The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales

Yesterday in Aberdeen, the #Homewards programme launched new initiatives to create training and employment opportunities for people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, and saw the first residents move into newly furnished homes delivered by Homewards. Joined by Homewards Advocate Steven Bartlett, Prince William visited local Coalition member Aberdeen Foyer to launch a new partnership with Hays, one of the UK’s leading recruitment experts and the latest Homewards Activator. The new partnership builds on youth employability programme Project Flourish, created in 2022 by Hays and EveryYouth, helping disadvantaged young people develop the skills to secure meaningful employment and provides job-ready training and support. The project also helps employers to create inclusive processes and environments. National and local employers, including Specsavers and Amey will be among the participants in the initiative. Yesterday also saw the launch of Invisible Cities in Aberdeen, made possible by a grant from the Homewards Fund. Invisible Cities is a social enterprise offering walking tours of cities across the UK guided by people who have experienced homelessness. In addition, the first resident moved into one of the 31 newly furnished homes in Aberdeen through the city’s Homewards Innovative Housing Project. Working alongside local Coalition member Langstane Housing Association, Homewards convened local and national businesses to provide furniture and fittings needed to help bring empty properties back in use and make them into home. His Royal Highness was joined Homewards Advocate gail porter for this visit.   With special thanks to the providers that made it happen, including Homewards Activators IKEA, Bosch, DFS Group Limited, Dunelm, The Furnishing Service, Glencraft Luxury Mattresses, The Multibank and Somebody Cares Scotland. Read more about the initiatives launched and how they’ll help prevent homelessness in Aberdeen and across the Homewards locations.   https://lnkd.in/e-gAqWnS

Homelessness cannot be ended with homes alone. To address this, Prince William is visiting Aberdeen, a flagship location of the #Homewards programme, to support the announcement of newly unlocked employment opportunities and furnished homes in the city.       Homewards Aberdeen’s Innovative Housing Project welcomes one of the first new residents today, and following work with national and local partners, 31 new homes will have the furniture and fittings they need to truly feel like homes.      With newly launched employment and training opportunities across both the public and private sectors also being announced today, Homewards Aberdeen is on the right track to providing those at risk of or experiencing homelessness the foundations needed to thrive.   https://lnkd.in/e-gAqWnS

As part of our International Women's Day series, we're taking a deeper dive into a compelling conversation between our CEO Amanda Berry CBE and Xolisile Khanyile, Chair of the Financial Taskforce for United for Wildlife.   In this insightful discussion, Xolisile shares her experiences and the challenges she's faced as she advocates against the illegal wildlife trade, emphasising the importance of treating it as a financial as well as environmental crime.   Xolisile's dedication and passion are driven by a higher purpose to care for nature, human beings, animals, and plants. Her story is testament to the incredible impact women can have in driving positive change. Through her work, she encourages other women to assert their rightful place in leadership roles and to believe in the value of the contributions they make.   Watch the video to hear her inspiring story and learn more about the vital work being done by The Royal Foundation and United for Wildlife.   #InternationalWomensDay #Leadership #WomenInAction #RoyalFoundation #UnitedForWildlife  

To mark International Women’s Day, The Royal Foundation hosted a roundtable featuring inspirational women involved, in various ways, in its work. The panel included Dimple Patel, CEO of NatureMetrics and a finalist from last year’s The Earthshot Prize, previously part of The Royal Foundation and now an independent charity.  Dimple appeared alongside seven other women who are each helping The Royal Foundation in its work to tackle homelessness, fight against the illegal wildlife trade, and provide invaluable support around early childhood. The discussion was chaired by Amanda Berry CBE, CEO of The Royal Foundation. Watch to find out more about Dimple’s journey. #IWD2025

To mark International Women’s Day, The Royal Foundation hosted a roundtable featuring inspirational women involved in our work to tackle homelessness, fight against the illegal wildlife trade, and provide invaluable support around early childhood. The panel also included a finalist from last year’s Earthshot Prize, previously part of The Royal Foundation and now an independent charity.   In a discussion chaired by The Royal Foundation’s CEO Amanda Berry CBE, the roundtable provided an opportunity to share stories of wonderful achievements and challenges overcome. Highlighting the power of networks, the forum enabled participants to share insights into their successes and the important work that The Royal Foundation and The Earthshot Prize are doing to make a real difference to society in the UK & beyond. #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay Amanda Berry CBE Uchenna Eneke, Supporter of Homelessness: Reframed  Saatchi Gallery, Anu Kasim , Local Delivery Lead, Homewards, Xolisile Khanyile Chair of the Financial Taskforce for United for Wildlife, Lara Legassick, Co-founder and Trustee, Babyzone Dr Abigail Miranda, Anna Freud, Dimple Patel CEO, NatureMetrics & 2024 The Earthshot Prize Finalist, gail porter, Homewards Advocate  jane Williams, CEO Founder The Magpie Project

This World Wildlife Day we're celebrating those on the frontlines of species protection - Rangers. Rangers play a fundamental role in safeguarding our planet's wildlife and ecosystems. But they are more than just wildlife protectors. They are educators. They are community supporters. They preserve cultural heritage, and they help to regulate the sustainable use of natural resources. This year we're excited to be releasing a dynamic new series that unpacks the incredible and urgent stories of our planet's Guardians, those who are risking their lives every day to protect nature. The natural world is our most important asset, but we cannot ensure its survival without the vital work of Wildlife Rangers. #WorldWildlifeDay

Today, Prince William visited Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) to unveil a new Homewards partnership which will deliver new homes across the six Homewards locations.  As a new Homewards Activator, Lloyds Banking Group will provide an initial £50 million in new lending to support small and medium-sized housing providers and charities in Homewards locations. Currently, many of these organisations can face barriers in accessing finance to deliver housing projects. This partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and Homewards aims to break down these barriers in order for organisations to have the opportunity to access finance not previously available to them. This pioneering partnership will ensure that, alongside new lending, the organisations will be supported with expertise to be ready for the new investment.    The Prince visited Millennium House, run by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, which provides housing with wrap-around support to people at risk of homelessness in the local area. This is an example of what could be delivered through the Homewards and Lloyds Banking Group partnership. During the visit, His Royal Highness met residents to see how the organisation is helping them develop skills to live independently in a healthy, safe, living space.     His Royal Highness then visited Bournemouth and Poole College to see how Homewards has brought together the College, Sunseeker International Ltd, and FAITHWORKS to create new and successful employment pathways for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the local area.  https://lnkd.in/eJbBaW46

We are sending many congratulations to Homewards Advocate Sabrina Cohen-Hatton on receiving The King’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service from His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Huge congratulations to Sabrina, and to all who received Honours! 🎖️

Today, The Princess of Wales joined a group of children at the National Portrait Gallery to launch a new project from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood aimed at supporting young children in the development of crucial social and emotional skills. The Bobeam Tree Trail sees children journey through the Gallery, stopping at portraits, and taking part in activities along the way. The trail is based on the new Shaping Us Framework, which aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of social and emotional skills. The Centre for Early Childhood is also working with organisations across a variety of sectors, on how the framework can be used to promote social and emotional skills across society. https://lnkd.in/eTmHJq2Y

Why should we be prioritising social and emotional development? Evidence shows how being able to understand ourselves, manage our emotions and build positive relationships, help us to thrive. Social and emotional skills support joy and purpose in our own lives, in our families, communities and across wider society. The foundations for this flourishing are laid in early childhood - from pregnancy to age five - when social and emotional development begins. Head to our our YouTube channel to hear what some of our experts have to say: https://lnkd.in/eKa9qsn7