A VIDEO chat with the Duchess of Cambridge has highlighted the vital work of a Cornish charity.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) was invited to join a video call made by The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duchess of Cambridge to mark this year’s Children’s Hospice Week.

As Patron of Children’s Hospice South West, The Duchess of Cornwall invited Eddie Farwell, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of CHSW to join the call, along with the Delf family, who have received support from East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) of which the Duchess of Cambridge is Patron.

During the call the two royals discussed the comprehensive care that hospice staff provide, and the way that children’s hospices are able to create positive environments and happy memories during the most difficult of times.

After having experienced first-hand the incredible support given by a children’s hospice Eddie Farwell founded CHSW along with his late wife Jill in 1991. CHSW now offers care at three children’s hospice across the south west; Little Bridge House in Barnstaple, Charlton Farm near Bristol and Little Harbour in St Austell.

On the call Eddie Farwell explained the care provided for two of his children who had life limiting illnesses, as well as the support given to his other daughter Lizzy, his wife Jill and himself. He described the hospice as providing “enormously valuable and loving care” and being “a place of wonderment.”

Speaking about the current landscape Eddie explained the changes CHSW have had to make to continue offering support to families in ways most suitable to them.

’We’ve had to be very agile to respond to the changing needs of families. Most of our families are shielding very vulnerable young people. We’re working in the community, which is something we haven’t done before, it has been very welcome and enormously successful, and it won’t surprise you to know we have been working virtually as well.’

The Duchess of Cornwall, commending the work of children’s hospices at this difficult time said: “We’d like to thank everybody that works for hospices across the UK for the incredible job you do and allowing families to treasure their moments together.”

Speaking about the nurses and carers that look after children in hospices, The Duchess described them as “the most wonderful people” that “inspire happiness”.

The Duchess of Cambridge called the work of children’s hospices “extraordinary”, adding: “It’s a credit to the staff that they can provide the environment, the nurturing space for those families to help them go through long or short term care. It’s really awe-inspiring”.