Lancashire CRN member Emmaus Preston held an Open Evening on 23rd November to showcase their achievements to date in advance of some exciting plans for expansion

Emmaus Preston had invited partner organisations, supporters and friends to share in and celebrate their successes over the past two years, supporting people experiencing homelessness or social exclusion.

Around 50 people attended and were able to talk to Companions, staff and trustees about Emmaus Preston and the impact they make. Guests were then treated to a short film – produced by a former Companion of Emmaus Preston – which introduced The Birches, Emmaus Preston’s accommodation, their successful retail outlet on Friargate and their workshop on Redscar in Preston. It then showed interviews with some of the Companions, explaining the work they are involved in and the situations that caused them to become homeless.

Emmaus Director Tracy Hopkins then invited three of the Companions, Chris Carlin, Andrew Ibrams and Craig Billington to talk to us about their backgrounds. Although there may have been a few nerves they were kept well hidden and they each spoke honestly about different but harrowing reasons that they became homeless, including abuse, drug addiction and crime. They each explained the different ways they came to be at Emmaus Preston and how the staff, trustees and the other Companions themselves have helped them to recover, gain skills and confidence – a new family.

Former Companion Steven Robinson is now self employed Filmaker at Diginate Media. He discussed his own background and experience at Emmaus, saying “In a weird way, becoming homeless was the best thing that ever happened me because now I’ve never been happier. Tracy and the staff here even helped me to set up my own business, and I still volunteer here each weekend. We’re a family here – even the people who have come since I have left are still my family.”

After the presentations, everyone enjoyed the most fantastic buffet of cooked meats, salads, sandwiches, nibbles and cheesecake courtesy of Nigel Lloyd and Ryan Lissaman – and from what I could see, everyone went back for seconds…

It was a pleasure to speak to Companions, staff, trustees and other supporters throughout the evening and hear about the exciting plans for the year ahead. And thanks to Chris Carlin, I have a fantastic new book to read from their pre-owned book sale! A big thank you to everyone involved for a wonderful evening, and congratulations on all of your successes to date.

Reusing quality furniture and new upcycling project

Emmaus Preston’s activities and income are derived from furniture reuse activity and they are active members of Lancashire CRN. Through Lancashire CRN, they received start-up funding for their retail outlet on Friargate in Preston, and for refurbishment and upcycling training through Blackpool’s Shabby2Chic, another Lancashire CRN member.

Emmaus Preston Director Tracy Hopkins is delighted with the Companions’ new upcycling skills: “The furniture that has been produced is of exceptional quality and has transformed our shop into an exciting, vibrant, and eye-catching display of contemporary shabby chic collections.

“Often, people come to us with little confidence in their own abilities, low self esteem and feelings of worthlessness – I have seen our Companions grow in confidence and have been privileged to witness the development of skills and flair for design. I have seen their pride in the final product and how motivated and pleased they are when someone buys their work.”

Jo Green, Environmental Education Service Manager from Global Renewables, had taken a group of Emmaus Preston’s Companions and staff on a tour of the Farington Waste Recovery Park in September, to see the bigger picture of waste management in Lancashire and how their work contributes. Emmaus Preston Director Tracy Hopkins then invited Jo to attend the Open Evening to see and hear more about their work.

“As a social enterprise working in the re-use sector it’s clear that the project delivers huge social and economic benefits and the project deserves recognition for the fantastic work that they do” said Jo. “The open evening was a great opportunity to see Emmaus in action and was a fabulous showcase for the great work that is done there. Watching the film and listening to the companions tell their stories made a huge impact on me and everyone there”.

Emmaus Preston’s retail outlet is 49 - 50 Friargate in Preston, and is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm.

About Emmaus Preston

“Giving homeless people a bed – and a reason to get out of it”

Emmaus Preston is one of 22 similar Emmaus Communities in the UK, and a member of the Emmaus UK Federation. Our mission is to maintain and develop a safe and stable Community that provides hope, opportunity and personal growth for people in need, to enable each individual to play their part in today's world with confidence in their own ability to fulfil their potential.

Like all people who live in Emmaus Communities, we are 'Companions'. This name dates from the time the Emmaus Movement was first founded back in 1949 in France by a remarkable man - Abbé Pierre.

We share household duties like cooking and cleaning, and eat our meals together. There are plenty of opportunities to socialise, but everyone has their own en suite room too. We work full time in our Community business, collecting furniture and other household items that people no longer need, spruce them up and sell them in our shop at 49 - 50 Friargate (open Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm).

Visit Emmaus Preston’s website for more about the charity and to read about Companions and Emmaus Preston's successes in 2010.