Tattoo is a thank you to life-saving charity

A FORMER rough sleeper says a Hinckley charity may have saved his life.

Chris Grewcock, 33, is one of 16 formerly homeless people benefitting from accommodation and work offered by Emmaus Leicestershire and Rutland, based at Elm Lea on Ashby Road.

Living in the former guest house, he now helps to run the charity’s Emporium on Stockwell Head and La Boutique on Castle Street which sell donated and upcycled furniture, homewares and clothes to raise money for the cause.

The support from Emmaus has meant so much to him that he has had the charity’s logo tattooed on one wrist.

He says that, without the help from Emmaus, he may have ended up in prison, or dead.

Growing up, Mr Grewcock was deeply affected by his dad’s suicide a few weeks before his 11th birthday and he says the trauma still haunts him.

He turned to hard drugs, described himself as a “nightmare” to live with and, in spite of his family’s attempted support ended up in and out of different schools before being moved into foster care.

At 17, he found himself homeless.

Mr Grewcock said: “I was living on the streets, using hostels and also sleeping rough.

“I used to own a piece of cardboard, a sleeping bag and a change of clothes.

“I don’t like to be alone. Loneliness can really hit you when you’re homeless.”

Eighteen months ago a particularly bad spell of winter weather forced him to search out some- where to escape the cold and he was offered a place at Emmaus. He said: “I slowly weaned myself off the drugs and the people at Emmaus were there to support me through it all.

“Without their help I don’t know what I would have done.”

He is also now back in touch with his family, who live nearby, and sees them often.

Mr Grewcock said: “I really do mean it when I say that without Emmaus, I would definitely be in prison, or even dead now.

“I’ll always be grateful to the charity for changing my life.”

Anyone interested supporting Emmaus in any way can call in to the Emporium on Stockwell Head or ring Hinckley 637587 or find out more online.

Former rough sleeper Chris Grewcock, 33, is so grateful for the support he has received from Hinckley-based charity Emmaus Leicestershire and Rutland, whose charity shops he helps to run, that he has had the organisation’s logo (inset) tatooed on his...