Emmaus
The Caridon Foundation has set up a new partnership with Emmaus as of August 2019.
Emmaus is a UK based charity and community working together to end homelessness. They offer a range of unique opportunities for their service users (who they call Companions), from housing, working in their shops, kitchens, volunteering etc.
“We don’t just give people a bed for the night; we offer a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.”
James Hayes, Chief Executive Officer
The social enterprise is central to the Emmaus model as it provides meaningful work for companions but also generates the funding that maintains the communities.
Emmaus receive donated goods which they then refurbish and recycle as part of a large Social Enterprise. They then sell these goods at a significantly reduced price to people in need, such as those moving into unfurnished homes. For organisations such as Caridon Foundation, Emmaus offer a further reduced rate (20%) and operate a voucher scheme. Caridon Foundation will identify goods needed for our tenants and Tenants can then go to one of several Emmaus shops and choose the items that they want as listed on their voucher. We are then invoiced at the end of every month. The range of goods on offer is immense – everything you could need for a new home, from furniture to electrical products such as microwaves, kettles, cookers, TVs and laptops, to everyday items, curtains, cutlery, lamps, books – the list is endless. And all items have been lovingly restored by the Companions of Emmaus and electrical items PAT tested.
This new partnership will provide Caridon Foundation Tenants
- Opportunities for a wide choice of volunteering experiences
- Low costs, good quality, ethically sourced goods for their homes
- An affordable way to ‘furnish’ their new homes when they move on from CF
- Another ‘referral option’ for people who want to become a ‘Companion’ and live and work within the project.
Caridon Foundation looks forward to a long and successful partnership with Emmaus.