Hampshire’s unique, long-term solution to homelessness is inviting people behind the scenes of its Bar End community throughout Winchester Green Week.
Emmaus Hampshire will demonstrate the charity’s efforts to protect the environment. The whole community will be open for tours from 10.00am-5.00pm from Monday 23 to Friday 27 September, at Bar End Road, Winchester, SO23 9BN.
The display will include the first public demonstration of its unique Carbon Calculator, which was a Winchester Business Excellence Award winner in 2024.
Its creator, Emmaus Companion John Jarrett, says, “We hope this open day will encourage both donors and customers to join us on the journey to create a fairer and more sustainable society.”
On a tour of Emmaus Hampshire facilities, visitors will:
- See the launch of the Emmaus Carbon Calculator which quantifies the CO2e savings on 80 different product categories. Emmaus Hampshire thinks it is the first second hand charity retailer to develop and license such an extensive product
- Visit the Repair Shop – where Companions reuse, restore and upcycle furniture and homewares
- Visit its small Recycling Centre – where the community strips steel, aluminium, and copper from products it cannot sell and makes cash from metal dealers. The centre also undertakes electrical safety and technology repairs to ensure Emmaus Hampshire resells as many second-hand electricals as it can
- View and buy pre-loved fashion and upcycled furniture
- Meet staff and trustees to find out more about volunteering in the community
Visitors can also visit the community’s wildlife garden, see newts in the pond and bees in the bee house. The community, which caters for up to 40 formerly homeless people, is built to high environmental standards with a green roof.
On Thursday 26 September, trustees will be on hand to speak to visitors about volunteering and the charity will offer free tea and cake in its Green Roof Café.
Nigel Samuels, chief executive of Emmaus Hampshire, says, “We often hear that sustainability and economic development are incompatible. Our community proves this is a misconception; both are vital and both are achievable.”