I’ve been a trustee at Emmaus Village Carlton since May 2020, having previously spent 40 years working in social housing and homelessness.

I’m a husband, father and grandfather with three married children and two grandchildren; I also support my widowed mother and mother-in-law. This means I balance my time as a trustee, with supporting and visiting various family members.

On 1 December 1977 the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 was enacted, which for the first time placed a legal duty on local councils to take responsibility for housing those experiencing homelessness. I recall this vividly as I was working in a Housing Aid Centre, only six months into my career.

Since then, I’ve worked in a number of roles relating to homelessness. This included managing services that provided access to emergency and settled accommodation, as well as support services that enabled people to adjust to their new circumstances after being homeless.

When I retired, I was keen to continue my commitment to supporting people who have experienced homelessness in some capacity. I was drawn to Emmaus Village Carlton because its values coincide with my own, with an emphasis on respecting every person, being transparent and honest, supporting and empowering companions and fostering independence.

I work with a great team of trustees, and I am happy to say that my initial hopes of being able to contribute my skills and experience have been fully satisfied. We are all focused on supporting companions, staff and volunteers in the creation and maintenance of an environment that empowers companions to make their own choices. I’ve been involved in various policy and procedural reviews, chaired our Support Subgroup and attended Companion Welfare Group meetings with companion representatives. I’ve also actively participated in the Emmaus UK Evolving Emmaus Programme and intend to continue contributing as the programme develops.

I began my role during the pandemic, which has presented all Emmaus communities with significant challenges. I’ve enjoyed being part of a team that has ensured Emmaus Village Carlton has remained intact and is prepared for the considerable challenges that now face us. These include the impact of the Ukraine refugee response and adapting to the new post-pandemic world, which has affected homelessness in many ways – some good and some bad.

My advice to anyone considering becoming a trustee at any of the Emmaus communities would be that you will find a very welcoming and supportive environment, where your experience and abilities will be used to good effect. This will give you an immense sense of satisfaction, knowing that you’re working with a team who are focused on helping those who’ve experienced homelessness to turn their lives around.