Young people from Kent have spoken at a national mental health conference attended by Kate Middleton.

Three were introduced to the Duchess of Cambridge when she was a special guest at a conference for HeadStart, which comes to Dover next year.

Charlotte Swaine , 16, from Ashford, Lizzy Parker,13. from Gravesend, and Millie May, 13, from the Isle of Sheppey, all gave speeches.

The Learning from HeadStart session in London was on improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

The three girls and Angela Ford, HeadStart Kent programme manager, gave a presentation about a project that aims to explore and test new ways to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

They were among 50 young people and HeadStart senior management there.

The five-year initiative has been funded by the National Lottery and it tackles psychological problems faced by 10 to 16-year-olds by exploring and testing ways to build their resilience from an early age.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, her husband Prince William and brother-in-law Prince Harry have all worked to break down the stigma of mental illness by spearheading the group Heads Together.

The HeadStart Kent programme is currently operating in Swale, Gravesham, Ashford, Canterbury and Shepway. Throughout this year, it will be rolled out in Maidstone and Thanet, and in 2019 it will arrive in Dover, Tonbridge and Malling.

To find out more, visit www.headstartkent.org.uk.