Background
Abbé Pierre
Click a question below to discover more.
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Who are we?
St Martin’s Emmaus is one of over 400 communities throughout the world, of which almost 20 are in the UK, that provide a home, work and “a future” for otherwise single homeless men and women.
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How long have you existed?
The Emmaus Movement has existed since 1949, when the founder, Abbé Pierre, started the first community in Paris. The aim (which is unchanged today) was to provide the opportunity for self-help and mutual aid.
We have been in Archcliffe Fort since 1995, but the buildings were in various states of dilapidation then, so we were only partly operational in the early years. After spending about £500,000, we have been fully operational, accommodating up to 21 companions, since July 1998.
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Where does the name come from?
The Abbé Pierre chose the name 'Emmaus', after the town where the discouraged disciples met the resurrected Christ. In Dover, the name of St Martin was incorporated into the name; St Martin (of Tours) is the patron saint of Dover and was a soldier, famed for dividing his cloak with a beggar.
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How do you operate?
Despite its Christian origins, Emmaus operates in an entirely secular way. If there is a room available, it is open to anyone; few questions about the past are asked of the individual before he, or she, is accepted as a 'companion'.
However, every companion must agree to sign-off primary ‘Benefits’ (Job Seekers’ Allowance, Income Support etc) and to observe the basic rules of the community – to respect all other people, not to bring alcohol or illicit drugs into the community and to be available for work for up to 40 hours each week. If these rules are broken, the companion will be asked to leave the community for a period – but never forever!
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How do you pay your way?
The Community has its own business, mainly centred on the collection, repair, renovation and resale of donated goods of all sorts, with particular emphasis on furniture and electrical white goods.
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What does a companion receive?
Besides the use of a room with its own shower, wash basin and toilet, the companion has the use of communal sitting and dining rooms. Meals, clothes and other necessities are provided. A companion receives £32 in cash each week, while a further £5 is put aside for holidays or the time when a person leaves the Community.
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What would you do if you made a surplus?
Every organisation should keep some reserve to cover the unexpected, but after that we help in the formation of new Emmaus Communities and in the support of other charities. As we said above, we aim to pay our own way on a day to day basis but for capital expenditure and the development of the Emmaus movement, we still need help.
If you would like to contribute towards these aims it would be greatly appreciated.