Prince William, Patron of Centrepoint, a British youth charity, helped give the charity’s new fundraising album, 1969 Key to Change, a bit of publicity at its launch party on October 4.
The album’s release is part of the organization’s 40th anniversary festivities. The album is a compilation of song hits from 1969, the year Centrepoint was founded, covered by artists including The Smith’s Johnny Marr, The Feeling, Mick Hucknall and Jools Holland.
The pianist Jools Holland says, “when someone like Prince William is involved it increases the chance of the charity being a success.”
1969 Key to Change is exclusively available for purchase on the online music store fairsharemusic.com, a social enterprise started this year that donates 50 per cent of its revenue to charitable organisations like Centrepoint.
Chief Resources Officer at Centrepoint, Stuart Rogers, confirms that “4.45 pounds (5 euros) from each album is going towards giving homeless young people a brighter future.”
The organisation works to improve the lives of street kids in the United Kingdom through its “safe point” centre, training programmes and counselling services. According to Centrepoint, in 2006-2007 at least 75,000 young people experienced homelessness in the UK.
Addressing businesswomen at a fundraiser for the event last Thursday, Prince William said the organisation “has developed a model of best practice for all who work to eradicate homelessness.”
The Prince has been associated with the charity since he was a boy. His mother, the late Princess of Wales Diana, was also a Patron of the charity and the two would often visit the organisation and meet with the disadvantaged young people the charity works with.
Last December his work with the charity made headlines when he spent the night on the streets in minus 4 degree weather to raise awareness of the conditions facing the homeless.
