University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) medical students have been speaking to companions about how Emmaus helps homeless people.
Third year students, Alexa and Rubiya, are volunteering for two days for the next few weeks to learn more about homelessness and how people can get help from Emmaus.
The students are finding out about how people can join Emmaus Preston and more about the role of support workers, within Emmaus Preston’s three charity stores and its community home.
Finding out on work placement
Alexa said: “We’ve been finding out how homelessness impacts on a person’s health and how people are overcoming problems and challenges with the help of Emmaus. In other words, how people are developing skills for life here.
“Emmaus helps individuals become self-sustainable, with time to recover and the skills to move out and the ability to work independently.”
Discovering more as a volunteer
Rubiya said: “What I’ve found interesting is how overall the support is here, to help a person’s every need. Skills are needed in psychology, social health and support moving on with life while people are here. There’s help finding people a job and a home.
“It’s non-judgemental here and I’m learning conversation skills about the way people talk to other people. I’m finding it very interesting.”
If you would like to volunteer on work placement at Emmaus Preston or take a look at all our volunteer roles and opportunities, please get get in touch using our online volunteer form here.