Prince William delivered a major speech in London today about his mission to end homelessness and the first anniversary of his Homewards project – and he couldn’t resist also talking about England’s sensational win that has put them through to the Euro 2024 final
Prince William apologised for his croaky voice, as he delivered a speech about his mission to end homelessness the morning after the England men’s football team reached the Euro 2024 final.
The Prince of Wales told guests at the event that he had “a hoarse voice after last night”, as he enthused over a “hell of a goal” by Ollie Watkins that fired England to victory. He spent more than an hour at an event in Brixton today, marking one year of his Homewards project and urging experts in the sector to tell him how best to help.
The project is being piloted in six areas of the UK, where local experts are being encouraged to work together to find solutions to ultimately eradicate homelessness in all its forms.
The prince urged guests at the event, who were drawn from the charity sector, local authorities, and those who have experienced homelessness, to use Homewards as their “resources and support” and asked them to think ‘creatively’ about how the project can help.
In a speech, he acknowledged that “demonstrating that homelessness is not an inevitable part of our society will take time” but said that the progress made by Homewards in the first of its five years is a “powerful reminder to everyone of what can be achieved when we work together towards a shared goal”.
He arrived at the event in a small courtyard garden in Brixton and made his way around six stands representing the six locations of the project – Newport; the Dorset towns of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch; Lambeth; Belfast; Aberdeen; and Sheffield – where three or four local experts were ready to speak to him.
The team from Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BPC) raised the topic of football, knowing the prince is both President of the FA and an avid fan of Aston Villa – club of goal scorer Watkins. “I’ve got a hoarse voice from last night!” William said. “I have a little moment when I thought ‘…he might do this’!? I was willing him on when he came on. It was a hell of a goal.”
Later in the event, as someone congratulated him on the result, he looked delighted but laughed: “I didn’t play last night, I can’t take credit for it.” All six of his conversations centred on the importance of listening to experts already working in the homelessness sector, and hearing how each of their different approaches was tailored to local issues.
“So many people are doing brilliant work and have been doing it for years and years,” he told the Sheffield team. “We want you to feel that this [Homewards] is a resource and support for you. He joked that establishing six areas had encouraged “a bit of competition”, adding: “I love that because it does bring the best out of everyone.”
Speaking to the Lambeth team, including Abdoul Ndambi of Spiral Skills, which connects young people with the people and services they need to give them a brighter future, the Prince spoke of his concerns about people slipping through the cracks in society.
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t overlook them,” he said. Find families early enough and work with them. If you’re parenting on your own without a village, you’re set up to fail.” In a particular message to young people who have grown up without a secure support network, he added: “Please tell them we care about them as well.”
Expanding on the topic in discussion in front of the stand for Northern Ireland, the Prince said: “What worries me is how can we recreate that love and family support? It’s belonging and knowing people care. We need that creativity more than anything,” he said. “If we’re going to get going on this, we need to hear these ideas.”
Sympathising with volunteers and staff from every region over the challenges they face, which he described as “fighting fires every day”, he said: “You have got so many things to worry about. What can we do for you?
“You guys are carrying a lot on your shoulders. That’s what I hope we can provide, that support and resources.” He added: “You deal with this every day. A lot of businesses do care about it but they don’t know what to do to help.”
Thanked for his work in establishing the Homewards project, the prince nodded and replied: “We’re building something.” The prince is also said to be playing an active role in developing further plans for practical projects in his Duchy of Cornwall, following a first drive to provide 24 homes in Newquay announced earlier this year.
