Emmaus Dover celebrate re-opening of shops

Emmaus Dover is pleased to announce its shops have re-opened and they are accepting donations again. The charity receives 50% of its income from retail sales and national lockdown meant their shops at Archcliffe Fort and Ashford high street had to close for 30 weeks of the last year. The income from their shops help them to provide accommodation, support and meaningful work opportunities for up to 27 previously homeless men and women each year.

The closures took a severe financial toll on the charity and meant that some of the core costs of the charity, like their community support workers, were difficult to meet. The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust has supported Emmaus Dover with a grant of £10,000 to fund one of their Community Support Workers for 12 months.

Debra Stevenson, Community Manager at Emmaus Dover, commented: “We’re ever grateful to RDHCT. The Community Support Worker provides vital daily emotional and practical support to all Companions living at Emmaus. They help them to develop plans designed to help them maintain good health through access to health care, mental health services and specialist support such as alcohol and substance recovery programmes. The Community Support Worker also helps Companions to develop daily living skills, preserve abstinence, access training and education opportunities and engage in social activities to help them move towards living independently outside of the community when they are ready to move on.”

More about Emmaus Dover can be found on their website.