Staff and students at Burnley College have presented a donation of £150 and toiletries to support people building back from homelessness, saying they were inspired by a talk from one of the people helped by Emmaus.
Emmaus Burnley and Emmaus Preston Head of Support Karen spoke to students at Burnley College in October. She talked about progressing into support work for Emmaus, after receiving help herself from the charity following periods of homelessness spanning 15 years.
Karen said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity of speaking at Burnley College because it helped me get the message across about what Emmaus does.
“Emmaus is more than a bed for the night. It’s help for as a long as is needed and the charity’s support workers help people progress. By helping people access training as well as skills and experience within different roles in Emmaus charity shops, everyone is working together at Emmaus communities to rebuild lives.
“I’d like to thank Burnley College tutor Louise and her students for hearing my story and for deciding to make such a wonderful donation. It’s very supportive for people helped here to know there are people out there who care.”
Money to support the Emmaus Burnley community comes from fundraising and the sale of new and donated goods at Emmaus Department Store at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre. We also welcome support from local organisations and businesses in the form of pro bono work and corporate social responsibility programmes, which can include volunteering.
There are many different volunteer roles available at Emmaus Burnley’s community home on Old Hall Street in the town and charity department store in Rochdale. To find out more visit Emmaus Burnley’s volunteer page or visit Support Us to find out more about how you can help.