Dean joined Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire, after alcoholism led to years of sleeping rough.
Our homelessness charity, based in Binley, provides accommodation, support and the opportunity for meaningful work. Dean is now rebuilding his life and gaining skills for the future.
Dean is helping us launch an appeal to ask local people to donate unwanted items of furniture in order to help more vulnerable people when they need it most.
Each year, our Coventry-based charity ensures that around 6,700 pieces of furniture are saved from the rubbish tip, together worth more than £120,000 a year, including wardrobes, beds and three-piece suites. Instead, we offer a free collection service for large items in good condition. The collected goods are then sold in our specialist second-hand furniture shop on Red Lane, to help fund our work.
Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire provides a home, support and meaningful work for up to 17 people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.
Dean was offered a place at Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire in 2020 when he left rehab: “I wanted to go somewhere for a fresh start and needed a place to live. Everyone was really welcoming and I felt accepted immediately. It’s nice to be part of the team here. It feels so good knowing I’ve got a home for as long as I need it.”
Dean is now calling on local people to help: “We’re asking people to take a look around their house, shed, loft and garage – if they have any quality furniture they don’t need, they can call us to book a free collection from their home.”
We’re proud to think that by offering our free furniture collection service we’re doing our bit to encourage people to think more about recycling and helping the environment. It’s a great alternative to having to take your unwanted furniture to the tip. We hope that our local community will pull together to help Emmaus make a difference – everything sold in the shop will raise money to help us support more people who have experienced homelessness to turn their lives around.
To book a free collection for unwanted furniture, please call us on 024 7666 1466 or book an appointment online.