The charity currently supports up to 34 companions (formerly homeless people) by giving them a home, meaningful work, and an opportunity to regain lost self-esteem to help rebuild their lives. The build will provide the charity with the perfect opportunity to support yet more vulnerable adults, who come to Emmaus homeless, and often lacking in confidence.
While building work began on Thursday January 4 2018, the launch - taking place on Tuesday 23 January - marks the transformation of the shop’s foyer (Green End, Landbeach) into a central information and fundraising point for the project. The local charity hopes to raise the remaining £150,000 by asking for donations. Visitors are invited to become part of our community by purchasing and signing a brick for £5 which will form part of a feature at the community, or by making any other donation that they would like too. We will give people the opportunity to read first-hand how Emmaus Cambridge has changed the lives of its companions, and monitor the progress via a fundraising thermometer and pictures of the works-in-progress.
Speaking of why the expansion is so important, Community Director, Diane Docherty says: “We have been working towards expanding our community for the last couple of years, it is really important and very timely for us to have started this build now, especially in the light of the growing levels of homelessness that are being experienced across the country.”
You can follow the campaign or have your say on social media by using the hashtag #10FreshStarts. For more information on the build, please contact [email protected]
- Emmaus Cambridge supports up to 34 formerly homeless people by giving them a home, meaningful work in a social enterprise and an opportunity to regain lost self-esteem to help rebuild their lives
- There are currently 29 Emmaus communities across the country, supporting more than 750 companions (formerly homeless people) in the UK. In addition there are four Emmaus groups, all of which are working towards setting up an Emmaus community in their area. Emmaus aims to offer 1,000 companion places by 2020
- Social enterprise is central to the Emmaus model as it provides meaningful work for companions but also generates funding to maintain communities. Companions living in Emmaus communities are expected to sign off all benefits, with the exception of housing benefit, which is used to help to support the community. The rest of the funding that is needed is generated through social enterprise and fundraising
- Emmaus communities deliver a significant return on investment. Research shows that for every £1 invested in a community, there is an £11 return, with savings to the benefits bill, health services and a reduction in crime reoffending