Companion Charlie came to Emmaus Bristol at the beginning of 2010. He describes the difference Emmaus has made in his life:
“I’m a different person,” says Charlie. “Since I have been at Emmaus Bristol I’ve lost 5½ stones and I have become a vegetarian. I am type 2 diabetic and the problem is now diet-controlled. I only take 2 tablets a day instead of 6!”
Charlie, who is 42, worked for 20 years in the Security business. Then he “got in with the wrong crowd”. He ended up in prison for a while. When he came out he was homeless because he and his partner had split up. He ended up in a Night Shelter for a while and had to roam the streets during the day.
Through the Night Shelter, he heard that Emmaus Colchester needed a driver and he joined the Community. While he was there, he did an anger management course which was a revelation to him: “Now I understand why I was always so angry. And I am a completely different person. It has turned my whole life around. Since I came to Emmaus Bristol, the Staff here have been so supportive too! They have helped me to get my driving licence back as well as my passport, plus having letter access to my daughter. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Charlie says very firmly that you have to realise that there are always people who are worse off than yourself. That is why he took part in a sponsored bike ride for the Railway Children organised by the Gloucester Community and he also talked about his own experience to the Bridgend Emmaus group.
The New Charlie is looking forward to the day when he can get a job and a flat – possibly returning to his old job as a window cleaner, abseiling from tall buildings! But he is in no hurry to do that. He has made good friends at Emmaus Bristol and has some plans for the near future. He and Chris G are going to the General Assembly in Cologne shortly, and he hopes to go to France for a couple of weeks on a Companion exchange later in the autumn.