Local homelessness charity, Emmaus Dover, is celebrating after receiving a £10,000 donation. The donation from the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust (RDHCT) will help build a modern new workshop for repairing donated furniture. Items from the workshop are then sold in the three Emmaus shops in Canterbury, Dover and Ashford. Work on the new workshop will begin in the autumn once all of the funds have been raised.
 
Residents of Emmaus are all formerly homeless and learn new skills in the workshop. They also gain qualifications to test electrical items before they are sold. Part of the donation will also go towards refurbishing the charity’s existing workshop space to become a new warehouse and testing area for electrical items.
 
Lawrence, a resident at Emmaus Dover, said:
 
“I have come on leaps and bounds in the time that I’ve been at Emmaus Dover. I work in the warehouse, in the shop and I’m now a qualified PAT tester. This means I can test electrical items to ensure they are safe to be sold. I like the variety; it keeps me moving – it keeps me alive. My main goal for the future is employment. I am going to look into doing something with the PAT testing and warehouse skills I’ve gained whilst I’ve been here. To be honest, that I am actually still alive now is a miracle in itself. Emmaus has been there for me throughout my journey and I’m truly grateful.”
 
RDHCT Trustees Ben and Josh De Haan visited the project a few months ago and recommended it to their fellow Trustees as worthy of their support. Ben said:
 
“We are impressed by the work that is being undertaken here and we are pleased to provide a grant that will enable Emmaus Dover improve its capacity to help people in need.”
 
Debbie Stevenson, Community Manager at Emmaus Dover, said:
 
“We are grateful to The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust for this donation. The funding will ensure that we can continue to support people who have been homeless and socially excluded by providing a home, training and the opportunity to work.”
 
Emmaus Dover provides long term accommodation, as well as meaningful work, for men and women who have experienced homelessness and social isolation. This stable home environment is often just the support they need rebuild their lives.
 
This year Emmaus Dover are celebrating their 25th anniversary. They are looking to raise £25,000 towards their Building a Better Future project, which will invest in new facilities and create more opportunities for the men and women they support.
 
To find out more about Emmaus Dover or to donate to their Building a Better Future Project please visit www.emmaus.org.uk/dover