Emmaus (Gloucestershire)
Lorraine and Kirstin gave us an excellent talk in November about the Emmaus organisation. Emmaus does much more than just fund-raising for homelessness. Emmaus is an international organization. It is a social enterprise that supports homeless people by offering them accommodation (Emmaus Gloucestershire has a 26-bed house in Gloucester) and giving them a sense of purpose, training and skills. It helps them find a way back into employment and eventually back into independent living, where possible. Emmaus Gloucestershire has two shops in Nailsworth and shops in Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
There are lots of background problems that homeless people may have encountered, including depression, anxiety, addiction, rough sleeping, suicide attempts, so that it takes time for them to trust people again. Emmaus offers help when the homeless person is ready to accept this.
The homeless people who come to Emmaus are called ‘companions’. Companions are gradually supported in improving their skills (some of the companions work in the Emmaus shops, so please understand that they may have had a very difficult time). They are supported in acquiring new skills including life skills, IT skills, driving and associated skills (e.g. forklift truck training), with the focus being for the companion to be able to work to the best of their ability. Some of the companions will never be ready to live independently, but others are supported through the transition so that they are looking forward to the future when they are ready to move on (there is no set timetable – people move on when they are ready).
Most of the companions are men, but there are some women and also some married couples. They are all adults (18 or over).
How can we help? Emmaus is keen to get hats, gloves etc to keep their companions warm.