Breaking the cycle: Our answer to Prince William
Oct 20, 2026
A question from Prince William
What does it really take to help a young person move from homelessness into a stable working life? That was the question at the heart of a recent visit from Homewards, the programme led by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, as they looked at the impact of Change Please’s work across Northern Ireland and the UK.
During the visit, Prince William asked our Managing Director for Northern Ireland and Ireland, Alpana, what Homewards could learn from our work with young people in Belfast. Her answer goes to the core of how we think about employment and homelessness.
Look at the big picture
“The key thing when working with young people is to focus on the big picture. Someone might be employment-ready at the start, but they might hit a bump in the road. The most important thing is to make sure they’re supported to get back into sustained employment. It’s not about getting them the first job, it’s about making sure they’re supported enough to stay in work and break the cycle of homelessness.”
— Alpana, Managing Director, Change Please Ireland
For Alpana and the team, having our work in Belfast recognised in this way was a surreal and proud moment.
Why the first job is only the beginning
Landing a job is a milestone, but it isn’t the finish line. For a young person who has experienced homelessness, the months after starting work can be the hardest. A change in housing, a family crisis or a dip in confidence can knock anyone off course.
That’s why our focus goes beyond placement. We want every person we work with to have the support around them to keep going when things get tough, and to get back on track if they stumble. Sustained employment brings a steady income, routine and confidence. Over time, that’s what breaks the cycle of homelessness for good.
Our work in Northern Ireland and the UK
Across Northern Ireland and the UK, Change Please trains and employs people who have experienced homelessness as baristas, giving them paid work, skills and the wraparound support to build a stable future. Every cup of our coffee helps fund that work.
The Homewards visit was a chance to share what we’ve learned on the ground, and to show how a social enterprise model can play a part in ending homelessness.
In 2025, we delivered 21,715 hour of paid barista training in Northern Ireland and UK., and 35,000 hours of employment provided through our partners.
Thank you
A huge thank you to The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Homewards team, including Neil Taylor, Annie Gale and Katrina Mcilmail, for this honour. Thank you too to Cemal Ezel OBE, Robert Gillon and Dave Pepper for being part of the day.
Want to be part of the change? Every bag of Change Please coffee helps people experiencing homelessness into sustained, meaningful work. Shop our coffee or talk to us about stocking Change Please in your business.
Photo credit: Kensington Palace
