Prince William is set to star in an exclusive ITV documentary charting the first year of his campaign to end homelessness.
The future king has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary accommodation a thing of the past in his ambitious five-year initiative programme called Homewards.
The Prince of Wales described it as a ‘unique opportunity’ to create lasting change, as he builds on the legacy of his late mother Princess Diana.
The two-part series, which has the working title Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, will follow William as he launches Homewards across the country.
It will involve stories from those who are currently experiencing homelessness or have previously been homeless.
Well-known advocates of the programme and individuals leading projects across the UK will also feature.
Director Leo Burley said: ‘Over the past year we have spent time following Prince William and The Royal Foundation through the first year of the Homewards programme.
‘We’ve heard some incredibly moving stories from people across the country facing homelessness.
‘From street homelessness in Newport, to families living in temporary accommodation in Sheffield, and youth homelessness in Aberdeen, the documentary paints a picture of homelessness across the UK today, working with many people who never expected to experience life without a place to call home.
‘Everyone we’ve filmed with has welcomed the spotlight that Prince William and Homewards are placing on the UK’s homelessness crisis.’
Prince William has long been passionate about the issue of homelessness and is royal patron of charity The Passage, after visiting one of their shelters with his mother when he was 11.
In 2009 he spent a night sleeping rough to understand the plight of the homeless at Christmas and has joined a Big Issue seller at his pitch for the last two years in a row.
Homewards brings together a range of organisations to develop solutions in Newport, South Wales, three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, the south London Borough of Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield.
Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of factual at ITV, said: ‘With access to the inner workings of this ambitious project and the work of Prince William and his team, we hope to share with viewers a privileged insight into how they are setting out to tackle an issue which concerns us all and affects so many of our fellow citizens across the UK.’
Royal Foundation chief executive Amanda Berry said: ‘We know that television has the power to change hearts and minds.
‘Homelessness can seem like it is hard to prevent but by sharing the realities of people’s experiences and those who are coming together to support them, we can inspire action.
‘This two-part documentary will help raise vital awareness and demonstrate that, by working together, it is possible to end homelessness.’
The series will be shown on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.