Emmaus Mossley is a brilliant, simple and clever idea for helping people get off the streets and back into main stream life and work. They are effectively a well resourced charity superstore whose employees are all ex homeless. Ex because working at Emmaus entitles them to earn their board and lodgings on site. The charity is supported from its own profits and hard work. Surplus cash can then be offered to other projects using the same business model.
In addition they utilise the skills on site to provide workshop training in woodwork, cycle repair etc. Often the donated goods can be donated once more through the charity to needy local people. The store itself provides a great service in the local community with a huge range of good quality furniture, books and bric a brac. They even have an on site cafe selling snacks and drinks.
Mike Dawson went down to chat to some of the workforce and Les was kind enough to explain what this organisation has meant to him. As usual just click below to hear the full uneditted version
