Prince William has issued a plea for help for the homeless as he guns for a major change.
The prince is trying to “empower” those who are homeless to realise that “their life matters”, as part of his Homewards project - a five-year campaign aimed at ending homelessness in the UK.
He visited staff at Shelter Scotland’s office in Aberdeen, where he thanked the organisations for their work in supporting rough sleepers.
As part of the project, William is hoping to convince landlords and businesses to give rough sleepers a chance.
Prince William issues plea for help as he pushes for major changePA“When you’re at your lowest ebb, you believe people don’t care and there’s nowhere to go...but there’s hope.
He continued: “There's hope, definitely. We've got to start changing the narrative.”
The prince wants to eradicate homelessness in six key areas of the country - Aberdeen, Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Sheffield and three neighbouring Dorset towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.
William has claimed that homelessness touches the lives of “far too many people” during his visit to the Scottish city.
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The prince wants to eradicate homelessness in six key areas of the country
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Speaking at the event, the Prince of Wales said: “Homelessness is a complex societal issue and one that touches the lives of far too many people in our society. However, I truly believe that it can be ended.
“I created Homewards because I wanted us to look at the issue of homelessness through a different lens, to inspire a movement to prevent people from ever experiencing homelessness in the first place.”
Homewards has now partnered with Blue Light Card, the UK’s leading discount provider for emergency services, to slash prices and give offers to those who support rough sleepers.
By extending its discount offer, Blue Light Card seeks to acknowledge the essential service provided by these dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to prevent homelessness and ensure safe housing for vulnerable individuals.
The Prince of Wales meets workers from the homelessness sector
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The prince is trying to 'empower' those who are homeless to realise that 'their life matters'
PA
lidad Moghaddam, Chief Executive Officer at Blue Light Card, said: “This workforce may not be as easily identifiable as uniformed blue light workers like nurses, doctors, police, or firefighters, but we see them.
“Blue Light symbolises service, sacrifice, and societal impact - values which are shared by the homelessness workforce who often put the needs of others before their own.”
This initiative seeks to ease financial pressures and improve the wellbeing of these vital workers.
Pim Gregory, Executive Director of Homelessness at The Royal Foundation, commented: “Homelessness is a complex, multifaceted issue and as such the homelessness workforce includes a huge variety of roles.
“They work tirelessly to support some of society's most vulnerable - from those rough sleeping, people sofa surfing or sleeping in their cars, to families and children stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation.”
