We are marking Volunteers’ Week by thanking all our volunteers and appealing for new people to join the team, as we work towards opening our residential community for homeless people.
There are 30 established Emmaus communities across the UK providing accommodation, training and meaningful work in a social enterprise to support people out of homelessness. Emmaus Bradford has been working towards opening its community home for 10 years and has recently purchased a new property in Undercliffe to achieve this aim.
During last week alone, volunteers donated 129 hours to giving the charity’s newly acquired property a makeover. Recent volunteers have included 11 staff members from the infrastructure services and engineering firm, Amey, who got involved during their work hours as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.
Pictured: Thank you to Hannah, Ali and Faith from Amey who volunteered for the week at our residential community building.
This is in addition to 313 volunteer hours spent this week helping the charity raise funds needed to sustain its future community home through its two reuse stores on Cross Lane in Great Horton and Bank Street in the city centre.
Now Emmaus Bradford is on the hunt for additional volunteers and corporate partners to help drive the first phase of works at its community home to completion. The charity plans to welcome the first eight people to the home this year and grow this to 20 more as further refurbishment gets underway.
General Manager of Emmaus Bradford, Fran Graham, said: “Our local volunteers are such an important part of the Emmaus Bradford team. We’re grateful to anyone who can spare some time to help out in our reuse shops or at our community building, either independently, through work or as part of a corporate social responsibility programme.
“We need more help particularly on our van service and in our shops in order to help the new community to thrive, and from skilled DIY or maintenance teams. We’d welcome any support companies or individuals can give us.
“We’re keen to expand the range of roles we offer, and hope there are opportunities on our website that appeal to all ages, skills and interests. If you would like to get involved then please get in touch or visit us to see first-hand what we’re all about.”
The charity holds regular DIY SOS-style makeover days for people to get its new community home ready to welcome people with experience of homelessness. Training is offered where possible, and food and travel expenses are available. Check Emmaus Bradford’s social media for details.
To find out more about the wide variety of opportunities available at Emmaus Bradford visit our Voluntary Roles page here.