Staff Stories: James McFaul

"‘I came to Leeds in the September of 2005 as a companion’, I had been evicted out of my property which meant I was living rough and sleeping on the streets for a few months. I went to St Georges Crypt and they referred me to Emmaus Leeds’

‘Emmaus helped me to find a place of my own, and they let me drive the van when I was here as a companion. When I left Emmaus they didn’t have any drivers so I came back a couple of days a week just as a volunteer. I did that for 3 Months.
Then one day Ali Ward (Community Manager at Emmaus Leeds) called me into her office and asked me if I would be interested in working for Emmaus Leeds as a paid driver. I agreed and I have been working as a paid driver for
8 months now’.

‘Oh something I forgot to mention was that Emmaus also furnishes my flat for me which was very good and shows that they take care of companions even when they move on’

‘I always said that if it wasn’t for Emmaus I would either be dead or in prison. But I have to say Emmaus isn’t always for everybody, you have to work well with the staff. And basically you get out of it, what you put in.’"

"I'm doing the painting and decorating at the moment - I used to be a self-employed painter and decorator until things went pear shaped. I'm using my skills. Plus I'm out driving which is good as well,…"