Camilla Parker Bowles joins charity for homeless 'summit'

Published on Thursday 21 October 2010 13:46

The achievements of a unique charity which tackles homelessness through self-supporting communities has been held up as an example of how to combat the issue at discussions joined by the Duchess of Cornwall.

Camilla is the patron of the UK branch of Emmaus, a French organisation which gives rough sleepers a place to live, work and a sense of belonging in its special homes.

The working practices of the charity on both sides of the Channel and how they can be better applied to the socially excluded was the topic of talks among leading politicians, housing experts and senior Emmaus staff from the UK and the Continent.

The duchess joined the conclusion of the meeting hosted by the French ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne at his official residence in Kensington, west London.

Among those around the table were Benoist Apparu, France's secretary of state for housing and planning, and Richard Blakeway, housing adviser to London mayor Boris Johnson.

The duchess has been the figurehead of Emmaus UK since August 2006 and last year she opened its Oxford community.