Prince William in Bournemouth to help tackle homelessness

The Homewards programme, created by royal Prince William, is a five-year plan directed at tackling homelessness.

There are more than 40 organisations involved in the Homelessness Partnership across the region including BCP Council, Faithworks Arch, BCHA, the YMCA, Shelter, St Mungo’s and NHS Dorset to name a few.

Today the Prince is meeting representatives from eight national and local businesses to speak on the pledges they are making towards the programme.

One major representative is Pret A Manger who created the Pret Foundation’s Rising Stars programme.

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The foundation programme helps support at least 500 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness by offering them jobs at Pret’s UK shops over the next five years.

AFC Bournemouth has also made a key commitment by expanding its community outreach programmes, as well as new education and employment opportunities.

Prince William also paid a visit to the town in June after revealing that Bournemouth has been unveiled as one of the partner locations for Prince William and The Royal Foundation's Homewards programme.

He spent the day in talks with leaders of the BCP Homeless partnership before heading to Faithworks Carpentry Workshop, an innovative charity which runs practical projects in Dorset with the goal of ending loneliness, food poverty and homelessness.

The prince was even treated to a workshop where he was guided on using a lathe.

King Charles, then a prince, visited Royal Bournemouth Hospital to recognise the hard work and dedication made by NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prince met staff from University Hospitals Dorset and visited a new operating theatre.

He then officially opened the hospital’s new Lavender Garden, dedicated to the memory of colleagues who have died and a special area for staff to rest, reflect and recharge.

The meeting will be held at Pret A Manger in Bournemouth Square.