Funding boost for Emmaus Hastings and Rother
The vision of an Emmaus Community in Hastings & Rother has moved a step closer with the award of £436,000 from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
Emmaus Hastings & Rother acquired their site from Southern Water in August 2009 with the help of £280,000 of solidarity funding from the Emmaus Movement. In October 2009 the group began trading, using volunteers supported by Companions from Emmaus Brighton & Hove, selling donated furniture and household goods to raise funds for the project. Turnover in their shop now approaches £1,000 per week.
The SEIF grant will fund construction of the first phase of the accommodation block on the site together with alterations to the existing building. This will house 9 Companions and a Community Leader and provide for the gradual growth of the Community over its first couple of years. During that time the group will target the funds to add the 14 rooms required to bring the Community up to its design size of 23.
Acting Chair of Trustees David Cooper said: "We were stunned to win the SEIF grant and are now working flat-out to get everything in place to allow all of the funds to be released before the funding deadline. This includes a minor variation to our existing planning consent. Over the past year we have been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the rest of the Movement - only last Saturday Emmaus Cambridge held a solidarity sale to help fund a new van for us".
Published on 27th April, 2010
KEEP ME POSTED! Sign up for emailed content alerts: