Prince William undertook a private visit today to meet women who have experienced homelessness due to domestic abuse and sexual exploitation.
He visited the special support service on trip to Newport, South Wales, as part of drive to highlight the issue of female homelessness in the city.
The royal was accompanied by Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, now one of the country’s most senior female fire officers but was forced to sleep rough on the streets of the city as teenager.
She is a key supporter of his Homewards campaign to eradicate homelessness in six areas of the UK within five years.
They also visited The Nelson Trust, which is a member of the Homewards Newport Coalition, and plays a pivotal role in delivering support for women in Newport who have experienced trauma.
Women are often more susceptible to experiencing ‘hidden homelessness’ compared to men, as they are less likely to rough sleep due to safety fears, resulting in sofa surfing, or sleeping on public transport.
The prince’s Homewards team in Newport are looking specifically at the issue of homeless in women who face multiple disadvantages such as trauma, poverty and domestic abuse.
Prince William visits the Newton Trust in Wales to hear about the Homewards Coalition and to meet those involved in the Women in Newport photography project
One woman in a black and white dress seemed to be overwhelmed by the presence of royalty and covered her face with her hand while William looked on reassuringly
The inspiring photography project was created to raise awareness, change perceptions around female homelessness and demonstrate that recovery is possible
They plan to share their findings with the programme’s other five flagship locations and beyond.
William said on the visit that he wanted to play the role of ‘disruptor’ in his fight against homelessness as he encouraged those working in the sector to ‘throw the paperwork up in the air’.
He told a group of business leaders and charity representatives that he wanted them to throw off the ‘shackles’ of their experience and take a different approach.
‘I say that not to belittle you,’ he said. ‘But it’s, how do we break it down, give you the freedom to think differently and try new things?
‘I can be the slight disruptor here and say to you all to think very differently, outside the box, because this is unique, what you’re doing… let’s be really ambitious and almost throw the paperwork up in the air and see how it lands.’
Among the women he met during the public part of the visit was Rebecca, 32, a care assistant who told the Prince she was living on the streets at 16 before attempting suicide following the deaths of both her partner and her father.
She said she had no support when she was growing up but was proud of who she was today, focused on her two young daughters and ‘making happiness without money’.
She told the Prince she now wanted to use her experiences to help other ‘lost teenagers’.
William told her she should be ‘so proud’ of herself, saying: ‘You seem like a force of nature Rebecca.
‘We need more Rebeccas in the world. You have been through more things than most people go through in their entire lifetime.
‘I’m not sure I would have come out the other side like you.’
The Prince earlier made a private visit to a women’s support service to speak to victims of domestic abuse and sexual exploitation before joining local women who have experienced homelessness.
Afterwards Ms Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said they had several ‘powerful’ conversations.
‘I think hearing about people’s experiences helps inform how he can direct Homewards to help,’ she said.
The 42-year-old royal wore a navy suit and a sky blue jumper in Wales today and was seen laughing with representatives of local homelessness organisations
The future king meets with businesses, charities and other members of the Homewards Newport Coalition
‘One of the questions the Prince was asking throughout was how Homewards is making a difference and how it can help with the pinch points and the gaps.’
The Prince’s visit coincided with the release of a report compiled by the Homewards Newport Coalition that identified specific local issues and made specific recommendations to help prevent women’s homelessness.
As a direct result of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, the city council and local housing organisations have agreed to work together to introduce properties specifically for women in order to increase supply for those in need.
Later, the 42-year-old royal went on to meet with businesses, charities and other members of the Homewards Newport Coalition such as Newport City Homes, Newport City Council, Newport Live, POBL, Dick Lovett and Public Health Wales.
William said on the visit that he wanted to play the role of ‘disruptor’ in his fight against homelessness as he encouraged those working in the sector to ‘throw the paperwork up in the air’
During their meeting, he heard about commitments they are making to support Homewards Newport’s efforts to prevent and end women’s homelessness.
William said on the visit that he wanted to play the role of ‘disruptor’ in his fight against homelessness as he encouraged those working in the sector to ‘throw the paperwork up in the air’.
He told the group of business leaders and charity representatives that he wanted them to throw off the ‘shackles’ of their experience and take a different approach.
‘I say that not to belittle you,’ he said. ‘But it’s, how do we break it down, give you the freedom to think differently and try new things?
‘I can be the slight disruptor here and say to you all to think very differently, outside the box, because this is unique, what you’re doing… let’s be really ambitious and almost throw the paperwork up in the air and see how it lands.’
The heir-to-the-throne launched Homewards last year – his most ambitious public project to date last year.
