Thanks for visiting RG Group's donation page for the local charity Emmaus (Dover).

Emmaus is a homelessness charity providing more than just a bed for the night to people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.

They provide a home for as long as someone needs it and meaningful work in their social enterprise. Living in a stable environment with the opportunity to work helps their companions, as residents are known, to regain lost self-esteem and the confidence to get back on their feet.

How it works 

There are currently 29 Emmaus communities across the UK, providing a home and meaningful work to more than 750 formerly homeless people. In addition to this, there are four emerging groups, working hard to establish new communities. They are working towards a target of being able to offer 1,000 companion places by 2020.

The Emmaus model has a huge impact on restoring confidence and self-respect, as companions take responsibility for keeping their community going and work hard to support themselves and others. 

Emmaus is not about giving hand-outs, it’s about providing people with the tools to help themselves. This approach has been proven to produce long-term, sustainable results. For the many people who have been stuck in a cycle of homelessness, Emmaus provides the space and support they need to take stock of their lives and make positive changes for the future.

Impact

For every £1 spent with Emmaus there is an £11 social, economic and environmental return on investment.

This was the finding of a social return on investment study carried out on behalf of Emmaus. The research showed that they make a significant impact, with savings to the healthcare system, a reduction in crime and reoffending as well as savings to the benefits bill.

Solidarity

Solidarity, helping others less fortunate than yourself, is central to the Emmaus way of life. Everyone at Emmaus, including companions, staff, trustees and volunteers is encouraged to carry out acts of solidarity to support people who need it most.

For companions in particular, this has a huge impact on their confidence and self-worth, showing them that they can make a difference to someone else’s life and add value to the lives of people around them.

Emmaus in the world

Emmaus isn’t just in the UK, in fact it originally started in France in the 1940s. Since then Emmaus has grown into an international movement with more than 300 groups based in 36 countries across the world.

Thanks for reading.