Emmaus North East

http://www.emmaus.org.uk/northeast/

Emmaus is a homelessness charity providing more than just a bed for the night to people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.

We provide a home for as long as someone needs it and meaningful work in our social enterprise. Living in a stable environment with the opportunity to work helps our companions, as residents are known, to regain lost self-esteem and the confidence to get back on their feet.

 

Our vision

Our vision is to enable homeless people to rebuild their lives through a social enterprise that enriches and involves the local community.  An Emmaus community, once established, turns ‘charity’ on its head.

• Our Emmaus community will aim to be self-funding within 3-5 years, using the money generated through our social enterprise.
• It will be a flagship social enterprise in the North East, working in partnership with local councils, other charitable bodies and community groups such as schools and churches.
• We will provide work, a home and companionship for up to 15 people in our first year, as well as creating jobs for local people and lots of volunteering opportunities too.
• Our shop in Low fell already employs two local staff and has a highly valued team of volunteers.
• Our Emmaus community – like the others spread across the UK  and abroad – will help people who have been homeless to discover new confidence and self-respect through working with others and contributing to the life of the wider community.

• By helping to address homelessness and unemployment in the North East, our Emmaus community will save the taxpayer over £500,000 every year.

 

 

We are setting up the first Emmaus community in the North East, providing a home and meaningful employment to formerly homeless people in the area.

We recently started work on a project in South Tyneside and we are also developing another in Gateshead. Both areas have been identified as needing services that will provide a long-term, sustainable route out of homelessness.

We’re currently raising money complete work on our new South Tyneside community. Our first social enterprise, a charity shop in Low Fell, sells second-hand items to generate money for our community.