The Prince of Wales opened up about the different approach he plans to take to help tackle climate change and end homelessness in the UK.
While reflecting on his first year as the Prince of Wales, Prince William says he aims to focus on a smaller number of causes than members of the Royal Family have done in the past to avoid spreading himself too thinly. During a short interview with the British print media who traveled to Singapore alongside him for the Earth-shot Prize Awards, the future King highlighted his hope of ending homelessness in the UK as an example of his new approach.
When asked about his first year as the heir to the throne, he said: “So I think the thing that ties it all together for me is about social leadership. That’s what I’m trying to find my way in is I care about so many things and previously the family have been very much spotlighting brilliantly and going round and highlighting lots.
“I want to go a step further: I want to actually bring change and I want to bring people to the table who can do the change if I can’t do it. And so it’s all about progressing, helping and advancing particular social causes that need to be given more support.” The 41-year-old discussed his new campaign to put an end to homelessness and his hopes of building social housing to help alleviate the problem on his Duchy of Cornwall hereditary estate.
He is also working with partners such as local authorities and housing associations to help encourage them to do more to tackle the issue. He said: “I’ve been in the homelessness sector for a long time now, and so rather than just being patron I want to do more, I want to actually build the homes, I want to provide them with the mental support, all the employment and the education they might need.
“So it’s all these wraparound services, it’s kind of going deeper and longer than it is the case of just having loads of causes that you sort of turn up and keep an eye on. “It’s more about how do I show my intent more? How do we do more for you? And give you a better, better future. But you have to remain focused, if you spread yourself too thin you just can’t manage it and you won’t deliver the impact or the change that you really want to happen.”