News & Views

Dear Friends and Supporters

 

Here at Emmaus Hampshire we have had another year of significant activity and we know from the feedback we receive that you are always keen to understand more about what we are doing and how your support is making a difference.

 

Our Strategic Aims: 2020-25 •     To open more furniture recycling stores in Hampshire. •     To expand our accommodation to 40 homes from the original 23. •     To return 25% of our companions annually back into independent living, with sustainable jobs and accommodation. •     To recycle over 90% of donations. •     To raise funds for specific assets or activities which will deliver these sustainable aims. •     To convert all of our vehicles to electric.

In 2019, we celebrate our 10th anniversary and we are delighted that in this update we are able to share some very exciting news about our progress as we head towards 2020.

 

The Trustees of Emmaus Hampshire continue to follow a strategy that aims to ensure that we will be 100% fully sustainable from our own income whilst increasing our accommodation to help even more homeless people.

 

Emmaus Hampshire remains a vibrant and thriving social enterprise community for the homeless; it is Hampshire’s unique solution to homelessness providing a home and meaningful work experience through retail, catering, distribution and DIY services, along with personal development to maximise an individual’s potential and secure their entry back to independent living.

 

Our Winchester Community opened 10 years ago with 23 en-suite studio rooms for the homeless.

 

With your support, recent on-site development has increased capacity to 29 rooms, along with a further 3 “Move-on Rooms” outside of the community.

 

In total, Emmaus Hampshire is now providing a service to 32 homeless people.

 

Towards our strategic goal to provide accommodation to 40 homeless people by 2020, we have already identified space within the existing footprint at our Winchester Community to accommodate a further eight new en-suite rooms; further maximising the asset that the charity already owns.

 

In this update, we will explain more about this exciting opportunity, as well telling you a little bit more about what Emmaus Hampshire does that makes us Hampshire’s unique solution to homelessness.

 

We do hope you enjoy reading about how your support makes a difference.

 

 

So what makes Emmaus Hampshire unique?

 

Here at Emmaus Hampshire we pride ourselves on having a holistic solution which navigates homeless people through a defined programme.

 

Our programme includes counselling, coaching, development and training.

 

It also includes the provision of real voluntary work, to equip individual residents (known as Companions) so they may return to an independent sustainable lifestyle.

 

And we set the bar high when we define the meaning of an independent sustainable lifestyle. Our definition includes:

supporting Companions to secure a fulltime contract of employment in Hampshire with a living wage salary of over £19,000

and accommodation with a tenancy agreement.

 

What are the benefits of the Emmaus Hampshire approach? ·      Typically, 25% of Emmaus Companions leave for work and independent living each year. ·      Each companion who leaves Emmaus Hampshire following completion of their programme starts to make a positive contribution to UK PLC, local authorities and the economy. ·      Research at Cambridge University found that for every £1 invested in Emmaus there was a social investment return of £11.

To support Companions through their plan for independence, at the point the Companion has secured their contract of employment, Emmaus Hampshire provides them with 6 months’ rent free accommodation in a flat outside the Community with a dedicated Support Manager.

 

The Companion and the Support Manager agree a personal budget for the money the Companion saves on their rent.

 

Companions use these rent savings wisely, helping them to secure their own accommodation or in many cases, helping them buy a small vehicle for their own transport.

 

Since this approach started three years ago, it has delivered 100% success for all those who have completed the programme.

 

But can Emmaus Hampshire do more?

 

Yes, with your support we can!

 

Our strategic goal is to provide accommodation and support for up to 40 homeless people by 2020, increasing our accommodation by 78% from inception 10 years ago, as well as self-sufficiency through growth of our recycling social enterprise.

 

With an ever-increasing number of homeless people in Hampshire who, through no fault of their own, live in one of the most expensive areas of the UK we are determined to do more.

 

We are therefore delighted to be able to share details of Project 40@20…

 

What is Project 40@20?

 

Project 40@20 will use our top floor warehouse space within the existing infrastructure to accommodate a new development of eight brand new en-suite studios.

 

Working with the original community architects and an experienced building surveyor, the scheme is costed at £280,000.

 

The aim is to complete the development so that new homeless people can benefit from these studio rooms by March 2020.

Great value for money ·      Each flat costs £35k. This compares with a typical flat in Winchester which costs £250k. ·      The Emmaus Hampshire community is based in Winchester, where costs are even more severe and land available for development almost impossible to obtain for any project of this nature.

