Emmaus Merseyside

Who we are

Emmaus Merseyside is an award-winning charity that empowers people to overcome homelessness for good. We provide people with a stable home and life changing tailored support.

We're here for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We see the person and their strengths – and help them get their life back on track, based on the future they want to create. As part of a nationwide movement of local Emmaus charities, we equip people with valuable skills, training and work experience to achieve their goals.

No-one's life should be defined by homelessness. In our caring community, we build on each individual's abilities, increasing their confidence and self esteem. The people we support have a purpose and a chance to make a real contribution to their community.

Emmaus Merseyside is a vital part of our local area. Our Charity Superstore is a place to find affordable furniture, household items, clothing, books, toys and much more. We give new life to pre-loved items – reducing waste and promoting reuse. Within our grounds, we also have a Hub & Coffee Shop, community garden and wood workshop.

Ever since our Seaforth residential community opened in 2016, Emmaus Merseyside has steadily grown and we now have the capacity to support 30 residents at any one time. As well as the people we support, we have a dedicated staff team and local volunteers who support our charity. We are governed by a board of trustees who all live or work within the Liverpool city region. Working together, we're ending homelessness one person at a time.

Emmaus Merseyside provides people with a stable home and life-changing tailored support. We offer...

A stable home and a base to progress: In our community, everyone has their own furnished bedroom. It is their home and a stable base from which people can build their confidence, skills and plans for the future. All bills are covered, home essentials provided and fresh meals prepared each day. Our community home includes living and dining areas, a gym and garden where people can relax and socialise together.

A tailored package of support and pathways: Our trained support workers build on each person’s abilities, working with them to develop tailored support plans and goals for the future. We provide a safe and supportive environment where people can settle, rebuild their lives and overcome homelessness for good. When people are ready, we support them to find, secure and move into their own permanent home. 

A chance to gain skills and work experience: People supported by Emmaus can gain valuable training and work experience within our social enterprise. For many, taking part in this daily activity gives them a focus, routine and a chance to interact with others. The opportunity to become an active part of society, and make a contribution to it, plays an important role in restoring people’s self-esteem.

Our culture and values

Our Vision: A future where everyone has the stability, opportunity and support they need to move beyond homelessness for good. Emmaus is a homelessness charity with a difference. We don't just give people a bed for the night:we offer a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging. Emmaus is different because we offer a home for as long as someone needs it, in an Emmaus Community. This gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re establish relationships with loved ones. "Companion" is the name given to those who live in an Emmaus Community and work in the social enterprises, where they support themselves and one another.

Our Values:

• RESPECT       for others, ourselves, and our environment
• SHARING        for others, ourselves, and our environment
• OPENNESS     to ideas, challenges, and to other points of view
• SOLIDARITY    helping those in greatest need and opposing injustice
• WELCOMING   friendly, approachable and inclusive to all

Our Movement: Emmaus Merseyside’s work is focused within our city region but we are also part of a much wider secular movement. Across the UK, there are 30 Emmaus communities and groups. Emmaus in the UK has a federated structure, which means that each community and group is a charity in its own right, with its own staff team, volunteers and board of trustees. Emmaus UK supports our federation, providing a range of services and expertise to assist the movement’s development and growth within the UK.

The roots of Emmaus stretch back to Paris in 1949 and since then, more than 400 Emmaus groups have been established in over 40 countries around the world. All Emmaus groups have the same values whilst operating in very diverse social, economic and political contexts. All share the same goal; acting against the causes of poverty whilst empowering people to make positive change happen.