Prince William returned to Bournemouth and Poole College today to check in on the progress of the Homewards initiative, a five-year programme led by the Royal Foundation that aims to end homelessness for good.

During his visit, His Royal Highness spent time with trainees at the Sunseeker Skills Academy, a fast-track boatbuilding programme designed to help people develop valuable trade skills while tackling the UK’s growing skills shortage. Sunseeker, the iconic British yacht builder, launched the academy in 2023 in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole College to open new career pathways—including for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

As part of the Homewards BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) Coalition, Sunseeker, the college, and local charity Faithworks have teamed up to offer practical employment opportunities to those in need. The initiative has already helped people like Daniel, who joined Sunseeker in August 2024 after completing a Job-Ready Programme at the college.

“The course was a great transition,” Daniel shared. “We got hands-on experience across five different trades, which helped me figure out what I wanted to do long-term. It was challenging at times, but we supported each other through it.”

Sunseeker’s Executive HR Director, Sian Dodds, spoke with Prince William about the company’s commitment to supporting Homewards and investing in people.

“By offering real career opportunities, we’re not just tackling the industry’s skills shortage—we’re also helping to combat homelessness in our community,” she said.

Homewards is working with six key regions across the UK to develop long-term solutions to homelessness. With over 300,000 people—including nearly 150,000 children—currently homeless or in temporary housing, the programme is determined to break the cycle and provide sustainable, local solutions.

For more information about Homewards, visit The Royal Foundation.