Emmaus is a homelessness charity that provides more than just a bed for the night.
We offer a home for as long as someone needs it and meaningful work in our social enterprise. The combination of living in a stable environment and the opportunity to work helps people to regain lost self-esteem and the confidence to get back on their feet.
Like any flourishing community, Emmaus is most successful when everyone makes a contribution. Therefore, for us that means volunteering together in a social enterprise. This helps to generate funds needed to support our community and the companions who call it home.
People are expected to volunteer up to 40 hours per week in our social enterprise. They must sign off all benefits with the exception of housing benefit, which is claimed to help support the community. Self-sufficiency is the ultimate goal is for each community. This means supporting itself with the revenue it generates through its social enterprise businesses.
The Emmaus model has a huge impact on restoring confidence and self-respect. People are shown they have the ability to take responsibility for keeping their community going and work hard to support themselves and others.
Emmaus is not about hand-outs, it’s about providing people with the tools to help themselves. This approach has been proven to produce long-term, sustainable results. For the many people who have been stuck in a cycle of homelessness, Emmaus provides the space and support they need to take stock of their lives and make positive changes for the future.
Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney is part of a large network, or federation, or Emmaus communities around the UK and across the world.
Since the first Emmaus community was opened by Selwyn Image in Cambridge in 1991, Emmaus has grown quickly. There are now 29 communities spread across the UK, with a further five groups currently working to establish new communities.
There are now more than 850 Emmaus companions living at communities stretching from Glasgow to Hastings. Each one has at least one shop or social enterprise, with many running successful cafés, shops, gardening projects and house clearance and removal companies.
The UK is now home to the largest Emmaus movement outside of France. However you will find Emmaus communities across the globe.
The first Emmaus was set up in France in 1971 and today Emmaus International is made up of 425 member organisations across 41 different countries. This includes countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
These organisations run income-generating activities at local level with people who have experienced social exclusion to access their fundamental rights and, through their collective action, demonstrate there are credible alternatives to injustice.
For every £1 spent with Emmaus there is an £11 social, economic and environmental return on investment.
This was the finding of a social return on investment study carried out on behalf of Emmaus UK. The research showed that we make a significant impact with savings to the healthcare system, a reduction in crime and re-offending as well as savings to the benefits bill.