A new Emmaus North Staffs initiative to help vulnerable local families has quickly passed the milestone of 200 families supported.
Our Home and Hope project, launched earlier this year, is being run by Emmaus North Staffs Community Support Workers Lucy Eghiaruwa and Naomi Yearde. The project, which has received support from the National Lottery Community Fund, provides tailored support and quality furniture items to vulnerable families.
Following the appointment of Lucy and Naomi, Emmaus North Staffs can offer extra support to people in need. This includes money and benefits advice, health, education and emotional support that can be provided either at a person’s home or at our charity’s premises.
Since April of this year, more than 200 individuals from across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme have received tailored support.
“We have been running several different workshops since the project started where we have been able to identify the needs of local families,” says Lucy.
“People come to us for support either via the charity’s current referral system or by coming into the shop and talking to us in person.
“It is not always easy to ask for help and people can be quite isolated when not knowing where to turn or what support is out there which is why we started the Home and Hope project.
“In the last six months since starting the project, we have already supported more than 200 people and the need is very much there.”
Lucy added: “Our workshops have been a good way to provide support in educating people on things like finances and how to access support with food and furniture.
“We meet a lot of people who may have been provided with a property, but have no means of getting furniture for themselves – which is heartbreaking really.”
Working together to help people in need
One way in which Lucy and Naomi are aiming to reach more people in need over the coming months is by linking in with other local organisations.
“We are already in talks with several other charities and community groups to see if there are ways in which we can collaborate to support more people together,” said Lucy.
“If we can find those links together, then we will be able to help more people seek help with finances as well as household items and food.”
John Webbe, Executive Lead of Emmaus North Staffs, said: “The support from the National Lottery Community Fund has been a great help in enabling us to provide extra services to local families.
“The work Lucy and Naomi have already done since joining our charity has been incredible and we are looking forward to expanding on this together for the future.”
More free-to-attend workshops will be taking place at our charity in the coming months and Lucy and Naomi are also planning on visiting more people out in the community.
Find out more about our Home & Hope project today.