Emmaus UK Contact eNewsletter EmmausNet Twitter Facebook Donate Donate Home What we do About us Get involved Shop Latest Your local Emmaus Home › Latest › News Latest News Appeals Blogs Research eNewsletter Friday 4 April 2014 Duchy provides cash for community kitchen The Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund has made a grant to equip a kitchen for a new community for homeless people in Salford. On Friday 4 April Paul Griffiths, High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, on behalf of the Trustees of the Duchy of Lancaster, presented a cheque for £5,000 to Emmaus Salford to equip the new kitchen for the accommodation block in Pendleton. The new Emmaus community, which is set to open its doors later this year, will provide a home for 26 people, known as companions, who have experienced homelessness. The High Sheriff was joined by volunteers who have worked tirelessly to get this community off the ground, as well as companions from neighbouring Emmaus community in Mossley. Other supporters include volunteers from Salford CVS and Network Rail who have given their time to help renovate the accommodation and get it ready for opening. This team of volunteers has overseen the conversion of Emmaus House, a former council building, into a shop and accommodation block which will provide private rooms alongside a communal kitchen, dining and living area. The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Paul Griffiths said; “The Greater Manchester committee of the Fund are pleased to support Emmaus as it continues to create self-sustaining communities and helps homeless people develop skills to work. Through their work they develop strong links to the local community and organisations, all of which is important in creating permanent jobs and a range of volunteering opportunities for local people”. The shop will sell good quality second hand furniture, clothing and bric-a-brac that have been donated by local people. Emmaus is a homelessness charity with a difference. Offering more than just a bed for the night, the charity provides a home and meaningful work to those who have experienced homelessness. Valerie Burgoyne is chair of the Emmaus group in Salford and has worked with a team of volunteers and staff to get the community open. She said: “This is the culmination of years of work by a dedicated team of volunteers. We know that homelessness is an issue in Salford and Manchester, and our new community will give 26 people a chance to change their lives, with a stable home and meaningful work. “Emmaus makes a difference as we provide a home for as long as someone needs it, not just a bed for the night. This stability, combined with the sense of purpose that comes from working to support yourself and others, means it is more likely the companions Emmaus supports will find a way out of homelessness in the long term.” Emmaus Salford will be the 25th Emmaus community to open in the UK and the fifth in the North West. Nationally the charity is supporting more than 600 people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion. In order to live in an Emmaus community, companions must sign off all benefits, with the exception of housing benefit, and agree to work full time in the charity’s social enterprise. In return they are provided with a home for as long as they need it, as well as food, basic clothing and a weekly allowance. Research shows that for every £1 spent with Emmaus, there is an £11 social return on investment, with saving to the benefits bill, heathcare costs, a reduction in crime reoffending and environmental benefits. Paul Barnes is a companion at Emmaus Mossley, which opened 16 years ago. He said: “Emmaus has been brilliant for me. It gives me somewhere to live and something to do every day. “People get the wrong idea about homelessness, they can think it’s just alcoholics and drug users. In reality all it can take is a relationship break down or a run of bad luck and you could end up with no-where to go. “Emmaus gives you a home and stability. You can take pride in knowing you’re supporting your community and yourself. I know what a difference Emmaus has made to me, and the new community in Salford will do the same for others who might be living on the streets, helping them to get their lives back on track.” Tweet Return to news Back to top ↑ Our stories "I’ve now got a safe place to live and working in my community’s social enterprise is teaching me so many things." Lin's story Emmaus has given me the foundations to start paving a way forward for myself. Fiona's story Read more stories Emmaus UK 76-78 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8DZ, Charity Number: 1064470 Company Number 3422341 E: contact@emmaus.org.uk Don't forget to Follow and Like us Facebook Twitter Sitemap Accessibility Privacy & cookie policy site by tictoc