The Cambridges Discuss Bereavement Support with Just B

With a return to virtual engagements for the Royal family for the time being, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared their first joint Zoom call of 2021 tonight. The conversation with Just B focused on the mental health and wellbeing and of frontline workers during the pandemic.

Just ‘B’ offers professional emotional wellbeing and bereavement support to children and adults across the communities of North Yorkshire, as well as national support for frontline staff following increased need since the pandemic began. Their bereavement support is a tailored approach crafted in the knowledge every single experience is different.

It is one of several charities receiving financial support from the Royal Foundation's COVID-19 response fund. The bespoke fund was announced in July, coinciding with an engagement in Norfolk for frontline workers. Just B's helpline now operates seven days per week from 8 am to 8 pm.

We've mentioned rising rates of infection in the UK, rates which led to restrictions just before Christmas (which thwarted the Cambridges' plans to spend the holiday with the Middletons). It's been a progressively difficult period with the spread of a new more transmissible variant and enormous pressures on the NHS across the UK. These have led to additional problems, exhaustion and emotional stress for those providing care.

Vanity Fair reports:

'Just ‘B’ counsellors Tony Collins and Caroline Francis spoke to the Duke and Duchess about the toll that the pandemic is having on frontline staff, with service users often citing exhaustion and the relentless nature of the crisis as their reasons for calling. Other participants in the call included  Carly Kennard, Emergency Call Coordinator, London Ambulance Service; Jules Lockett, Emergency Operations Centre Training Lead, London Ambulance Service; Conal Devitt, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Formby Primary Care Network;  Manal Sadik, Associate Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Widening Participation, Guys and St Thomas’; Phil Spencer, Wellbeing Inspector, Cleveland Police; Tony Collins, Just ‘B’ volunteer helpline call handler and CEO of North Yorkshire Hospice Care (NYCC); and Caroline Francis, Just ‘B’ helpline support worker and nurse at North Yorkshire Hospice Care (NYCC).'

The Duchess asked those on the call how the service has helped them. William said, "This is an unprecedented time we are all facing. I think what really needs to be nailed home right now is that this is like nothing before that anyone has ever seen -- particularly this third wave we are going through right now."

People writes:

'In a video chat with several social care professionals and emergency responders, William and Kate heard about the difficult calls that they are receiving. "The phrases and the words we hear time and time again are 'exhaustion,' 'relentless,' 'there's so much death, when is it going to finish,'" Tony Collins told the couple.

"That struck a chord," Collins tells PEOPLE.

Collins is a volunteer helpline call handler for Hospice UK's "Just B" phone service and is also CEO of North Yorkshire Hospice Care, (NYCC) .

Collins adds, "We – being society – need to take responsibility to make sure people are okay. When people use the helplines and other procedures that are available to them, they have already taken a big step, but there are still an awful lot who won't take that step."

The Duchess sported her grey Smythe blazer, first worn in 2018 for a Coach Core engagement.

The glen check/black corduroy, tailored, single-breasted silhouette has a traditional riding blazer feel, featuring a contrast collar, flattering pocket flaps and oversized leather buttons. It retails for $795 at Smythe.

A closer look at the buttons.

I hope you all have a great weekend. A word of thanks for the very kind responses to the Year in Review posts. They are deeply appreciated.