Queen Camilla has heard personal stories from people who have overcome homelessness during a visit to Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney in Bungay, Norfolk, as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to “end rough sleeping” in his maiden speech outside Downing Street.
Queen’s Long-Standing Engagement Coincides with Political Handover
The Queen’s visit on Monday took place as the handover of political power was occurring in London. Camilla toured Emmaus’s centre for women, which opened last year in the village of Ditchingham in rural Norfolk. She met residents, known as companions, who have experienced homelessness, and heard about the tailored support offered for trauma recovery and to help residents thrive.
The centre has a new partnership with Camilla’s literary charity The Queen’s Reading Room, creating a Book Nook area specially curated by companions passionate about reading.
PM’s First Policy Announcement Targets Homelessness
Meanwhile, Mr Burnham, who had an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace and accepted his invitation to form a Government, made tackling homelessness his first official policy announcement. He pledged £340 million in funding to help at least 3,000 rough sleepers on his first day in the job, according to details set out by No 10.
In his speech, Mr Burnham said: “We will end rough sleeping, and we will do it by building the homes that Britain needs.” The Queen’s visit to Emmaus underscored the issue, as she marked her 20th anniversary as the charity’s patron.
Prince William’s Homewards Initiative Continues
Heir to the throne the Prince of Wales launched his Homewards initiative in 2023, a five-year project aimed at making homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated”. Homewards works in six locations – Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and the three neighbouring Dorset towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch – delivering bespoke solutions to homelessness issues in each area.
During the Norfolk engagement, the Queen was greeted by former Beirut hostage Sir Terry Waite, president of Emmaus UK. She also visited the on-site charity shop and social enterprise, where items including jewellery made by companions in the centre’s working forge are sold.
