Emmaus is a homelessness charity with a difference, providing more than just a bed for the night for people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.
We provide a home for as long as someone needs it, as well as meaningful work in our social enterprise. This works to help to restore feelings of self-esteem and give our companions, as residents are known, the opportunity to regain control of their lives.
Emmaus Norwich at Ditchingham offers a sustainable route out of homelessness and a fantastic way of life within a supportive environment. The community is currently home to up to seven companions with no fixed time limits on length of stay.
Emmaus is not about giving hand-outs, it’s about providing an opportunity for each individual to work to overcome homelessness. This approach has been proven to produce long-term, sustainable results and, for many who have been stuck in a cycle of homelessness, offers the support they need to overcome this.
http://www.emmaus.org.uk/norwich
Our community can currently cater for up to seven companions working full time in our social enterprise, selling and recycling second-hand furniture and household items. This work supports the community financially and enables companions to develop skills, rebuild their self-respect and help others in greater need than themselves.
With 2700 square feet of showrooms within our beautiful former convent buildings, our vision is to build a sustainable destination honouring the site's contribution to local heritage; home to a thriving community of up to 25 companions. We are in the middle of a significant building programme providing residential accommodation for companions and have plans for expanding our social enterprise to include an on-site bistro. We currently have a small café on site, offering homemade refreshments for our customers with regular events and sales throughout the year.