He said it was inspired by the legacy of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who began taking him to homeless shelters as a young child.
The prince’s Homewards team in Newport are looking specifically at the issue of homeless in women who face multiple disadvantages such as trauma, poverty and domestic abuse.
They plan to share their findings with the programme’s other five flagship locations and beyond.
By William’s side throughout the visit was his homelessness adviser Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Sabrina found herself on the streets of Wales when she was just 15 and selling the Big Issue in order to scrape by following the death of her father
Although Sabrina features heavily in the new documentary, she joked with the women: ‘To be fair, the Prince is the star’
Last month, the prince also released a new documentary focusing on the first year of his programme Homewards.
Available on ITV, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness involves stories from those who are currently experiencing homelessness or have previously been homeless, and poignant memories from the prince’s own life.
Upon his arrival in Newport, a representative for The Nelson Trust praised the prince for his recent ITV documentary, saying she had recently re-watched it.
Another Nelson Trust spokesperson agreed and called the docuseries ‘inspiring’.
By William’s side throughout the visit was his homelessness adviser Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton who is now one of the country’s most senior female fire officers but was forced to sleep rough on the streets of Newport as teenager.
She is a key supporter of his Homewards campaign to eradicate homelessness in six areas of the UK within five years.
Sabrina found herself on the streets of Wales when she was just 15 and selling the Big Issue in order to scrape by following the death of her father.
Although Sabrina features heavily in the new documentary, she joked with the women: ‘To be fair, the Prince is the star.’
The heir-to-the-throne appeared to blush before insisting: ‘No, no – I’m not.
‘It’s about the women, it very much is.’
Among the women he met during the public part of the visit was Rebecca, 32, a care assistant who told the Prince she was living on the streets at 16 before attempting suicide following the deaths of both her partner and her father.
She said she had no support when she was growing up but was proud of who she was today, focused on her two young daughters and ‘making happiness without money’.
She told the Prince she now wanted to use her experiences to help other ‘lost teenagers’.
William told her she should be ‘so proud’ of herself, saying: ‘You seem like a force of nature Rebecca.
‘We need more Rebeccas in the world. You have been through more things than most people go through in their entire lifetime.
‘I’m not sure I would have come out the other side like you.’
The Prince earlier made a private visit to a women’s support service to speak to victims of domestic abuse and sexual exploitation before joining local women who have experienced homelessness.
Afterwards Ms Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said they had several ‘powerful’ conversations.
‘I think hearing about people’s experiences helps inform how he can direct Homewards to help,’ she said.
‘One of the questions the Prince was asking throughout was how Homewards is making a difference and how it can help with the pinch points and the gaps.’
The heir-to-the-throne launched Homewards last year – his most ambitious public project to date last year
Last month, William also released a new documentary focusing on the first year of his programme Homewards
Speaking ahead of the two-part documentary, Sabrina praised William’s commitment to ‘listening to people who have been there so we can try and do things that are really practical’.
Sitting on the This Morning sofa, she said: ‘He’s amazing and I’m one of several advocates, we’ve all got our own experience of homelessness or we’ve been touched by homelessness in some way.
‘One of the things he was really keen on was making sure that he’s listening to people who have been there so we can try and do things that are really practical.
She added: ‘Every time I’ve met the prince, he has been so focused on the human impact of homelessness.
‘I think it’s really easy when you’re trying to do a programme as big as this and a challenge as big as ending homelessness to just focus on the strategy and forget about the people.
‘But he’s so focused on the trauma and the complexity and the impact on individuals and that for me has been a real privilege to be able to see that in action.’
Sabrina now has a PHD, and is a honorary fellow at Cardiff University.
Rebecca said afterwards that the Prince’s comments had made her feel that ‘it was all worthwhile’.
She said: ‘I wouldn’t change a thing for me to be where I am today.
‘He’s moved me to the point where I feel like I could do anything now. He’s given me that boost of confidence I needed, because I do struggle with confidence and esteem but I can’t believe how much today has lifted my morale.’
Rebecca said she believed the Prince’s efforts to tackle homelessness in Newport would have a dramatic effect.
‘It makes me feel like something’s going to change in Newport, like there’s a bit of hope,’ she added.
‘We feel like we’re losing Newport, it’s deteriorated.
‘But him coming here feels like our future as a whole is going to be better.
‘With the prince’s input, a lot of these outside organisations are going to be able to change and change the outcome for people who are suffering.
‘I can’t believe I’m a part of it, that I get to help and change other people’s points of view of the homeless living in tents in the street.’
- For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.
