A home for as long as you need one

A home for as long as you need one

There’s no limit on how long you can live with us here at Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney. This stability offers people the chance opportunity to rebuild their lives following homelessness.

Our companions each have their own bedrooms, with all the normal living expenses covered. We all eat delicious home-cooked meals together in a communal dining room and encourage companions to socialise in our communal spaces.

Although our community is set within the stunning ground of the All Hallows Convent, we are a non-religious organisation and open to people of all faiths and none.

If a person is accepted at Emmaus, they must sign off all benefits with the exception of Housing Benefit. Emmaus claims this to help to support the community.

Join our community
Work experience

Work experience

We know that it takes more than just a roof over someone’s head to help someone overcome homelessness. That’s why, unlike hostels, we ask people to volunteer up to 40 hours per a week in our social enterprise, with 20 days leave to use throughout the year.

This give our companions the chance to gain hands-on work experience and build their confidence.  Volunteering roles working within our charity shops, sorting stock and serving customers,  van driving, collecting donations and making deliveries to customers. Companions also work in “housekeeping”, helping to keep our community and our communal areas at Ditchingham clean and tidy.

Training opportunities

Training opportunities

We also support our companions by providing relevant training opportunities. Free training is provided in health and safety, first aid, manual handling, food hygiene and other subjects as relevant.

Opportunities are provided to access other courses too. People can apply for the Emmaus UK Companion Training Fund to help cover the costs.

Emmaus supports companions in pursuing their goals; holistically and financially. The types of activities can include formal courses and qualifications, sporting activities, hobbies, visits to other Emmaus communities in the UK and abroad and group activities

These opportunities can help companions to develop new skills (or build on existing ones), boost their confidence, improve mental and/or physical health and wellbeing and increase employability.

Fun!

Fun!

We believe that life should be fun, which is why we give our companions lots of opportunities to let their hair down and enjoy some free time.

Our companions are encouraged to continue with their hobbies while living with us or take up new ones. Our idyllic setting is the perfect location for exploring nature, while we are close enough to the coast to enjoy days out at the seaside.

Some of our companions regularly attend sports clubs and activities locally, while we also run optional group activities such as a book group and regular walks.

We even have our own forge on site so that companions can learn some blacksmith skills which they can use to upcycle some of the items donated to us, or create their own works of art.