I'm a trustee for Emmaus North East. Emmaus communities enable people to move on from homelessness, providing work and a home in a supportive, family environment. Companions, as residents are known, work full-time collecting renovating and reselling donated furniture and other household goods.

This work supports the community financially and enables residents to develop skills and rebuild their self-respect.

There are currently 26 Communities open in the UK, but none in the North East of England.

Together with our partners we are working to put this right by establishing an Emmaus Community in South Tyneside. 

Take a look at the video below to find out more about what we do.