Prince William sleeps rough for homeless charity

[dutchman]

Prince William has spent a night sleeping rough in an event organised by a charity for the homeless.


William slept in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge in central London last week, as part of his role as a patron of the Centrepoint organisation.

The prince was joined by the charity's chief executive Seyi Obakin, who said the pair were almost run over by a road sweeping vehicle at one point.

He said William was keen to take part to raise awareness of the homeless.

'Understand better'

Mr Obakin said: "For me, it was a scary experience. Out of my comfortable bed. Out there in the elements. Out there on an extremely cold night, with temperatures down to -4C.

"And it was the same for Prince William. But he was determined to do it as patron in order to raise awareness of the problem and to be able to understand a little better what rough sleepers go through night after night."

The challenge arose after William gave a speech to mark Centrepoint's 40th anniversary this year.

They were joined in the event by the prince's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

Cooked breakfast

Mr Obakin told his charity's website: "We took as much precaution as possible - finding a relatively secluded spot in an alleyway, shielded partly by a collection of wheelie bins.

"But there was no shielding from the bitter cold, or the hard concrete floor, or the fear of being accosted by drug dealers, pimps or those out to give homeless people a 'good kicking'."

The group slept until 0600 GMT when the prince was taken on a tour of areas where people were sleeping rough in the West End of London.

He then went to Centrepoint's Greek Street centre where he cooked breakfast for a group of young homeless people.

It's not just young people forced to live on the street. Many middle-aged people have had their housing benefit stopped recently and the Tories have threatened to stop even more if they win the election.

[pollyanna]

I don't think anyone could every imagine what it must be like sleeping rough night after night, particularly in this cold snap we're having.

I doubt that the Prince understands any more of what these people go through that understood before.

[yourworstnightmare]

Harry some people refuse to end up like that, and as for the reading of that and the CEO report, you both want to count yourself lucky.......................... the roads dont even get that lucky by a roadsweeper

[yourworstnightmare]

Prince William has spent a night sleeping rough in an event organised by a charity for the homeless.


William slept in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge in central London last week, as part of his role as a patron of the Centrepoint organisation.

The prince was joined by the charity's chief executive Seyi Obakin, who said the pair were almost run over by a road sweeping vehicle at one point.

He said William was keen to take part to raise awareness of the homeless.

'Understand better'

Mr Obakin said: "For me, it was a scary experience. Out of my comfortable bed. Out there in the elements. Out there on an extremely cold night, with temperatures down to -4C.

"And it was the same for Prince William. But he was determined to do it as patron in order to raise awareness of the problem and to be able to understand a little better what rough sleepers go through night after night."

The challenge arose after William gave a speech to mark Centrepoint's 40th anniversary this year.

They were joined in the event by the prince's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

Cooked breakfast

Mr Obakin told his charity's website: "We took as much precaution as possible - finding a relatively secluded spot in an alleyway, shielded partly by a collection of wheelie bins.

"But there was no shielding from the bitter cold, or the hard concrete floor, or the fear of being accosted by drug dealers, pimps or those out to give homeless people a 'good kicking'."

The group slept until 0600 GMT when the prince was taken on a tour of areas where people were sleeping rough in the West End of London.

He then went to Centrepoint's Greek Street centre where he cooked breakfast for a group of young homeless people.

It's not just young people forced to live on the street. Many middle-aged people have had their housing benefit stopped recently and the Tories have threatened to stop even more if they win the election.