Duchess full of praise for ‘caring community’

WALES’ first community designed to give the homeless a hand up not a handout has been visited by the Duchess of Cornwall.

She toured the £1.3m Emmaus South Wales facility in Bridgend where she spoke to those that are rebuilding their lives with the help of the staff and volunteers for the charity, which she has been patron of since 2006.

Known as companions, those who live in Emmaus communities are expected to contribute by working up to 40 hours a week in the Emmaus charity shops across the area or in the facility itself.

“Every time I come to visit an Emmaus community I come away feeling uplifted,” the Duchess of Cornwall told the companions, staff and dignitaries who had gathered for her visit.

“I have spoken to many companions around the country and they are all so positive about it all.

“There is a caring community spirit and a chance to get on with your life again, which doesn’t happen with other charities so I am very proud to be part of it.

“I hope now there’s one here, Wales will come and see how it works and we will see lots more springing up around the country.”

Andy Bryant, 39, helped to show the Duchess around the renovated former sheltered housing building, which opened in January.

He is one of five seed companions at the facility, known as Nant Lais, who were brought in from Emmaus communities in England to share the charity’s ethos with new companions.

Nant Lais currently has four new companions and can accommodate up to 20 more.

Andy said: “A lot of guys when they first come in struggle with the work aspect so for the seed companions it’s about getting them into that ethos.

“Everyone has skills they can bring to the table. If it wasn’t for Emmaus I don’t think I would be here now. I was in a bad situation.

“But you are valued at Emmaus. Whatever you bring to the table is valued and used. I get such a sense of fulfilment out of doing a day’s work.”

Tom Clarke, director of Emmaus South Wales – which is run as a separate charity from Emmaus UK – said: “Some companions will work in the Emmaus shops, some will go out on the vans collecting donations, and some will polish the donated furniture. We also have a companion who works as the chef here and one who takes care of the grounds.

“This is a family and a family that works.”

The community has and is still being supported by grant funding from organisations, including the Welsh Government.

But the aim is for the community to become self-sustaining with the money generated by the charity through its retail arm.