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Posted by Editor on 2nd February 2010 at 10:39 PM
Help The Homeless: Emmaus Salford
by Tony Flynn and Tom Rodgers

Last week we visited the Emmaus shop in Seaford Road, Salford and spoke to organiser Val Burgoyne and several of the Emmaus workers, Bruce and Stuart.

Here they explain what Emmaus stands for and how they have all benefited from the Emmaus way of life. Many if not most of the people staying in the Community houses have suffered from personal issues including drug and alcohol problems but here they are given a chance to bring stability and security into their lives, whilst contributing to society and being made to feel part of the community.

Bruce and Stuart both live in an Emmaus Community house in Mossley and say that they have never felt so secure whilst living there, all house dwellers share the cleaning and cooking duties whilst also providing support if needed for other residents, wages are provided so that they are given their own further independence, residents can also stay for as little or as long as they feel neccesary.

Most Emmaus Communities earn their living refurbishing furniture and electrical goods which are then sold in the Community shop, thus many learn new and valuable skills and help the Community reach its goal of self-suffiency.

The first Emmaus Community was founded in Paris in 1949 by Abbe Pierre, a priest, and former member of the French resistance. The idea spread around the world but Emmaus didn't arrive in the UK until 1992 when the first community opened in Cambridge. There are 17 Emmaus Communities across the UK and several more Emmaus groups in various stages of development of which Emmaus Salford is one.


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