Prince William starts UK tour to launch his programme aimed at ending homelessness with London visit

Prince William has started his 48-hour tour of the UK to launch a project aimed at ending homelessness.

His initiative, called Homewards, seeks to make ‘rough sleeping, sofa surfing and other forms of temporary accommodation a thing of the past’. It will focus on six locations – one of which is in London, with another in Dorset.

The Prince of Wales, 41, made his first stop to this first location this morning, visiting Mosaic Clubhouse in Lambeth, south London, which supports people in the borough who have mental health conditions.

This was followed by a second visit this afternoon, to the Faithworks Carpentry Workshop in Bournemouth. Faithworks is charity which runs practical projects in urban Dorset with the aim of ending loneliness, food poverty and homelessness of all sorts

His visit to the Mosaic Clubhouse in London focused on how to break the association between suffering from mental health conditions and subsequently finding themselves on the streets.

During today’s visit to the Mosaic Clubhouse (pictured) Prince William also spoke with members of the organisation about their lived experiences 

The royal met with various members of the Clubhouse to discuss their experiences – and find out how the organisation has helped them – including Big Issue seller Dave Martin (pictured) who he met last Summer

Big Issue seller Dave Martin (pictured, right) met Prince William last Summer, when the royal undertook a surprise undercover engagement selling the magazine

During the engagement, the royal spoke with Clubhouse members, who opened up about their experiences of homelessness, and how the centre has helped them. 

Among those he spoke to was Big Issue seller Dave Martin. Last Summer, the prince joined Dave selling copies of the magazine.

And he met with representatives from Old Spike Roastery – a specialty coffee social enterprise that offers the homeless community employment opportunities.

The royal also gave a short speech during his visit, during which he said he was delighted to be at the Mosaic Clubhouse, and described how it had been ‘inspiring’ to hear about the organisation’s ‘vital’ work it has undertaken in an attempt to break the link between mental health challenges and homelessness. 

During his speech, William also discussed the impact on him that visits to homeless shelters with his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, had made on him. 

She first took him to homeless charity The Passage when he was a schoolboy.

He said: ‘My first visit to a homelessness shelter was when I was 11 with my mother. The visits we made, left a deep and lasting impression.

‘I met so many extraordinary people and listened to so many heart-breaking personal stories. Too many people have found themselves without a stable and permanent place to call home.

Prince William is snapped as he visits the Mosaic Clubhouse in London today, at the start of his two-day UK tour launching his homelessness campaign

The royal also gave a short speech during the visit, during which he described how his mother took him to visit a homelessness shelter when he was 11-years-old

Prince William made the first stop of his UK tour today with a visit to the Mosaic Clubhouse where he spoke with members (pictured)

William’s five-year project has taken inspiration from similar initiatives in Finland, which have made huge strides in battling homelessness

The royal also met representatives from Old Spike Roastery, a social enterprise which offers employment opportunities to the homeless – during his visit to Mosaic Clubhouse

William (pictured meeting representatives from Old Spike Roastery) says there is a ‘unique opportunity’ to ‘develop innovative new solutions’ when it comes to homelessness

William (pictured leaving the Mosaic Clubhouse today) was first taken to a homeless centre by his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, when he was 11-years-old

The centre Prince William visited today in Lambeth is the first of six locations that will be part of his Homewards project

He said the areas will become a ‘network of six flagship Homewards locations across the UK, all committed to creating and delivering a plan to prevent homelessness in their areas’

‘Through these visits, I have seen first-hand the breadth and complexities of homelessness. 

‘A personal thank you to people such as Dave Wilson, who is here today and who gave me an induction in selling The Big Issue last summer.’ 

William, who is patron of Centrepoint and The Passage, thanked these organisations for helping him to ‘understand not just their own work, but the tremendous impact of the sector more widely’.

 He continued: ‘I know that great strides have been made, with success stories proving that progress is possible.

‘Here in the UK, there is a strong tradition of collaboration between local authorities and the voluntary sector, and it is exciting to see social enterprises providing opportunities to people at risk of homelessness.’

