Prince William's plea to Londoners to help young homeless

Pic:Prince William: The Duke of Cambridge has written to Londoners highlighting the plight of young homeless people /REUTERS
Royal correspondent(wp/es):

The Duke of Cambridge today joins us in telling Evening Standard readers they have “the chance to save young lives” in a letter marking the start of our Christmas Appeal.

We are partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to launch a helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

As the charity warns that 25,000 young people could be at risk this Christmas, we echo William’s call that we must help “our most vulnerable young people”. 

The money raised will do vital work by launching the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, the first such service to deliver essential information to desperate young people in London and beyond.

Together we can help save young people who are at risk of sleeping on the streets. Thank you.

The Duke of Cambridge today joins us in telling Evening Standard readers they have “the chance to save young lives” in a letter marking the start of our Christmas Appeal.

We are partnering with Centrepoint, the youth homeless charity of which Prince William is patron, to launch a helpline for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 

As the charity warns that 25,000 young people could be at risk this Christmas, we echo William’s call that we must help “our most vulnerable young people”. 

The money raised will do vital work by launching the Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline, the first such service to deliver essential information to desperate young people in London and beyond.

Together we can help save young people who are at risk of sleeping on the streets. Thank you.

In a letter to Evening Standard readers, the Duke wrote: “As a society we all have a duty to help our most vulnerable young people. 

“Over the coming weeks you will see and hear more about Centrepoint and the work it does to help young people escape homelessness.

“Ending youth homelessness is not just about putting a roof over someone’s head. It’s about teaching a young person to read and write. 

“It’s about helping them to live with the consequences of abuse and neglect. It’s about stopping people becoming homeless in the first place.

“When a young person’s world falls apart, they have nowhere to go. This is why we are launching the ‘Centerpoint Helpline’ in 2017. 

“‘Centrepoint Helpline’ will provide information and support that vulnerable young people need before they become homeless. 

“Over the past decade I have met hundreds of courageous and inspiring young people trying to escape homelessness.

“Unfortunately their courage alone is not enough.

“Thanks to the Evening Standard, you have the chance to save young lives.”