We have a team of volunteers who organise fundraising events to help subsidise the costs of running the Emmaus Oxford Community. Although the aim of Emmaus is to be self-supporting, most Communities are not able to achieve this for at least the first five years so fund-raising is still important. We also want to increase awareness of Emmaus Oxford’s aims and objectives in helping ex-homeless people and to increase our supporter base. Our aim is to plan enjoyable and interesting events, to hear from a member of staff or a Companion about life at Emmaus Oxford and raise lots of money at the same time!
Back in 2008, Emmaus Oxford was set a challenge by an anonymous donor that if we raised £50,000, he would double it! We are pleased to say that we reached that target earlier this year through Events, Appeals and Marathons so are extremely grateful for the match funding received.
Upcoming Fundraising Events...
Guided tours of Rycote Chapel and its Gardens.
Learn more of the history and restoration of the chapel and enjoy its beautiful setting. More details to follow
When: 2nd May 2012
Time: TBC
Contact: events@emmausoxford.org
Previous Events
On the 26th May 2010, Emmaus Oxford hosted a Ladies Summer Lunch in the marquee at Ripon College. Around 175 ladies arrived in glorious sunshine, met up with friends and chatted on the lawn as Andrew Sweeney and the College Jazz band welcomed them with a medley of classic tunes. A delicious lunch was served courtesy of Steve, the Chef at Ripon College, and the Emmaus Events team.
Terry Waite, the Emmaus UK President, who has long had links with Ripon College through the late Archbishop Robert Runcie, gave a talk after lunch where he shared something of his past life and captivity, his empathy for homeless people and why the Emmaus way of doing things works. A key feature of Emmaus being that it provides work in a recycling business along with a home and thus gives the opportunity for ex homeless people to gain self respect and self worth through meaningful employment and the chance to help others.
An Emmaus Companion who has fought a 20 year heroin addiction over the last year then shared aspects of his life pre and post living at Emmaus Oxford, clearly demonstrating how the supportive environment created by staff and Companions had helped him. His mission in life is now to visit schools and warn children of the dangers of leaving home too soon, getting in with the wrong crowd and taking drugs.
The lunch also gave us the opportunity to say good bye and thank you to our Founding Trustee Jean Williams (pictured above with Terry Waite). We raised a brilliant £6,500 and £500 worth of painted furniture was sold. Thanks must go to Ripon College Principal, staff and students, the Village Ball committee and all the ladies who came to lunch and bought raffle tickets and furniture!
Christmas Concert of Carols, Songs and Readings at Christ Church Catherdral
On the 9th December 2009, the children’s choirs from Stonesfield Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School, Oxford and the Dragon School, Oxford told the story of Christmas (and Emmaus) through carols, songs and readings in Christ Church Cathedral. There was a very special atmosphere as the children gave beautiful performances; their joy and enthusiasm was clearly evident and they made their teachers, families and friends very proud. We had some wonderful feedback from those who attended and raised the sum of £6,700. We are very grateful to John Madden, Head of Music at the Dragon School who co-ordinated the programme, the individual Choir teachers and the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral.
In the evening an informal party was held in the house and garden for Companions, staff, volunteers, donors and friends. A pig was roasted and the Oxford Silver Band entertained us.
From Junk to Jewels! A furniture painting workshop with Annie Sloan
Annie is a well-known writer, interior decorator, paintmaker and local shop owner who specialises in re-painting furniture to give it a French or “distressed” look. In Spring 2009 she ran a workshop at the store and we sold fifty tickets to raise funds for Emmaus Oxford.
Guests spent an enjoyable morning gaining lost of ideas of how to transform somebody else’s cast off into a unique and personal piece. Since then Companions have been using Annie’s paints and advice in our Secondhand Superstore (Link) to restore pieces of furniture for sale in the store.
Breaking the Bread: The supper at Emmaus - An Illustrated Art Lecture by Barberine Mallett
Barberine, formerly Head of Modern and Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, Amsterdam and Deputy Director of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, London told us that the Supper at Emmaus is a New Testament story painted by some of the greatest artists, from Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese to Caravaggio and Rembrandt. She explained the symbolism of the meal and the differing ways these artists sought to depict Luke’s gospel narrative from dramatic revelation to intimate moment of recognition. Although the theme seemed to have lost much of its appeal after the 17th Century, Barberine also looked at the very few more recent examples, including a famous 1930s ‘Vermeer’ and an unexpected Bloomsbury gem in Sussex.
Tickets for this Event were much sought after, we even had a waiting list for returns! And, no-one who attended was disappointed as Barberine’s enthusiasm and knowledge of her subject inspired everyone. We are very grateful to Barberine, the Art Department of The Dragon School who hosted us and the Imperial Wine Company and Oxford Cheese Company for contributing wine and cheese. We raised a magnificent £2,700.
