Emmaus Bristol Autumn Newsletter 2008

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Weathering the storm

Welcome to this edition of the Emmaus Bristol newsletter and many thanks for your ongoing support and help.
I have taken the slightly unusual step of taking over the front page as we are living in extraordinary financial times and there is a great deal of uncertainty for all of us and that includes Emmaus Bristol.
What is for sure is that this current downturn is bound to have some severe effects on those who are most vulnerable in society.  We suspect that there will be a greater need for Emmaus as homes are repossessed and financial strain causes family breakdown.

Our job at Emmaus Bristol is to continue to provide opportunities for those for whom their world has come apart and your support of our work remains vital.   We still very much need your donations of household furniture and continued financial support.   The prices we can charge for the donations you make mean that many people on low incomes can afford to furnish their homes within tight budgets which is vital in this difficult economic climate.  Every purchase helps produce an income for the Community so that the Companions themselves benefit from the business
Emmaus continues to be a good news story and I hope very much that you are encouraged by this newsletter and the great work that is going on.
Thank you once again for your support which has enabled Emmaus Bristol to make such an impact on those we serve and those around us.
With best wishes
Richard Pendlebury
Director

Time for a bargain

One customer describes “the Emmaus shopping experience”!

Ella first discovered Emmaus Bristol 2 years ago, following a recommendation from her mum.  Since then she has been dropping by quite regularly once or twice a month just to see what’s in stock.  “It varies,” she says. “That’s what I like!  It changes all the time.  I like the mixture of old and new furniture and discovering what’s in this week – and I usually leave with an unusual item that I couldn’t buy in the shops.”  Several months ago she fell in love with a Chinese wedding cabinet, which she was sure would look great in an upstairs room.  Unfortunately, in spite of their best efforts, three sweating Companions were unable to get it up the too-narrow staircase.  “They were great, though”, Ella affirmed.  “They tried every way possible.  And the cabinet still looks good in my downstairs room!”

Emmaus Bristol operates a collection and delivery service for large articles, and would be delighted to hear from you if you have items of good quality furniture to donate.  Please contact us for more information.
 

5 years on – a steep learning curve!

Community Manager Dave Perry, looks back on developments over the past 5 years.

It was our 5th birthday on 6th October this year which started me thinking about 5 years ago when we opened and how different the Community is now. We started with 4 Companions, without a Workshop, with very few policies and procedures, and little in the way of fittings and fixtures.  For all of us, it was a very steep learning curve.
Now, 5 years on, there have been a few changes!  We have 18 Companions and are about to open a house which will provide another three or four Companion places.  Our workshop and sales area has been enhanced by a shop in Bedminster.  We have employed three Companions, one of whom has moved on to work for Emmaus Gloucestershire, and we have an increased staff team to help and support more Companions to make a positive difference in their lives.
I remember, when I started, thinking that as Community Manager my job was to “build Community”. Of course, I had to make sure that we had maintenance contracts in place, that Companions were properly supported and given useful work, and that everyone had enough food and other supplies - amongst many other things! -  but my main job was to empower people to take charge of their lives and make a positive difference. This, of course, continues as new Companions come in, so it is a constant challenge to encourage Companions to start looking outside their own problems.
When most Companions join the Community, they have needed to survive in homelessness, so it has been necessary for them to become “selfish” to look after themselves and keep safe. They have become very inward looking. As Companions become settled in the Community they are able to start thinking about their surroundings and the people they share their life with. A big part of what the Community does is to give people a strong base to start again from. With all their basic needs provided, full time work to help them develop a purpose in life, and people around them who are interested in their well-being, they can start to look at the needs of others. This is the beginning of Solidarity action.
For me the sense of belonging, the sense of caring for others and thinking of others, and the desire to make a positive difference for others in need (“Les Autres” as Abbe Pierre called them) is what Community is about. We always need to strive to be better, but so far we have done very well. This is down to hard work, a fantastic team effort and the desire to “serve first those most in need”. If we continue to serve, continue to empower and continue to expect the very best for all Companions then we will continue to grow from strength to strength.

First impressions

Tony Parker has been managing our new shop in Bedminster for about 10 weeks.  He gives us his first impressions of working for Emmaus Bristol.

I come from a retail background mainly in TV/audio and electrical sales.  I heard about Emmaus from a friend and jumped at the chance to become involved when I was offered this position.  
I have found my time here both enjoyable and quite challenging. Working for Emmaus has made me feel useful, that I am actually working towards helping other people who have been less fortunate than I have.

