Emmaus Cambridge is committed to serving first those most in need. We call this ‘solidarity’.
The initial act of solidarity in the UK was given to Emmaus Cambridge in 1991 by Emmaus France, which gifted £50,000 to the founders of this community, with the express wish that it was given to another community when Cambridge could afford it. That £50,000 was transferred to Emmaus Coventry in 2001 and has continued to be recycled ever since in the form of solidarity grants.
Our Board of Trustees have always felt that Emmaus Cambridge should support other Emmaus communities and groups as well as those outside our movement who are in need.
Whilst the social enterprise exists first and foremost to generate the income for the community’s work with formerly homeless and socially excluded people, provision is therefore also made to carry out acts of solidarity.
What acts of solidarity does Emmaus Cambridge do?
Acts of solidarity can vary from small acts of kindness to major initiatives involving large amounts of money, goods, time or all of these.
- We provide donated second-hand furniture, other essential household items such as crockery, electrical goods, clothing and bed linen to people moving on from homelessness, at risk of homelessness or experiencing poverty. These packages are accessed through a referral from Cambridge Aid. To put in a request for solidarity, contact Cambridge Aid or with an alternative agency.
- Emmaus Cambridge has, for some years, supported the Emmaus Satu Mare community in Romania by sending containers of goods for them to sell. We estimate that a shipping cost to us of about £1,500 can be turned into a possible income of between £6,000 and £10,000 for them.
- Some of our companions have taken part in Emmaus work experience exchanges in Europe and farther afield. These camps help developing communities with building and other work.
- Staff and companions have taken part in ‘litter picks’ in Landbeach and Waterbeach helping to keep our local communities tidy.
- We have recently partnered with ‘CamCRAG’ – a Cambridge based charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers in Calais. Staff and companions took part in a sponsored ‘sleep out’ to raise funds and we have donated sleeping bags and tents.
- We claim housing benefit to support the people who live at Emmaus Cambridge th the people we refer to as our companions. Where we are unable to secure housing benefit, we have a limited number of ‘Solidarity Beds’ for companions who have no recourse to public funds. This enables these individuals to also make Emmaus Cambridge their home and access the same support as other companions.
- We supported Emmaus Suffolk by helping to cover overheads whilst they became established, and we now supply them with textiles which they sell in their social enterprises to raise funds for their community.
- Every year we hold a ‘solidarity day’ for the benefit of Emmaus International. They then distribute funds to Emmaus groups worldwide.
- We have recently formed a companion solidarity group. Companions have a monthly budget of money and/or goods that enable them to award and distribute up to £250 per month to worthy causes of their choice. This is proving highly successful and has engaged more companions in solidarity.
- Our contribution to the Emmaus Movement: In June 2024, Emmaus Cambridge transferred £16,654.53 to Emmaus International, £2,786.17 to Emmaus Europe and £5,530.18 to Emmaus UK. A total of £24,971.69 which will help the important work of Emmaus to continue around the world.