Homewards hosted The Prince of Wales and international delegations from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland and the Netherlands in Bournemouth today. The engagement shined a spotlight on Homewards’ pioneering efforts to prevent youth homelessness as the programme approaches its third year of action.
The visit began on Bournemouth Pier, where His Royal Highness greeted delegates from education, local government and the third sector. Together, they joined a session of Homewards’ newly formed Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Youth Homelessness Board, an ambitious partnership bringing public, private, voluntary and community organisations together to stop homelessness before it starts. The group explored early insights emerging from schools, universities, housing, health and community services, and discussed how Homewards’ Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole prevention‑first model could be scaled both nationally and internationally.
The Prince also met a young member of Homewards’ National Co‑Production Group, whose lived experience has helped shape the programme’s local work and ensure young people’s voices remain central.
The engagement then moved on to The Bourne Academy, where Prince William and delegates heard from innovative projects supported by Homewards. These included the new 14 – 16 Curriculum Team, developing tailored pathways for pupils at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training); Centrepoint’s early‑intervention Upstream survey, now being delivered across multiple Homewards locations; and Shelter’s @Home pilot, which provides targeted housing rights support for families who may be struggling but are yet to access services.
The day concluded with sixth‑form pupils sharing their experience of taking part in tenancy rights workshops designed to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence needed for independent living.
Across BCP, the message was clear: early intervention works, collaboration matters, and preventing youth homelessness is possible when we all work together.
