Mission Statement

"To enable socially excluded people to regain control of their lives, discover a sense of purpose and generate the wherewithal to help those in greater need, by establishing and maintaining a self-supporting Community.”

Values

• Value every person equally
• Be transparent and honest in all our dealings
• Oppose injustice in all its form
• Enable everyone at all levels to participate actively in our work
• Share and exchange resources, skills and learning
• Cherish independence, but support and foster interdependence

About Emmaus

The Emmaus movement is an international, secular organisation working in over 44 countries. Emmaus communities and Groups are dedicated to the principle of 'helping homeless people help themselves' and all are registered charities. Over 400 communities exist worldwide.

Abbe Pierre

Emmaus was founded in 1949 by a French priest Abbe Pierre as a compassionate response to the huge homelessness problem in Paris after the second World War. The name has its origins in the Gospel when two companions met Jesus on the road to Emmaus and who found hope in that meeting .

Homelessness is one of the scandals of modern day society. It is a complex problem at the sharp end of a combination of social problems spanning unemployment, social isolation, family breakdown, rootlessness, addictions, mental health and poor education. Emmaus offers quite a straight forward route whereby homeless people can find inclusion, purpose, and companionship which gives people the space to work indirectly on the range of issues that affect their situation. Whilst Emmaus is holistic and person centred in its ethos it always works in partnership with a range of other practical support services to meet the needs of 'Companions' ( as the residents of communities are known).

EMMAUS GLASGOW is the first Emmaus community in Scotland and is a member of the federation of Emmaus Communities and groups in the UK which are represented by Emmaus UK. Further information on the Emmaus movement is available at the Emmaus UK website.

Emmaus Glasgow

Emmaus Glasgow was initiated in 1997 and established as a Scottish registered charity and company limited by guarantee in 1999. During the development phase a full time General Manager and a part-time administrator were engaged and during the latter half of 2005. Two live in staff (Coordinator and Deputy) were recruited and trained in readiness for the community opening in 2006. We are the first Emmaus Community in Scotland. There are 12 in England plus about 20 groups preparing to start communities. All belong to the UK Federation. The HQ is in Cambridge and the president is Terry Waite.

Management

Emmaus Glasgow is managed by a Board of Directors providing various areas of expertise and includes local community representatives and the local councillor. Serving this Board are two groups dealing respectively with staff and companion issues and finance and business issues.

Board Members

Rev. Willy Slavin (chair)
Ken Fisher (Company Secretary)
Peter Henderson
Walter Halley
Anne Jarvie (Convenor, Staff and Companions)
Cathy Nesbitt
Fleming Carswell
Willie Raworth
John McVicar
Ernie Hasler ( Health and Safety Advisor)
Councillor John Gray
Advisor to the board on legal matters: Desmond McCaffrey
Volunteer Treasurer: Brett Nicholls

To view the EMMAUS GLASGOW Directors' Report and Annual Accounts for the year ended 30th June 2007 click here ...

Photos from the 2006 AGM