The royal then travelled south to Bournemouth, where he visited the Faithworks Carpentry Workshop

During the second stop of the day, Prince William (pictured) announced that the second of the six Homewards locations is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

And he revealed that he had been inspired by work done in Finland, showing that ‘deep collaboration across the public, private and third sector, backed by a long-term commitment, can put places on a path to ending homelessness’.

The royal concluded his speech saying: ‘So, I am pleased to stand here today to officially at the start of our path to ending homelessness.

‘Over the next five years, I believe that we have a unique opportunity to develop innovative new solutions and scale tangible impact. This will inspire belief throughout the UK – and beyond – that homelessness can be ended for good.

‘I am delighted to be at the beginning of that journey launching Homewards here in Lambeth.

‘Lambeth will become part of a network of six flagship Homewards locations across the UK, all committed to creating and delivering a plan to prevent homelessness in their areas. 

‘They will all put collaboration at the heart of the response, forming locally led coalitions of committed people, organisations and businesses.

‘And we will be here to support you, bringing together an unprecedented network of individuals and organisations with expertise, resources, and the commitment to end homelessness.

‘We will support you to deliver sustainable change and I’m so grateful to you all for joining us on this journey.

The royal is snapped putting on mask mask before using a lathe during a visit to Faithworks Carpentry Workshop in Bournemouth

Prince William got stuck into the action during the Dorset trip, where he learnt about how the charity is helping homeless people

His second trip of the day focussed on how ’empowering people with skills can help get them into employment and therefore prevent the cycle of repeat homelessness’

‘Through Homewards we will demonstrate that together we can finally end homelessness.’

Following the London trip, he headed south, where he made a stop at the Faithworks Carpentry Workshop in Bournemouth.

During this visit to Faithworks, a charity which operates in urban Dorset, he announced the second of the six locations as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

At Faithworks’ carpentry workshop, trainees learn practical woodworking skills and techniques.

They are also able to benefit from 1:1 support with life issues and building relationships within a supportive community.

Prince William’s visit put the spotlight on how empowering people with skills can help get them into employment and therefore prevent the cycle of repeat homelessness.

Prince William’s full speech in London today

Prince William spoke about his Homewards project today while visiting the Mosaic Clubhouse in Lambeth, south London

Good morning everybody. I am personally delighted to be with you all here today in this beautiful garden at the Mosaic Clubhouse, such a cornerstone of the Lambeth community.

It has been inspiring to hear about the vital work you are doing to break the link between mental health challenges and homelessness.

After so many years in the making, today is the day we launch Homewards – a transformative five-year programme that will demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness.

My first visit to a homelessness shelter was when I was 11 with my mother. The visits we made, left a deep and lasting impression.

I met so many extraordinary people and listened to so many heart-breaking personal stories. Too many people have found themselves without a stable and permanent place to call home.

Through these visits, I have seen first-hand the breadth and complexities of homelessness. A personal thank you to people such as Dave Wilson, who is here today and who gave me an induction in selling The Big Issue last summer…

And also to the fantastic teams at my patronages, Centrepoint and The Passage, who have really helped me to understand not just their own work, but the tremendous impact of the sector more widely.

I know that great strides have been made, with success stories proving that progress is possible.

Here in the UK, there is a strong tradition of collaboration between local authorities and the voluntary sector, and it is exciting to see social enterprises providing opportunities to people at risk of homelessness.

I am also encouraged by international examples, like Finland, that have shown that deep collaboration across the public, private and third sector, backed by a long-term commitment, can put places on a path to ending homelessness.

So, I am pleased to stand here today to officially at the start of our path to ending homelessness.

Over the next five years, I believe that we have a unique opportunity to develop innovative new solutions and scale tangible impact. This will inspire belief throughout the UK – and beyond – that homelessness can be ended for good.

I am delighted to be at the beginning of that journey launching Homewards here in Lambeth.

