Homelessness charity Emmaus and Hermes have celebrated their first year in partnership which has seen the UK’s leading parcel delivery company raise over £111,000 to help support the charity’s aim to give formerly homeless people a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.
To mark the occasion, Hermes CEO Martijn de Lange visited the Emmaus site in Fitzwarren Street, Salford, one of 29 such sites across the UK. He had a tour of the facilities including a shop, a social supermarket and a school uniform hub, which provides uniforms for local children from low-income families. He also looked around the bedrooms where the companions (the people supported by the charity) live on-site, the kitchen where companions prepare meals together for each other, and the rooms that are available for short-term emergency use as part of a local scheme to keep people off the streets.
Hermes CEO, Martijn de Lange, said: “Homelessness is an issue that has continued to grow since the beginning of the pandemic, and our people have embraced our decision to partner with Emmaus and have been tireless in their fundraising to support this fantastic charity. We’ve had to get creative over the last year with lockdowns preventing us from hosting in-person fundraising events, but despite this, we have still been able to support Emmaus, which has gone on to make a positive difference to people experiencing homelessness. In the new year, we’ll be exploring other ways to support the charity including work experience and work placements.”
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