Prince William Sleeps Rough On London's Streets

Prince William Sleeps Rough On London's Streets To Raise Awareness Of Charity's Work With Homeless | UK News | Sky News

Prince William has slept rough on London's streets in freezing temperatures to raise awareness of a charity's work with homeless young people.

Prince William and Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin prepare for a night in freezing temperatures

Prince William spent his night on the streets at Blackfriars Bridge. Pic: Centrepoint

Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin invited the prince, who is the charity's patron, to share the experience of a young person sleeping rough on the streets on December 15.

Prince William and Mr Obakin, along with the prince's private secretary, slept on cardboard boxes next to Blackfriars Bridge.

Prince William said: "I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London's streets night after night.

"Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependancy and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless."

He added: "Centrepoint's work - along with many other organisations' - in tackling these fundamental causes is desperately important if we are ever to end homelessness in this country."

This sleep-out demonstrates that the prince plays an active role in understanding and supporting youth homelessness, and the work we do at Centrepoint.

Maxine Edney, Centrepoint chief operations officer

Mr Obakin said: "It did not occur to me that Prince William would take up this challenge.

"But he was determined, as he has always been, to understand deeply the range of problems a homeless young person might face."

The group took as many precautions as possible. They slept in a secluded alleyway and shielded themselves with wheelie bins.

"But there was no shielding from the bitter cold," Mr Obakin said, "or the fear of being accosted by drug dealers or those out to give homeless people a good kicking.

"We were almost run over by a road sweeper, which simply didn't see our small group huddled together."

The Centrepoint chief executive said the prince understood that what he had experienced "was but a fraction of what it means to be truly homeless and afflicted".

After his night on the streets, Prince William went to Centrepoint's hostel in Soho to mark the charity's 40th anniversary.

He has challenged the charity to end youth homelessness in the next 10 years.

Maxine Edney, Centrepoint's chief operations officer said: "Centrepoint is enormously grateful for the support of our patron Prince William.

"This sleep-out demonstrates that the prince plays an active role in understanding and supporting youth homelessness, and the work we do at Centrepoint."