The Prince of Wales will take to television screens during Comic Relief to appeal for an end to homelessness.
Kensington Palace said that William, Nawshin and Miles will “share their own thoughts and feelings on an issue that affects hundreds of thousands across the heard country,” and that they “discuss harmful misconceptions and what more needs to be done to help people struggling.”
In the pre-recorded segment, William speaks with Nawshin and Miles, who work with Groundswell, a homelessness charity that is also supported by Comic Relief, the organisation behind the Red Nose Day.
The three have recorded a podcast episode for Groundswell’s ‘Listen Up! Project’ that will form the basis of their segment.
William, who supports Centrepoint and The Passage as their patron, has plans to announce a wider campaign against homelessness later this year. He said in a statement that: “My mother introduced me to the cause of homelessness from quite a young age, and I’m really glad she did. I think she would be disappointed that we are still no further on in terms of tackling homelessness and preventing it than when she was interested and involved in it.”
Kensington Palace also shared statements from Nawshin and Miles. Nawshin said, “I didn’t have a choice but to leave home–I had a lot of childhood trauma and circumstances happened around me that were out of my control. Coming to Groundswell and being supported to share my story has really helped me. It is powerful for people to actually listen.”
Miles said: “Homelessness is about not having a safe space–it’s a very isolating life. You exist, you don’t live. Groundswell helps to give a voice to people who have experienced homelessness. People who experience homelessness have solutions if you just ask them—they know what needs changing.”
Comic Relief is a charitable organisation that has supported people and organisations working to end poverty. Since 1988, the charity has worked to highlight homelessness. In the past two years, over 31,000 people at risk of homelessness or living homeless have been supported by Comic Relief with safe accommodations and access to specialists.
Red Nose Day will air on BBC One on Friday 17 March from 7:00pm.
