On Tuesday 16 July, we had the pleasure of welcoming a team from St James’s Place for a day of corporate volunteering. The team helped with a variety of tasks, including painting and gardening at our companion house and creating a beaded curtain for our new Cheltenham shop.

Productive and creative day

At Emmaus Gloucestershire, we support people out of homelessness by providing not only accommodation but also work experience opportunities, training and tailored support. Our companion house is home to people who have experienced homelessness and provides a safe and welcoming environment where our companions can live while they are receiving support from our charity.

The volunteer team from St James’s Place helped to spruce up the house, with a freshly painted living room and got to work tidying the garden, offering our companions improved spaces to relax. Those who worked on the beaded curtain were using donated beads that we had been collecting. The finished piece will be hung in our new Cheltenham shop, where the volunteers can see their work in person!

Positive volunteering experience

St James’s Place has numerous offices across the UK, including its head office in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, which is where the team of volunteers we welcomed are based. At the end of the day, we were very happy to receive positive feedback from several volunteers:

“All the staff were friendly and welcoming and took the time to explain what Emmaus is and does for those less fortunate.  I am really pleased I had the opportunity to support such a wonderful charity in a small way – I especially enjoyed helping create the beaded curtain for the new shop and I hope to visit once it’s open to see it in all its glory!”

“Thank you for allowing us to volunteer for your organisation.  Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. I enjoyed the house tour and history that came with it. It was great to spend the day at the venue painting and meet some of the volunteers.”

“I really enjoyed spending the day with the team helping at your HMO in Gloucester, specifically chatting to the companions and understanding what Emmaus does for them. I’m very glad that I was able to play a small part in this.”

“We all had a great day helping at Emmaus, whether we were gardening, painting & decorating, or putting our artistic flair to use through creating bead curtains. It was a great privilege to be able to attend and help, and I truly believe that we all came away feeling rewarded.”

Support from local businesses

We greatly appreciate the support from local businesses, as Lorraine Watson, our Operations Manager, explains:

“It’s wonderful to see local businesses like St James’s Place get involved with our work. Their support is invaluable and demonstrates a strong community spirit. Corporate volunteering not only helps us improve our facilities but also raises awareness about homelessness and the services we provide.”

Volunteer with us as a team

We welcome other businesses interested in corporate volunteering to get in touch with us. Corporate volunteering offers numerous benefits, including team building, enhanced employee engagement, and the satisfaction of contributing to a meaningful cause. Your support can make a real difference in the lives of those we help and foster a sense of community and purpose within your team.

If your business is interested in participating in corporate volunteering, please contact us to learn more about how you can get involved: [email protected]