We’ve won a coveted national award in recognition of the “hugely positive” community impact of our social enterprise!
A judging panel from Homeless Link, the national membership body for organisations supporting homeless people, selected Emmaus Hertfordshire as Social Enterprise of the Year at its annual Excellence Awards. The judges commended our upcycling efforts and hugely successful charity shop, Out of the Emmaus Workshop, which is based in St Peters Street, St Albans.
Duncan Lewis, our Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to receive this award by Homeless Link which recognises the positive impact that our upcycling workshops are having on the lives of the people we support.
“Our workshop enables our companions to learn new skills and develop a love for carpentry, upholstery, needlework, and furniture restoration, while also having the satisfaction of seeing their incredible transformations being sold in the Out of the Emmaus Workshop in St Albans.
“We are extremely proud to be a charity whose very foundation of success is all thanks to the people helped here, whose skills and talents are encouraged and developed, and who bring positive benefits to their own lives and people in the wider community.
“This award is for each and every one of our companions, as well as our staff, volunteers, trustees and supporters. We couldn’t do it without them!”
Social Enterprise of the Year
The award recognises social enterprises with ‘a clear mission and strategic direction alongside a social impact that is creating better outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness’.
Rick Henderson, Chief Executive at Homeless Link, said: “Homeless Link’s Excellence Awards highlight the innovative, impactful and tireless work happening across the country to ensure that people have a place to call home and the support they need to keep it. This year, as homelessness organisations navigate soaring demand and cuts to funding, it feels more important than ever to recognise these efforts.
“Emmaus Hertfordshire’s Out of the Emmaus Workshop has a hugely positive impact on its local community, supporting its companions to build their skill set, while being meaningfully employed, thereby empowering them to go on to secure jobs with other organisations. We congratulate them on receiving this award.”
The shortlist for the award included organisations of all sizes from across the country, from projects showing innovative cross-sector collaborations with health to innovative housing solutions and specialist support for asylum seekers, women and people described as “hard to reach”.