The Emmaus difference
The key difference between Emmaus and most other accommodation for homeless people is that Emmaus provides work along with a home. This gives the opportunity to gain self-respect and self-worth, through meaningful employment and the chance to help others. Another important difference is that once an Emmaus community is up and running, it eventually becomes self-supporting through the income from its trading activities.
The Emmaus concept was first developed in France; more information is available here.
The key difference between Emmaus and most other accommodation for homeless people is that Emmaus provides work along with a home. This gives the opportunity to gain self-respect and self-worth, through meaningful employment and the chance to help others. Another important difference is that once an Emmaus community is up and running, it eventually becomes self-supporting through the income from its trading activities.
The Emmaus concept was first developed in France; more information is available here.
'Solidarity' – involving support for other people in need - is an important aspect of the Emmaus ethos.
A small part of the trading income is donated to other local and national or international charities, used to help set up other Emmaus Communities in this country and to support Emmaus projects overseas. Companions select the recipients of solidarity funds as well as actively taking part in both fund-raising and volunteering to help others in need.
Emmaus Oxford Secondhand Superstore Donations
A proportion of income from sales at the Emmaus Secondhand Superstore and Shop has been donated to other local and national or international charities. In our first eighteen months since the opening of the Community we have supported:
A small part of the trading income is donated to other local and national or international charities, used to help set up other Emmaus Communities in this country and to support Emmaus projects overseas. Companions select the recipients of solidarity funds as well as actively taking part in both fund-raising and volunteering to help others in need.
Emmaus Oxford Secondhand Superstore Donations
A proportion of income from sales at the Emmaus Secondhand Superstore and Shop has been donated to other local and national or international charities. In our first eighteen months since the opening of the Community we have supported:
Emmaus Companions Volunteering
Emmaus Companions have served the local community by volunteering their time in a wide variety of ways. These include:
Emmaus Companions have served the local community by volunteering their time in a wide variety of ways. These include:
- A complete makeover for a local centre for disabled and disadvantaged children
- Gardening for a disabled neighbour
- Building a fence for a home for young mothers and their babies
- Kitchen help at the Ark-T Centre
- Digging a trench for a local community centre
- Talks about drugs at local schools
- Driving people from O’Hanlon House (the night shelter)
- Cooking lunch for a senior citizens group from a local church (pictured above above)
A home, a place of work and a future
Emmaus Communities provide hope, care, and a future. They offer a way out of the humiliation and loneliness of homelessness and give people a chance to get back on their feet. They help people move from homelessness and dependency on state benefits to taking responsibility for their own lives as well as helping others less fortunate than themselves.
More information about Emmaus around the UK is available here.
A family home
The Emmaus Oxford community is located in Temple Cowley at 171 Oxford Road. The Community building consists of 24 single bedrooms and various communal facilities, including a community dining room, sitting rooms and a games room. More information about the history of Emmaus Oxford is available here.
Emmaus Communities provide hope, care, and a future. They offer a way out of the humiliation and loneliness of homelessness and give people a chance to get back on their feet. They help people move from homelessness and dependency on state benefits to taking responsibility for their own lives as well as helping others less fortunate than themselves.
More information about Emmaus around the UK is available here.
A family home
The Emmaus Oxford community is located in Temple Cowley at 171 Oxford Road. The Community building consists of 24 single bedrooms and various communal facilities, including a community dining room, sitting rooms and a games room. More information about the history of Emmaus Oxford is available here.
Emmaus Companions Sponsored Walks
Emmaus Companions have been involved in sponsored walks to raise money for other charities, including Help for Heroes with expeditions to the Brecon Beacons and the Peak District. More are planned for the future.
Emmaus Oxford Support for Emmaus in Bosnia
Emmaus Companions have built up a strong relationship with Emmaus in Bosnia. Companions from Oxford have travelled to Bosnia in 2009 and 2010 and stayed in a large Emmaus community near Srebrenica where they worked alongside Bosnian Companions and learnt about the effects of the civil war and its aftermath. Emmaus Oxford has also raised money to help fund their work and future visits are planned.
Emmaus Companions have been involved in sponsored walks to raise money for other charities, including Help for Heroes with expeditions to the Brecon Beacons and the Peak District. More are planned for the future.
Emmaus Oxford Support for Emmaus in Bosnia
Emmaus Companions have built up a strong relationship with Emmaus in Bosnia. Companions from Oxford have travelled to Bosnia in 2009 and 2010 and stayed in a large Emmaus community near Srebrenica where they worked alongside Bosnian Companions and learnt about the effects of the civil war and its aftermath. Emmaus Oxford has also raised money to help fund their work and future visits are planned.
