We are Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, a homelessness charity that offers people an alternative route out of homelessness within a supportive environment. Residents of Emmaus, who are known as companions, live together on the former site of the All Hallows Community Convent and work full-time in our Old Orchard Café, and second-hand shops in Ditchingham and Bungay.
We are raising funds for our project - The Belly of Emmaus - to help us increase our food offer and open a new restaurant and turn our existing café into a bakery. To do this, we need to turn our community kitchen into a commercial kitchen, so that one of our companions, Eamon, can help to service the restaurant!
Companions can live at the community for as long as they need. The combination of a stable home with no time limit and the opportunity to gain new skills and work experience allows people to rebuild their self-esteem, dignity and confidence so they can begin to build a future for themselves.
Our community isn't just about providing our companions with a home, but we strive to support them in all areas of their life. By increasing our food offer, we will not only drive footfall to our site and generate local interest and support, but most importantly we will be able to offer companions the opportunity to gain new skills in running a busy restaurant and bakery.
Our community isn't just about providing our companions with a home, but we strive to support them in all areas of their life. By increasing our food offer, we will not only drive footfall to our site and generate local interest and support, but most importantly we will be able to offer companions the opportunity to gain new skills in running a busy restaurant and bakery.
Some words from Eamon the Chef...
"I am a fully qualified chef and set up and ran three busy restaurants before becoming homeless.
A few factors led to me living on the street two relationship breakdowns, family problems and a struggle with my mental health. When life really began to take a toll on me, I had psychotic break. I did something that put myself in a lot of danger and was hospitalised before accessing the mental health support I needed. After being discharged, I went on to spend two years between temporary accommodation and sleeping rough. Life kept getting lower and lower before I found Emmaus.
Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney has given me the chance to put myself back together again. I think the only person that can sort out your problem is yourself, but I just needed that opportunity to do so. Emmaus gave me that.
The Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney community is a lovely place and very tranquil. The first day I arrived, the staff said "Eamon, here's the kitchen" and left me to it. I'm now in the kitchen everyday doing what I love, cooking for the community. To me, it isn't a job and if I can give back to the community by giving them really good food then that's all that matters. There's also a lot going on in the community like a new commercial kitchen and plans for a new restaurant, Belly of Emmaus, and I'll be helping with it."
About Belly of Emmaus:
A few factors led to me living on the street two relationship breakdowns, family problems and a struggle with my mental health. When life really began to take a toll on me, I had psychotic break. I did something that put myself in a lot of danger and was hospitalised before accessing the mental health support I needed. After being discharged, I went on to spend two years between temporary accommodation and sleeping rough. Life kept getting lower and lower before I found Emmaus.
Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney has given me the chance to put myself back together again. I think the only person that can sort out your problem is yourself, but I just needed that opportunity to do so. Emmaus gave me that.
The Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney community is a lovely place and very tranquil. The first day I arrived, the staff said "Eamon, here's the kitchen" and left me to it. I'm now in the kitchen everyday doing what I love, cooking for the community. To me, it isn't a job and if I can give back to the community by giving them really good food then that's all that matters. There's also a lot going on in the community like a new commercial kitchen and plans for a new restaurant, Belly of Emmaus, and I'll be helping with it."
About Belly of Emmaus:
At Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, we will be opening a new restaurant and artisan bakery on our beautiful site in Ditchingham. To service the restaurant, we will need to turn the community kitchen, which Eamon currently uses, into a commercial kitchen.
Our restaurant, Belly of Emmaus, will be in the Refectory, which is where the sisters of All Hallows ate together. The restaurant concept has been developed by companions and includes long refectory tables, with customers eating alongside companions. Food will be of excellent quality, with three plat de Jour served daily, pudding, and no set menu. Service will complement the natural flow of our community and we hope to put on special evenings and invite visiting chefs. We will employ a full-time chef and baker who will oversee and manage all aspects of our food offer, alongside companions.
Our current café, at the front of the site, will become a bakery, serving sourdoughs, artisan bread, and simple quality loaves as well as teas, coffees, and cake. We will also renovate a donated vintage ice cream van and produce our own homemade ice creams and sorbets onsite.
Progress so far...
Currently, we already have £10,000 from Awards for All Big Lottery to contribute to turning our community kitchen into a commercial kitchen. Below, is a list of some of the items we are going to need to fund.
Jack stack with uniform stainless-steel trays - £250
Stainless steel double sink with hose - £500
2 x Stainless steel counter service fridges (one with draws) and at least 2 free standing stainless-steel prep tables - £1,600
Stainless steel shelving - £200
Good quality skillet pans in carbon steel - £100
Large Hobart mixer - £800-1000
Robot coupe mixer/cutter - £1500
Commercial soup blender - £200
Good quality knives- £250
Stainless steel mixing bowls - £20
Robot coupe mixer/cutter - £1500
Commercial soup blender - £200
Good quality knives- £250
Stainless steel mixing bowls - £20
Bread proving baskets - £15/each
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!
