PENZANCE welcomed His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester yesterday (Wednesday, May 13), with drop-ins at YMCA Cornwall, the Gardener’s House and the Morrab Library.

Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, the Duke visited the YMCA Cornwall’s Penzance site, marking a significant moment in the charity’s work to tackle youth homelessness across Cornwall.

YMCA Cornwall provides supported accommodation for young people aged 16 to 24. In Penzance, around 51 young people live on site at any one time, with demand continuing to rise and waiting lists remaining consistently high.

In response to this growing need, YMCA Cornwall launched a major fundraising campaign in summer 2025 to create four additional self‑contained flats by repurposing existing spaces on its site. Kick‑started by a £70,000 donation from the Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation, the appeal exceeded its target early in 2026, enabling the completion of the first flat with the remaining three due for completion this summer.

The Duke toured the site, viewing the new flat, meeting a YMCA Cornwall youth ambassador and speaking with a former resident about her experience in supported housing. He also met the maintenance and project team, hearing about the transformation of existing spaces into high‑quality accommodation and the practical challenges of delivering new homes in Cornwall.

The visit concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the first flat, in the presence of staff, trustees, key supporters and local dignitaries including High Sheriff of Cornwall Harriet Hills, Cornwall Council chairman Cllr Rob Nolan and representatives from the Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation, Penzance Town Council and the Civic Office.

Operations manager Helen Wilson Prowse said: “We were delighted to welcome the Duke to our site to see first-hand the importance of the work we do. The urgent need for safe, supportive homes for young people in Cornwall is sadly growing, but we have demonstrated what can be achieved when communities come together.”

The Duke also met staff, volunteers and partners at the Gardeners’ House in Morrab Gardens, and heard about the organisation’s growing programme of community, heritage and wellbeing activity. Visitors witnessed workshops hosted by fermentation expert Sandor Katz - part of Fermentation, Foraging and the Field, a month-long celebration of land, food and local producers.

“We were pleased to show our visitors the breadth of our community work here in Penwith, and the passion of the people who make it possible,” said Gardeners’ House director Miki Ashton. “We enjoyed the opportunity to share the story of our wonderful new renovated building and garden, and the impact it has on the people that use it every day.”

Next, The Duke was given a tour of the historic Morrab Library, including a display of rare books and archive materials, part of a significant collection built up over some 200 years.

Honorary librarian Harry Spry-Leverton said: “The Morrab is Cornwall’s only independent library, one of fewer than 50 now across the country. This royal visit confers recognition and will be remembered as a memorable occasion.”