PRINCE WILLIAM’S HOMEWARDS PROGRAMME AND THE RT HON GORDON BROWN JOIN FORCES TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS WITH MAJOR RETAILERS’ SUPPORT

The Royal Foundation’s Homewards Programme has announced a landmark partnership with The Multibank. The charity, whose President is The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, will become an Activator, supporting Homewards’ mission to demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness, making it rare, brief and unrepeated.

As an Activator – and as part of this new partnership – The Multibank has committed to furnish an initial 250 homes delivered through Homewards’ Innovative Housing Projects [IHPs] as well as other housing initiatives supported by the programme. The Multibank rescues goods – from furniture to homeware – from UK business surplus stocks and redistributes them to help people all over the UK. This new partnership will operate across Homewards’ six flagship locations – Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland and Sheffield – and aims to connect national businesses with local projects, charities and organisations, ensuring high quality goods get to the people who need them.

This furniture offer is also backed by some of the UK’s biggest retailers who have also committed to supplying furniture and fittings across an initial 250 homes. These include: B&Q, Bosch Home Appliances, DFS Group and IKEA [also a Homewards Activator] and will act as supporting partners. IKEA has already been supporting Homewards IHPs with brand new furniture donations and through this furniture offer, are increasing their commitment to the programme. Through these partnerships, over one million pounds worth of essential items will be supplied to homes across the UK.

The Rt Hon. Gordon Brown, President of The Multibank, said: “Companies have the goods people need and local charities know the people who need them. The Multibank is delighted to become a Homewards Activator and we all look forward to working with Prince William and his Homewards team to provide safe and secure places, where we hope people can thrive.

The announcement marks the scaling of Homewards Aberdeen’s successful innovative housing project [IHP] model to all four nations, showcasing how businesses can play a positive role in preventing homelessness. Read more about the IHP here.

For more information, please visit the Homewards website and follow Homewards Instagram and X channels.