News
Prince William visits young homeless people helped by Centrepoint in Soho
16th December 2009
Prince William praised the work of Centrepoint today as he helped the homeless charity celebrate its 40th anniversary.
His Royal Highness is the organisation's Patron and at breakfast time today joined some of the young people benefiting from the help and expertise provided by the body which first opened its doors to rough sleepers in 1969.
After making breakfast for the group, The Prince cut up a Centrepoint birthday cake for the group he had spent time chatting privately with at the charity's Greek Street centre in Central London.
He was dressed casually in a sweatshirt, shirt, jeans and trainers, and joked with those around him as he wielded a large kitchen knife.
One young woman rushed forward for the first piece and he joked: "My willing assistant will demonstrate how to eat it."
Before taking a few mouthfuls of the white chocolate and cream sponge cake he praised Centrepoint, which had been a favourite charity of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
Prince William said: "It's fantastic to see where it's come to and where it's going to go to, and this is just a stepping stone in its future and I hope to be able to support it for the foreseeable future."
Centrepoint is a national charity providing housing and support to improve the lives of homeless young people aged 16-25.
At any one time its staff work with more than 800 clients, providing a range of accommodation-based services, including emergency night shelters and short-stay hostels.
It also offers specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders and young single parents.
Earlier Prince William had used his culinary skills to rustle up a traditional English breakfast for the group, complete with eggs, bacon and sausages.
The Prince, who in 2005 chose Centrepoint to be the first organisation to receive his patronage, has made a number of private visits to the charity and was able to catch up with some of the young people he has met before.
His strong interest in the charity was inspired by visits he made to its centres with his mother as a child.
Speaking about visiting the organisation he said: "It's much more intimate than doing a big place all suited up and stuff (where) you don't really get to actually talk to the guys and girls and actually hear their stories and find out a bit more about them.
"For me it's much more rewarding because it's more interesting and I think because there's a bit more feeling to it."
He added, jokingly: "Obviously my breakfast skills are horrendous. I wasn't allowed to cook an egg without an hour's health and safety briefing."
Prince William spent more than an hour at Centrepoint's Greek Street centre which provides short stay accommodation where young people are assessed before being referred to other departments within the organisation.
The charity was founded in 1969 by Ken Leech, a vicar based in the Soho area of Central London, who was concerned by the number of young people sleeping rough in the West End.
With the help of local volunteers he opened the basement of his church St Anne's as a temporary night shelter and over the decades its work has grown.
Prince William has already commemorated Centrepoint's birthday by hosting a St James's Palace dinner in its honour in March.
He also showed his commitment to its work by choosing the charity to be one of the beneficiaries from the 2007 tribute concert to his mother – a Concert for Diana - raising £150,000 for its projects.
Seyi Obakin, the charity's chief executive, speaking about Prince William said: "I think his main motivation for coming here is something he tells me all the time - he wants to inspire these young people to achieve.
"When you see where the young people have come from you realise they need inspiration.
"A visit from someone as important as him is very inspirational. How many times are you going to get Prince William coming round and saying 'how are you doing?'.
"It says to a young person you are not alone there is someone out there who cares about you."