I have met and worked with most of the Companions in the Community and all have a funny story to tell. I don’t profess to understand all that they have gone through, and I don’t think it is my place to ask.  I hope to be with Emmaus for a long time to come and that as a Community we continue to thrive and grow.  I look forward to the future with great anticipation.

Looking to the future

New Companion Dave tells his story – so far!

Dave comes from Sudbury, near Colchester, and worked as a forklift driver until his life went off the rails - “I split with my partner and everything came crashing down” - and he ended up in prison.  On release, he spent a month in a night shelter, and it was there that he first heard of Emmaus.  There was a room at Emmaus Gloucester, so he travelled there – with no idea of what he was letting himself in for.  He didn’t really like his first 3 or 4 days and had decided to use his return train ticket to head back East – but on his departure day, he went to a Car Boot sale with some of the other Companions, lost track of the time – and missed his train.  Since then, he has never looked back!

Quite quickly, life at Emmaus began to seem quite easy and normal.  He enjoyed having his own room and the stability of regular meals and supportive staff. He enjoyed going to the Emmaus General Assembly in the autumn and meeting Companions and Staff from all over the UK.  (Only complaint – no TV in the evenings!)  After 8 months, he decided to move to the new Emmaus Community in Sheffield, having met some of the Sheffield Companions at the Assembly.  He took full advantage of the opportunities there, to renew his passport, get a provisional driving licence, a First Aid certificate and a PAT qualification – and learn how to ski!  He also travelled to Bosnia with Emmaus International to spend 3 weeks digging trenches for cables to provide electricity to a school.  He was the only UK Companion in a group of 150 - but picked up a bit of French and really enjoyed the experience (he fared better during a week of torrential rain than the non-Brits who weren’t used to the cold!) and would like to go back next year.  It amazed him to see people carrying on as normal in a world still torn apart by the war which ended 13 years ago. 
Five weeks ago Dave came to Emmaus Bristol and is using his PAT skills in the workshop here.  After 2 years of decreasing the dose, he has finally come off his medication for depression.  He’s making plans for the future, but taking it gently and not putting himself under pressure.  He’s discussing training with the Support Team and wondering whether to join the TA.

His final word?  “I’m quite glad I missed that train!”

Solidarity

At the heart of the Emmaus ethos is a concern for others.  This can express itself in many ways!
In the very early days after the Community had opened, the first few Companions took it upon themselves to keep the park across the street free of litter - no small task!  This was the beginning of a “way of life” for the Community. 

On Saturday 29th November, Emmaus Bristol will be helping at The Dings Multicultural Winter Festival organised by Community at Heart, lending chairs and tables and transporting items in our vans.

Last year the Community hosted a Christmas lunch organised by Mike Poole for the Senior Citizens of the Dings.  It was so successful that it is happening again on Tuesday, 9th December.  We are always on the lookout for donations of toiletries and vouchers for the raffle.  If you feel you can contribute something, we would be delighted to receive it at Barton Manor or 72 Bedminster Parade.  

A good home! Recently some dark room equipment was donated to us. We were able to pass it on to the St Paul’s Learning and Family Centre where they run a photographic class.  

Chris joins the Trustees

Chris Rowlands joined the Emmaus Board of Trustees in 2008.

He has wide-ranging executive and non-executive business experience with large and small companies in the City, Property, Retailing (including Asda) and the Media. He is particularly well known in Bristol for his involvement, as Chief Executive, in the rescue of HTV Group plc.

Most recently he has been involved in the investment in and management of small companies. He is a non-executive director of Standard Life Equity Income Trust plc. He is particularly interested in helping companies to draw up and implement their strategic plans and develop their management teams.

He is a strong Christian, has a passion for history and enjoys skiing, walking and sailing.

Emmaus Bristol turns Pro!

In spite of non-stop rain falling for the previous fortnight, the sun shone on Malc, Mike, Mark and Geoff when they played a Stapleford competition on the Bristol Golf Course in August, at a fundraising event in aid of St James’ Priory.  The team, made up of Staff, Companions and a Volunteer, hadn’t played the course before, but that didn’t stop them winning by 8 points.  They were each presented with an engraved tankard during the meal which followed the match, and their luck was definitely in, as they each won a prize in the raffle as well!  It was a great day out – and one that raised over £1500 for St James’ Appeal too.

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