At Emmaus, it’s really important to us to create an environment where everyone is welcomed and celebrated.
For the past few months, Lee from Penny Meadow Skills & Sensory Day Centre has joined us at our workshop. Lee gains work experience with us once a week, helping to sort donations, construct furniture, and arrange displays in our shops.
Penny Meadow is part of Achieve together, a leading national provider of support for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The Day Centre supports people with complex needs, including physical disabilities, autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and mental health conditions.
Penny Meadow offers day support for people, on a 1-1 or group basis. The centre offers a range of activities, sports, and experiences to provide people with opportunities to build life skills, confidence, and new interests. The centre also collaborates with local organisations to secure work experience placements for people they support.
Claire, a Support Worker at Penny Meadow says: “Each day at Penny Meadow is different. We want to help people build life skills that could lead to a more independent life.
“Lee receives one-to-one support from us each week. He is a wonderful person who loves coming to Emmaus and being part of the team. Lee has an eye condition that makes him very sensitive to light and some risks come with that when working in a busy environment. Not everyone would welcome Lee with open arms, but Emmaus did and that means a lot to both of us.”
Lee also shares: “I like coming to Penny Meadow I get to muck in with lots of activities and spend time with my mates. At Emmaus, I help with the vans, moving furniture, learning to use tools, and how to PAT test. I like working with the guys here, and I feel like one of the gang.”
At Emmaus Colchester, we provide a home, work opportunities, training, and therapeutic support for people who have experienced homelessness & trauma. At our accommodation, 32 residents, known as companions, live together in a community and are supported to rebuild their lives.
We’re passionate about community building and creating an environment where everyone can learn and thrive.
Darren Scott, Business Manager, shares “It’s been great having Lee with us at the warehouse, he’s been getting involved in lots of tasks and projects and has turned his hand to everything. Our companions love to meet new volunteers and support other people to gain new skills.”
A huge thank you to Lee and Penny Meadow Day Centre for your support!
If you’d like to find out more about our volunteer placements, get in touch via [email protected]