Comment: | Emmaus is a registered charity modelled on the movement started by Abbe Pierre in France over forty years ago. It is an international movement with four hundred self-supporting communities in forty four countries. It is about creating a community, a home, a place of safety, where former homeless people can live and work, share a life, have companionship and rebuild their self-respect and independence. Everyone who joins an Emmaus community will sign off primary benefits and work in collaboration with other 'companions', collecting, refurbishing and recycling furniture and other goods donated through the community shop. Each community is self-supporting. Shops can be found in Cheltenham (11 Henrietta Street), Nailsworth (Wheelwrights Corner, Old Market) and Gloucester (Chequers Road). The Gloucestershire Community in Barnwood Road was opened in 1991 and can accommodate sixteen people. Volunteers are often needed to help with re-decoration etc. |
