Prince William visited Bournemouth and Poole College, highlighting Homewards and its job programs.
The Prince recently visited a housing project in Poole, which accommodates eleven individuals with mental health issues. Bournemouth Churches Housing Association manages the facility. This visit highlighted the partnership with Lloyds Bank, and Lloyds’ CEO, Charlie Nunn, accompanied the Prince.
William envisions Homewards becoming mainstream, increasing public understanding of homelessness. He believes everyone should be concerned about people living on the streets and hopes Homewards can elevate it to a national priority as part of his five-year plan.
William also toured Bournemouth and Poole College, where Homewards BCP collaborates with local businesses like Sunseeker and Faithworks. These collaborations create job programs specifically designed to assist individuals facing homelessness.
Students have the opportunity to interview for Sunseeker’s boat program. The college provides boat building skills training at Sunseeker’s academy and shipyard. During his visit, the Prince even attempted cutting a pipe for a boat engine.
He playfully commented that the task was more challenging than Lego, expressing hope that someone would inspect his work to prevent the boat from sinking. The Prince then inquired about his performance and was relieved to hear he had passed.
Students undergo twelve weeks of paid training, acquiring valuable skills at the Sunseeker Shipyard. This program offers pathways to jobs and qualifications. The college also provides training for various other roles, including site work and barista positions.
Launched in 2023, Homewards is active in six locations. These include Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, and Sheffield, in addition to Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch illustrating Homewards’ wide network of groups.
William observed that the public sector often struggles to demonstrate empathy. He hopes Homewards can convey real stories, as statistics alone cannot capture the issue’s essence. Meeting individuals personally fosters understanding, and he believes everyone should be motivated to help.
The Prince had a private visit to a resident’s room and engaged in conversations with people receiving support from the staff. One client, Chloe, expressed how helpful the support was, describing it as having a cheerleader. William acknowledged the importance of such support.
Before departing, the Prince joined in planting vegetable seeds, describing gardening as “therapeutic.” He also met students enrolled in the Homewards training program, which supports individuals at risk of homelessness. He embraced Natasha Gorry, a student, with other students cheering and applauding.
Natasha expressed her delight with the hug, marking her first encounter with the Prince. She considers him to be amazing.