 

We are thrilled that we have already been able to secure 50% of the £280,000 funding required from two generous supporters who are committed to eradicating homelessness in Hampshire.

 

We are now working with urgency to raise the remaining £140,000!

 

The race is on to find the remaining funds – we have to have these secured by December 2019 if we are to get the building work completed in time for the March 2020 launch.

 

We launch Project 40@20 in the media on Thursday 23rd May.

Our Trustees will contact possible stakeholders who may be keen to get involved and provide support, as well as submitting grant applications where we see there is an opportunity to obtain capital investment.

 

Our team is arranging a number of events including our annual summer garden party and an event for fundraising dog walkers! Keep an eye out for more details and look overleaf for details regarding the garden party.

 

We would really appreciate your help too; turn over to find out more…

 

 

So how can you help?

 

Although we have already received 50% of the money needed to fund this project we really do need your support to be able to begin building in January 2020.

 

If you have friends, family or other contacts who you think may support us in eradicating homelessness in Hampshire please feel free to share this newsletter with them or let us know so that we can make contact with them directly.

 

Or perhaps you are encouraged to
arrange your own fundraising event.

 

How about a tea party or a BBQ?

 

Or perhaps a cheese and wine party is more your thing?

 

Alternatively, get active and arrange a sponsored walk… or get the family involved and do sponsored car washing in your neighbourhood.

 

The list is endless!

 

 

And don’t forget that thanks to the Government’s Gift Aid scheme, Emmaus Hampshire can reclaim 25p on every £1 donated, increasing its value by a quarter at no extra cost to you.

 

If you need any help or would like us to attend to support your event then do get in touch.Project40at20@emmaushampshire.org.ukDo let us know what you are doing so we can include it in our social media and PR campaign too!

Whatever you do, you will be helping support eradication
of homelessness in Hampshire.

 

No matter how big or small your event every penny counts.

 

 

We invite you and your friends to our summer garden party on the evening of July 2nd.

 

Our summer garden party is always popular and this year we have some special activities to make it an even more exciting event on our calendar. It will be our first public fundraising event for Project 40@20 – 8 more rooms for the homeless.

 

This year music will be from piano star Jake Gauntlett and as usual, our chef Nathan and his team will be providing a delicious fork buffet. Our Secret Mixologists will also be offering us Pimms and a Summer Punch.

 

Hire a Talented Companion for the Day:

 

As always, our Companions will be central to the event and this year will be no exception as they put themselves up for auction!

 

You will be able to bid for:

Decorating by Companion Darren

Ironing by Companion Claire

A Car Valet by the Companion Van Team

Gardening by Companion Trevor

A Roast Dinner cooked by Companion Marc

Afternoon Tea in the Emmaus Garden by Companion Nathan

House Cleaning by Companion Cliff

 

Upper Warehouse – Closing Down for Development Sale.

For one night only, exclusively for garden party guests.

 

We would be delighted if you are able to join us for the garden party and would be pleased if you were able to bring a friend(s) too.   Please confirm that you are able to join us by emailing lynn.unsted@emmaushampshire.org.uk (01962 868300, option 2) so we can add you to our guest list for what we think will be a fabulous evening!

Bid for anything in our warehouse where you will find we have a treasure trove of paintings, pictures, bric-a-brac and furniture.  When it’s gone it’s gone!

 

 

In July last year, we launched our new website, which now provides us with a central point of information and communication.  We also continue to have a lively and interactive Facebook page as well as presence on Twitter too; if you would like to connect with us on Facebook you will find us at facebook.com/EmmausHants/

 

However, we recognise that not everyone enjoys the wonders of social media so we hope that you have found this update interesting and informative. We are sure you will agree we are far from excessive in the way we communicate to you and that we do so on the basis that you continue to support our community and companions.

 

We are also conscious that many of you have particular ways that you prefer to receive our communications. If you would like to change the way you hear from us, how often you hear from us, or would prefer us not to contact you, you can do this at any time by calling us on 01962 868300 (Option 4) or emailing john.stroulger@emmaushampshire.org.uk

 

 

We hope you have enjoyed reading this update. It only goes to say thank you for your continued interest and support in Emmaus Hampshire and we look forward to hearing from you.