A CORNWALL-based charity has set out to raise £1 million for the county’s first Emmaus community.
Emmaus communities provide a home with no time limit, as well as work experience and training, for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
People living in Emmaus settings sign off all benefits (except housing benefit which is used to support the community).
There are currently 29 established Emmaus communities supporting almost 900 companions (formerly homeless people) across the UK.
Cornwall Council has revealed that, since March this year, 640 households have needed emergency housing and there’s been a sharp rise in people becoming at risk of being forced to sleep rough due to the pandemic.
Four new trustees have just joined Emmaus Cornwall as its bid to set up a new community here gets underway.
Among them is Sunday Times bestselling author Raynor Winn, who wrote of her own experience of homelessness in her 2018 memoir The Salt Path.
She said: “Emmaus communities give homeless people that sense of possibility, that reason to go on, and a sense of community.
“Emmaus Cornwall is working to create amazing projects that will offer help and hope to some of Cornwall’s many homeless people - I’m very excited to join the board and play a part in that.”
Also on the team is former Philanthropy Director of Cornwall Community Foundation, Jo Riley, Digital Communications and Transformation Consultant, Nina Ludgate, and Independent Consultant at Mister Modular, Mike Norris.
Jo, who has lived in Cornwall since 2003, saw the increasing levels of homelessness across the county in her role as Philanthropy Director at Cornwall Community Foundation. She said: “I am proud to have been appointed a trustee and to be leading the Fundraising, Communications and Engagement Committee as we go forward.”
Nina brings expertise from a career in film, digital media and visitor attraction to the charity. She said: "I am delighted to have joined the board and to be chairing the Business Enterprise and Management Committee. We have exciting plans afoot and I can’t wait to bring them to fruition.”
Mike, who has successfully delivered more than 150 projects throughout the UK during his 25 years’ in the modular and off-site construction sector, said: “I can’t even begin to contemplate the despair of finding yourself homeless with no support, and I’m thrilled to be able to play a small part in working with Emmaus Cornwall to help those in desperate need.”
Despite the impact of COVID-19, the team behind Emmaus Cornwall has continued to pursue various possibilities for setting up a community in Cornwall, as Chair of Trustees, Sue Trewella, explains: “We are getting accustomed to using Zoom as a means of holding meetings and we are delighted to welcome Raynor, Jo, Nina and Mike to our board. We are very aware that this pandemic will only exacerbate the problem of homelessness everywhere in the country, meaning that we need to establish our community in Cornwall as soon as possible.”
The charity is also supported by two Patrons; Michael Galsworthy of Trewithen and James Bowen, author of the bestselling novel, A Street Cat Named Bob.
Emmaus Cornwall hopes to raise a total of £1million over the next few years to help fund the opening of the first Emmaus community in Cornwall. To donate to the charity, visit www.emmaus.org.uk/cornwall. If you would like to get involved with Emmaus Cornwall, contact [email protected].