I started working at Emmaus South Wales as a support worker in October 2020 and the most rewarding part of my role is seeing people’s achievements and progress during their time with us.
I discovered Emmaus when it was just being set up in 2010. I was working at the Bridgend Carers Centre at the time, and the people involved in setting up the Emmaus community in South Wales used to have their planning meetings there. Through talking to people when they arrived for meetings, I got to know a lot about the charity and what Emmaus was all about. Living locally and being a fan of charity shops too meant I was always visiting the Emmaus shops as well.
Previous to Emmaus South Wales, I was working at the Welsh mental health charity, Hafal, doing engagement and participation work which I enjoyed, but I was looking for a role that was more varied and practical. When I saw the advert for here, I applied right away.
Every day at Emmaus South Wales is completely different. I have the practical support work with companions, but I also do some project work. There is no typical day at work and it can involve anything from a companion not feeling well and needing a GP appointment or someone feeling stressed and needing to talk, to helping a companion cook in the kitchen or plant flowers in the garden. It’s the varied nature of the role that I really like.
One of the most rewarding parts of the role for me is seeing someone who has been on the streets arrive with nothing and being able to do something about it. Providing support to companions at Emmaus South Wales is not just about recovering from homelessness, it’s about overcoming the root causes that lead to people becoming homeless in the first place. People’s experiences of poverty often result in significant trauma too. So, we do give someone a roof over their head, but it’s also so much more than at Emmaus.
Here, it’s about providing a home and looking at the bigger picture. It’s quite holistic and therapeutic in that way. We look at someone’s whole life, and provide a tailored package to help them recover, grow, develop, and move on. This includes a home, support, work experience, training, food, clothing – just about everything needed to help people move out of poverty. Emmaus isn’t just a stop gap, and the fact that people can stay for as long as they need to is very important as well.
The community home, where my office is, is set in a wonderful location too. We’re near the town centre, but it feels like the countryside still and companions have worked so hard in the garden. I have a degree in environmental science, so it’s been great helping companions with garden related projects because I’m very passionate about it.
For anyone reading this who would like to help Emmaus South Wales, consider getting in touch to volunteer. We have lots of opportunities in our shops, but also in our community home doing domestic volunteering like cooking, cleaning, gardening and maintenance. If time isn’t something you can give, then visiting our shops, making a purchase, or donating items all helps too.