Emmaus Oxford opens doors

Spring sunshine shone as the first 7 Companions moved into the new Emmaus Oxford Community building on 16th March.

In less than a year, the site at 171 Oxford Road, has been transformed from when Emmaus President Terry Waite made the first scoop with the digger:

to this:

Staff, volunteers and two Companions worked together for a fortnight prior to opening to get everything ready to welcome new residents. Now the 24-bedroomed building offers a welcoming, homely environment to visitors, staff and Companions alike.

The opening and moving in day itself was like a dream come true, the culmination of years of planning, awareness raising and fundraising. At midday staff and Companions sat down to brunch cooked by the Community Leader and Director: since then the Companions have enthusiastically taken on board the shopping, cooking and cleaning, as well as starting work at the Emmaus Oxford Secondhand Superstore.

The first Companion through the door, Chris, said, “I’m very grateful for the opportunity that Emmaus has given me and only hope that I take advantage of it. It may sound dramatic, but I see it as being my salvation at this point in my life.”

Published on 26th March, 2009