Prince William Visits Bournemouth Pier to Meet Homewards Partners

HRH Prince William visited Bournemouth today, meeting with Homewards partners and local organisations at Bournemouth Pier as part of his ongoing work to tackle homelessness across the UK.

The Prince of Wales spent time speaking with charities, community leaders and delivery partners involved in the Homewards programme across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), one of six flagship locations selected to pilot the initiative.

The visit shines a spotlight on the significant work already underway in the region, where local organisations are collaborating to deliver practical, long-term solutions to homelessness — from prevention and early intervention to housing and employment support.

Set against the backdrop of Bournemouth Pier, the visit drew attention from members of the public and local businesses, marking a high-profile moment for the town and recognising the collective efforts of those working on the ground.

Today’s appearance builds on previous visits to the area, reinforcing the Prince’s commitment to supporting communities in developing sustainable pathways to end homelessness.

With national focus on Bournemouth, the visit highlights how local partnerships are playing a key role in shaping new approaches that could be rolled out across the UK.

What is the Homewards Programme?

Homewards is a five-year programme launched by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, with the ambition of making homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.

Rather than focusing solely on crisis response, Homewards brings together local organisations, businesses and public sector partners to create long-term, place-based solutions tailored to each area.

BCP was selected as one of just six locations across the UK to take part, with over 40 local partners involved in delivering the programme. The initiative focuses on:

• Preventing homelessness before it starts
• Improving access to housing
• Supporting employment and skills opportunities
• Strengthening collaboration between local services
• By testing new approaches at a local level, Homewards aims to create a blueprint that can be scaled nationally.

A Moment in the Spotlight for Bournemouth

The visit marks another significant moment for Bournemouth, positioning the area as a leading example of how community collaboration can drive real change.

As the Homewards programme continues to develop, today’s visit reinforces both the progress being made — and the shared ambition across the region to tackle homelessness in a meaningful and lasting way.

Author Bio

Layla Foster is the social media manager at Total Guide to Dorset, with a keen focus on community initiatives and social impact stories. Drawing from her firsthand experiences covering high-profile events and local programmes.