Emmaus North East’s busy workshop will ensure hundreds of homes all over the region will be sporting handmade decorations this Christmas.
Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, our charity, which works to combat homelessness, is decking out our stores with a new Christmas range, offering the perfect addition to any festive display. Wooden stars, Christmas trees, roof top scenes, and Angels of the North are among the decorations being lovingly crafted in Emmaus NE’s South Shields workshop by squads of willing helpers as well as some of the charity’s companions who have all experienced homelessness.
Ruth Parker is the Chief Executive, said: “For the past few years, our fantastic staff, companions and volunteers at the workshop have been designing and making an ever-growing range of Christmas products which give homes all over the North East a special festive feel. As well as providing really lovely decorations, our Christmas range offer shoppers the chance to help improve the lives of people who have found themselves homeless in the North East.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved – especially the amazing volunteers who have given up their time make sure all our shops are well stocked for Christmas.”
The Christmas range will be on sale at Emmaus NE shops in Low Fell, Hebburn and the recently opened superstore at the Viking Centre in Jarrow.
Newcastle-based digital customer service company, Concentrix, are among the North East businesses which offer employees the chance to take time out of their working day to put in a shift at Emmaus NE. Sporting a lovely Christmas jumper, Coral Shaw, Employee Engagement Officer at Concentrix, said: “This is the second project we’ve worked on with Emmaus after bringing some staff over to help with the opening of the Jarrow store earlier this year.
“We’ve all absolutely loved spending time at the workshop – everyone has really got into it and is very proud of what they’ve created. It has been a lovely way to kick off Christmas.”
This year’s volunteer recruitment has been boosted by Emmaus NE’s recently launched Community Activator Programme, which aims to address the problem of chronic loneliness in South Tyneside by increasing the number of people who regularly volunteer.
Programme manager, Carol Hallett, who took up the role in September, said: “As well as providing an invaluable resource to charitable organisations like Emmaus NE, regular volunteering also offers the opportunity for people to develop skills, build relationships and positively impact their mental health.
“We’ve already had a terrific response to the Community Activator Programme and look forward to fostering strong relationships with groups across the borough to widen the Emmaus NE family. The Christmas craft volunteering sessions at the workshop have been filled with a wonderfully festive atmosphere… and the odd bit of good humoured, creative competition!”
For more information on Emmaus NE, visit www.emmaus.org.uk