she is bending down and still covered.

    Hope from USA

    ReplyDelete
  26. To some naysayers:
    If you read the article thoroughly, it states that the survey is intended to spark a national conversation, to bring together the thoughts of as many people as possible, to better understand public perceptions of the importance of the early years and help focus the work of HRH in this area. Let's not make it out to be a strict scientific study!

    I initially did not care for the pussy bow blouses, but they are growing on me, and this one is quite lovely and fun. I don't see them as aging, and they do seem to be in fashion now.

    This is a wonderful cause. In this hectic world, young children are often overlooked and undervalued.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Becca USA here.... I think what's fantastic, is they are taking the temperature of the UK & getting a sense of where people are starting from, with regards to their knowledge of the importance of the 0 - 5yrs having such key importance as a foundation for the future well being of the person for the rest of their lives. I also feel that this information & education campaign can't help but inform & influence the over all conversation about the importance of mental health at all ages & will help all of us! Bravo! :) xx

      Becca USA

      Delete
    2. Caroline in Montana22 January 2020 at 17:29

      Jo, you just said everything I would try to say but way better! agree with all you said:) Thank you!

      Delete
  27. I for one love pussy bows and Kate wears this style quite well. To me the bow takes an outfit from casual to business professional much like a men's tie adds a level of professionalism to a suit. She is simply beautiful! As for the project, Kate has expressed that this will be a life long project for her so the survey is critical to determining the direction the project will take. The development of best practices evolve over time! A wonderful and heartfelt effort!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Sheila. I love the look, not sure I can pull it off, but I will eventually try. I think it's quite flattering & it of course looks fantastic on Kate! :)

      Becca USA

      Delete
    2. I'm with you Sheila, I love this look especially with the trousers, it gives a nice professional silhouette. Kate looks great in them and this print is very fresh and modern. A nice workday look for her new launch! Love your statement "the development of best practices evolve over time!" cc

      Delete
  28. How fantastic! I'm so excited for this launch. I completed the survey and thought it well-designed and thought-provoking. I'm reminded of a quote I love by an American novelist and minister Frederick Buechner: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." When I read about the Duchesses' work, it's evident that she sincerely loves this population of children and their caregivers, and I honestly believe her concentrated energy and efforts will go a long way in bringing the importance of a child's early years to the forefront. I hope our world is better for it!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi, Becca USA here...... This is Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant! Love the light she is bringing to this information about the early years. I would have always thought it was important, but through her work & you Charlotte, educating us about her findings, I have learned so much & am thrilled to be so much more informed about it's importance.... & I'm filled with so much hope for the future of the children of today... who will be the adults of tomorrow! Kate spoke some time ago about wanting to use her lifelong platform for something that she will be able to help with & follow through on over the long haul. This for sure is just such a thing! They do have such a unique platform & role as Royals, as they are in it for life..... as she has said, they can focus on long term issues, projects & processes & help to shine a light on the long game! Absolutely Fantastic! (she looks great too!:) xx

    Becca USA

    ReplyDelete
  30. I understand why some people look askance at surveys because it’s difficult to see what surveys accomplish in terms of “change”—at least at the beginning. I did my uni work in Education and was myself often frustrated by courses where i was required to do surveys because, as some people have mentioned, participation was low or the results didn’t match what “I” wanted. I feel though that Kate has met with many, many experts in the EY field for several months and so the survey is less “her” ideas but the ideas of modern thought on EY. She isn’t presenting herself as a doctoral student but someone who is encouraging EY research to not only move ahead but to be understood by the average Joe. So, yes, I understand the skepticism about how much has been accomplished but I think it’s still evolving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So well said Valerie! :)

      Becca USA

      Delete
  31. How Brilliant! Love that she is working with the young ones and making such a difference in their lives! Well done, Kate!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you Charlotte for a very interesting post. Thought the out of London visits was a good idea. Interesting the different takes on the survey. I have a scientific background and get the comments about the lack of scientic rigor in the survey. However didnt ever think that was the intention and the survey was more like surveys councils do to find out the populations wants and needs. For a comfortably off well educated person it might well be first class schools and for someone in an abusive relationship it would probably be availability of safe alternative aaccommodation To work well endeavors moving forward should be people centric rather than need as perceived from the outside how ever well meaning the intent is. I think the survey will deliver that sort of information.
    Catherine looked lovely today, very elegant, pretty colours and above all appropiate. She certainly has matured into her role.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Very inspiring. The Duchess of Cambridge’s work with children, at an early age, can make a positive difference in areas that need improvements. I applaud πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ these efforts. Thanks, Charlotte.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are most welcome! Constructive discussion is always encouraged but off topic or hateful remarks will not be published.

We ask you use a name when posting (a pseudonym such as the name of a royal you like or anything you wish). If you do not wish to use the sign in options, simply select the "Name/URL" option on the drop down menu and insert your name, and if you wish the country/state you're from. You can leave the URL blank.

If there are a large number of comments, it is necessary to click the 'Load More' button at the end of the comments section to see the latest additions.