The Duke of Cambridge visits rough-sleeping support charity in Peterborough

The Duke of Cambridge paid a visit to Peterborough last week to see how a local charity has been supporting the homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

William’s visit to Light Project Peterborough was motivated by the opportunity to see “first-hand how a partnership of voluntary, faith, community and public service organisations have worked together during the pandemic to support those experiencing homelessness,” according to Kensington Palace.

“It truly was a great day in our journey at Light Project Peterborough,” the charity wrote in a blog post about William’s visit. “The Garden House provided the most amazing setting and a genuine interest and passion from HRH to help people move off the streets was clear for all to hear and see.”

According to the charity, they have provided support to over 150 people by housing them in four different hotels in the area, as well as keeping open the Garden House and creating a “new multi-agency community support team to help people keep their homes,” which has yet to start but will provide added relief to the community.

Light Project Peterborough works to “reveal Jesus’ love by reaching out to and walking alongside the marginalised and those in need and by equipping and enabling those we meet to do the same,” its official website states.

During his visit, William had the chance to chat with current and former clients of the Light Project Peterborough to hear about their experiences during the pandemic; as well as to staff and volunteers to hear more about the services they have been able to provide.

Prince William also spoke with representatives from Safer Off the Streets Peterborough, a charity borne from the afore-mentioned group of “voluntary, faith, community and public service organisations” that decided to come together for a “more targeted approach to tackle the issue of rough sleeping,” according to its website.

The Duke of Cambridge has been involved with charities that support the homeless population from the beginning of his royal work, and throughout the pandemic has “kept in contact with organisations working in the sector, including The Passage and Centrepoint, to hear from clients about their experiences of isolation and to thank the charities’ frontline staff for their dedicated service.”