How to Join Emmaus Gloucestershire
Emmaus Gloucestershire endeavours to provide the opportunity for homeless and other socially disadvantaged people to regain control of their lives by living and working alongside others in a supportive environment. Its success depends on creating and maintaining a stable community and therefore before anyone is accepted detailed assessments of need and risk are undertaken. Emmaus Gloucestershire will take applicants who present complex problems provided the community as a whole is able to support them.
The overriding principles in deciding on admission are
1) whether the community can provide a safe environment for the applicant, the community and others and
2) whether the community can meet the needs and offer appropriate support to an applicant.
The community is fully committed to an equal opportunities policy and will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, marital status, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, political opinion, disability, sexual orientation or past criminal convictions except as stated in these criteria unless it can be shown to be justified. Guidance for applicants is as follows:
1) Applicants must be over 18
2) The community is predominantly made up of single people and preference will be given to single applicants
3) No children are accepted into the community
4) Applicants should not have any serious mental health issues
5) Applicants should not use drugs or have high alcohol addiction. Applicants will be considered who have recently undertaken a detox programme or are on a drug treatment programme.
It is important to advise us of any support needs you may have such as alcohol or drug dependency or mental health needs. As an organization we work closely with the local drug and alcohol support services so the offer of a place may be conditional upon securing their support. The information we ask for is to enable us to assess and put in place any extra support you may need.
Evidence of previous conduct in any Emmaus community will be taken into account. The Community Manager may impose additional conditions as part of an offer for a placement to meet the applicant’s needs and mitigate potential risks. If Emmaus Gloucestershire cannot meet the applicant's need or the risk posed is too great, then every effort will be made to signpost the prospective applicant to different organisations.
On joining the Community, Companions commit to:
1) Volunteer for 40 hours per week, working to the best of your ability
2) Sign-off front line state benefits
3) Live by the principles of respect and helping others to live, grow and find dignity through sharing, work and friendship
4) Bring no alcohol or illegal drugs into the Community
5) Understand that no violent, aggressive, or discriminatory behaviour is tolerated, and abide by this rule
6) Perform no paid work outside the Community or draw any money other than their Community allowance except in limited circumstances and with agreement of the Community Manager
Emmaus Gloucestershire will claim basic Housing benefit which is paid directly into the Community's account although not being entitled to this will not rule you out of having a place. In return for this, the community provides Companions with a room, all food and board together with a 'pocket money' payment of £35 and a saving of £7 per week is put away so that no-one leaves the community empty-handed.
Potential Companions can either refer themselves or can be referred by a third party (probation officer, support worker for example) with their permission. The first step should always be to talk to the Community Manager, Karen Brown, about life at Emmaus Gloucestershire. She can arrange for you to receive the referral form or you can download the document here. Referrals for serving prisoners are handled slightly differently. Please contact Karen in the first instance in plenty of time (at least two months if at all possible) before your release date.
Once completed the forms can be returned to Karen either by post, fax 01452 551141, or via email to karen@emmausglos.org.uk. Karen will acknowledge receipt of the referral form and then liaise with you regarding your application.
Emmaus Gloucestershire offers a place for as long as you are happy to comply with the basic ground rules of the Community. For some people this may be a matter of weeks or months, but for others this may be for longer or even forever. Moreover we accept that sometimes people make mistakes. It may be necessary to ask someone to leave if they are not ready for Emmaus. However, this will not be held against them and the door will be open for them to try again when they are ready to do so.