• Homelessness
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• Social enterprise
• Recycling
• Solidarity
• Emmaus stories
• Our impact
• Emmaus Enterprises
• Emmaus International

What we do

At Emmaus we're working together to end homelessness.

Emmaus (pronounced em-MAY-us) is a homelessness charity with a difference. We don’t just give people a bed for the night; we offer a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.

For many people who have experienced homelessness, losing their self-esteem can be the most damaging part of their experience. Being on your own, with no support around you can be soul destroying, leaving you feeling worthless.

Finding your way out of that situation isn’t easy, particularly when the only options available are temporary fixes, offering a bed for the night but little to occupy your days.

Emmaus is different because it provides a home for as long as someone needs it, in an Emmaus community. This gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re-establish relationships with loved ones.

“Companion” is the name given to those who live in an Emmaus community and work in the social enterprise, where they support themselves and one another.

Emmaus social enterprises generate revenue that pays for companions' home, food and upkeep, as well as providing a small weekly allowance. This is key to restoring feelings of self-worth, showing these individuals that their actions make a real difference, both to their own life, and the lives of others

Now you can take a look for yourselves why I will be walking the Camino de Santiago for such a worthwhile charity. I myself will be walking 'My Camino' homeless 90% of the time.  The walk is a 800km trek over the Pyrenees mountains and across Spain to Santiago de Compostella. When I have reached there I am hoping to walk the extra 100km or so to the ocean, which in medieval days was thought to be the end of the world. Once I have reached Santiago I will make my way to Muxia via Finisterre, God willing!!!

I will be walking on my benifits of £95 per fortnight so you can understand why I will be walking as homeless where possible and in albergues that are by donation which are very few and far between, although I love to sleep under the stars, weather permitting!!!

As you can see I have uploaded a few photos from my Camino last year! Of me in my hospital bed (I ended up with hypothermia and concussion on the first night of sleeping out) to the beautiful scenery to friends I met along the way!! I will be adding a video of last years Camino when I can work out how to upload it to YouTube!!! As this is the only way of me doing this and putting it on this page.

I would firstly like to thank my sons Daniel and Conor and my next door neighbor Stevi who paid for my flight out! God knows how I'm going to get home maybe I should take up swimming lol :)!!

Please give as much as you can afford to this worthwhile charity! Although every £1 counts!!!!

I would also like to thank a very good friend Valerie who donated me her backpack and hiking poles (my poles were stolen along the way last year whilst asleep), I was also robbed of my mobile and 80euro while I was sleeping in Burgos which left me penniless for 10days. So I also been emergency funds for sleeping somewhere safe in big towns,  although I do prefer sleeping under the stars.  My backpack was very heavy 15kg at one point. Which is very heavy when walking up to 30km in 40 degrees of heat!!! phew I missed my vocation in life, I should of been a soldier!!! lol ;)

Also a big thank you to Anja, Frank and baby Frances who kindly donated me a really lightweight tent,, also more recently my friend Gary has bought of my walking sandals,Thank-you Gary! Also Dan a guy I met while fundraising gave me a sleeping mat Thank-you Dan it will be much more comfortable than the one I slept on last year which was made of foam. Also to my sister and brother in-law who bought me my hiking shoes Thank-you both so much. 

Also your help has enabled me to buy portable mobile charger,  foldaway wash basin sun cream.  

I am more than a little concerned I might add as a 40 year old American lady has been missing along the Way for about 13 days now! I hope and pray she will be found safe and well!  

I hope to try and make regular videos to YouTube along 'My Way'! I hope to link it to this pag.  If possible? 

All the links are above. Should you wish to look at the amazing work Emmaus does!!!! 

Thank you once again for taking time to look at my page and if you are unable to sponsor me yourself please could you spread awareness of my fundraising!  

I will also be writing a blog and uploading videos on YouTube 

When I work out how to find my channels URL I will let you all know ASAP 

I hope you find and enjoy my videos. 

God bless you all, peace

Andrea