Having opened our Emporium in August 2021, Emmaus South Manchester is still a relatively new charity. We’re steadily building the support, resources and funds to open an Emmaus residential community to help people who experience homelessness. On our journey to open a new community, we’re keen to do all we can to support our local community and particularly, people living in poverty and those experiencing social injustice.
Across the UK, there are 30 Emmaus communities and we are one of three Emmaus groups working to establish new communities. We’re all part of an international solidarity-based movement that gathers people together who may, or may not, have experienced exclusion first-hand. Solidarity is one of the core values of Emmaus. Everyone involved at an Emmaus community or group is encouraged to carry out acts of solidarity, to help those less fortunate than themselves.
What is solidarity?
A simple definition of solidarity is; unity, agreement and support resulting from shared interests, feelings or actions. Within the Emmaus movement, solidarity actions cover human, material and financial support, and participation in common initiatives, according to ability at local, national, regional and international levels.
Here in Wythenshawe, Emmaus South Manchester has embraced solidarity from the start and below you can see just some of the local actions we have taken.
- Free books and DVDs – Within our Community Café, we provided a selection of books and DVDs for people to take or borrow.
- Donations of textiles – Thanks to a generous donation from a local business, we received rolls and rolls of high-quality fabric, some of which we donated on to Emmaus Bolton and Emmaus Mossley.
- Free draft excluders – To help people through the cost-of-living crisis during winter 2022, our textile volunteers created handmade draft excluders which were offered free of charge to people who needed them.
- Donations of furniture – Working with partners in the local area, we have donated more than 50 pieces of furniture to vulnerable people, refugees and asylum seekers.
- Donations of baby items – We regularly donate baby accessories including car seats, prams, toys, books, bottles, sterilisers and baby baths to a local nursery and via referral partners.
- Support for people who are street homeless – When we can, we donate tents, sleeping bags, socks, gloves, hats, coats, underwear and toiletries to local partners supporting people who are street homeless.
By shopping with us and donating items, you are completing an act of solidarity with Emmaus. You are helping us towards our charity’s goal and enabling us to help people in need in the local area. As we grow, we’re keen to increase our solidarity impact, both locally and as part of the wider Emmaus movement.