Lambeth will become part of a network of six flagship Homewards locations across the UK, all committed to creating and delivering a plan to prevent homelessness in their areas. They will all put collaboration at the heart of the response, forming locally led coalitions of committed people, organisations and businesses.

Their in-depth knowledge of the specific issues and requirements of their local areas will drive forward the work.

And we will be here to support you. Bringing together an unprecedented network of individuals and organisations with expertise, resources, and the commitment to end homelessness.

We will support you to deliver sustainable change and I am so grateful to you all for joining us on this journey.

Through Homewards, we will demonstrate that together we can finally end homelessness.

Thank you.

During the trip, he was planning to speak with trainees about how the support they have received in the workshop has been transformative: and about their hopes for the future.

This afternoon marked the second of six locations that Prince William will announce today and tomorrow during the whirlwind UK tour launching the programme.

Speaking about the programme, he said Homewards has been inspired by similar work in Finland, which has made huge strides in reducing the problem of homelessness.

The prince’s five-year programme, which will initially focus on six locations, from which local businesses, organisations and individuals from the locations will be encouraged to join forces and develop ‘bespoke’ action plans to tackle homelessness with up to £500,000 in funding.

Announcing the project ahead of kicking off his UK tour, William said: ‘In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need.

‘Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.’

He added: ‘I am fortunate to have seen first-hand the tireless work of people and organisations across the sector, the tangible impact their efforts can have and what can be done when communities are able to focus on preventing homelessness, rather than managing it.

‘It’s a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated and I am very much looking forward to working with our six locations to make our ambition a reality.’

Homes will be a focus of the programme, with each location supported to deliver an innovative housing project that will test new ways to unlock homes at scale within the location and beyond.

The six chosen areas, which includes the one in London, were selected after a bidding process and the findings and results of the initiative will be used to create models that can adopted by other parts of the UK.

There are around 300,000 people experiencing homelessness across the UK on any given night according to Matt Downie, chief executive of the charity Crisis, one of a number of homelessness partner organisations of Homewards.

Mr Downie described the factors ‘pushing’ people into homelessness as ‘complex,’ citing a ‘severe shortage of genuinely affordable homes,’ rising rents, the increasing cost of living, years of low wages and insecure work that have left people unable to cope with ‘sudden economic shocks’ and a welfare system unable to support them.

Relying on ‘temporary’ solutions like hostels and bed and breakfasts was costing billions he claimed, adding: ‘Homelessness is not inevitable, as a provider of services to thousands of people across Britain every year. 

‘We know that in most cases it’s preventable, and in every case it can be ended.’

He went on to say: ‘The best way to tackle homelessness is to stop it happening in the first place. 

‘We’ve seen it in other countries such as Finland, where homelessness is all but ended, and we’ve seen it when we follow innovative programmes that give people housing first.

‘We know we can do the same here with the right choices and by working together. 

‘With levels of homelessness only set to increase innovative programmes like Homewards are more necessary than ever.’

A new survey commissioned by the Royal Foundation revealed one in five  of 3,473 adults questioned in May have some personal experience of homelessness either directly (9%) or via family (8%) or friends (7%).

The research found 72% of those questioned thought homelessness had got worse during the past 12 months, while 73% believed that ending homelessness was not given enough attention by society. 

While giving his first interview since becoming the Prince of Wales, William discussed his commitment to helping the homeless.

He said he is determined to ‘make a difference… that doesn’t set people up that are homeless for another fall’. 

The 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall spans from Cornwall to Kent and includes estates in Newquay and Dorchester which comprise of a mix of private and some affordable housing.

When asked by the Sunday Times whether there are plans for affordable homes on Duchy land, William said: ‘Absolutely. Social housing. You’ll see that when it’s ready. I’m no policy expert, but I push it where I can.’

Described by the paper as a ‘curveball’ which aides were not expecting, William indicated that he will ‘start small’ with the housing and if the scheme does well will look to increase the amount available.

William said: ‘It’s all very well doing big gestures, but there’s no point if… there’s no future to it.’