Prince William Champions Life Skills Education During Bournemouth Academy Visit
The Prince of Wales underscored the critical value of everyday practical knowledge during a visit to Bourne Academy in Bournemouth, where he engaged with students participating in housing workshops focused on essential life skills. William joined teenagers at an outdoor camp on Thursday 19 March 2026, listening intently to their experiences of learning about tenancy rights and other vital issues.
Homewards Project and International Delegation
During the visit, the future king hosted an international delegation that was learning about his Homewards initiative, a project launched in 2023 with the ambitious goal of eradicating homelessness by making it "rare, brief and unrepeated." William explained to the students that the sessions, run by Shelter as a Homewards partner organisation, were designed not to "scare" them but to prepare them proactively.
"So then, you've got a lot on anyway, there's a lot of things to think about and worry about, it's not to add more burden to your plate, but hopefully it's to start thinking about it before it becomes an issue," William told the group. "That expression 'forearmed is forewarned' or whatever they say – that's the kind of idea here."
When the prince asked the students if the workshops gave them confidence, he received a resounding "yes" from around the campsite near the academy.
Student Perspectives on Practical Education
Student Scarlett Gobb, aged 18, shared her thoughts after meeting William, highlighting the significance of real-world knowledge over purely academic learning. "Normally, schools are really academic based and I think having something like this, it's so good because there's so much more to the world than being smart," she said. "And I feel like (being) academic is one thing, but I feel like having more common sense and knowing more about the real world is so much more important than any other knowledge that you can get."
Homewards Initiative and Local Impact
The Homewards project has selected six locations across the UK, including Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and three neighbouring Dorset towns: Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch. Each area is developing bespoke solutions to address homelessness, with Bournemouth being a key focus during William's visit.
This campaign holds deep personal significance for William, who has previously spoken about how visiting shelters with his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, during his childhood left a lasting impression and inspired his ongoing work in this field.
Curriculum Development and Collaborative Efforts
During his time at the academy, the prince also met with the Homewards-funded 14-16 curriculum team, which is designing a tailored programme for students at risk of exclusion or falling into the Neet (not in education, employment, or training) category. This project is a collaboration between Bourne Academy, Bournemouth and Poole College, and BCP Council, incorporating elements such as:
- Vocational skills training
- Confidence-building activities
- Pastoral support systems
These initiatives aim to ensure students remain engaged in education and reduce their vulnerability to homelessness.
Early Intervention and Community Engagement
William also sat down with representatives from homelessness charities and other organisations involved in implementing Upstream, an early-intervention survey introduced at Bourne Academy by Centrepoint. This tool helps identify pupils at risk of homelessness, demonstrating a proactive approach to prevention.
Before departing, the prince took selfies with residents and chatted with toddlers from a local nursery, showcasing his commitment to community engagement.
Broader Bournemouth Activities
Earlier in the day, William visited Bournemouth Pier, where he and representatives from Australia, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland met with leaders of local services to discuss the work of Homewards in the area. They then participated in a session of the newly formed BCP Youth Homelessness Board, learning how different sectors are collaborating to prevent young people from reaching crisis points.
This comprehensive visit highlighted William's dedication to combining practical education with community-driven solutions to tackle homelessness, reinforcing the message that preparation and knowledge are key to preventing future hardships.
