Homelessness charity gears up for a day of community action

Former homeless people supported by local charity Emmaus Mossley will be taking part in a day of community action as part of a worldwide Uprising of Kindness.

The Emmaus Mossley secondhand superstore will close for the day on Thursday week, February 1, to give people supported by the charity the chance to volunteer in their local community.

The date marks the 70th anniversary of Emmaus founder Abbé Pierre’s Uprising of Kindness radio appeal in Paris that sparked an outpouring of generosity.

Emmaus Mossley supports people who have experienced homelessness by providing them with a home, work opportunities, companionship and individual support.

The charity is one of 30 Emmaus communities in the UK and part of a worldwide movement of over 400 Emmaus groups, working to help the most excluded and tackling the causes of poverty.

Gary, one of the people supported by Emmaus Mossley, said: “The Uprising of Kindness is an important event in the Emmaus calendar and it’s vital that all Emmaus groups show thanks to their local community and voluntary organisations.

"By giving a day of support and solidarity in Mossley, we hope to spread the message of kindness.”

The day of community action will see Emmaus Mossley companions (people supported by the charity), volunteers and staff members out volunteering to help local groups and projects within the town.

Across the UK, other Emmaus communities are taking part in a range of activities to raise awareness of injustice, support people in need and carry out acts of kindness in their areas.

While at Emmaus, people are given the opportunity for a fresh start, gaining skills and work experience alongside training and personal development.

Solidarity is central to the Emmaus ethos and residents of Emmaus communities are encouraged to carry out acts of solidarity to support people in greater need.

Alison Hill, CEO of Emmaus Mossley, said: “Seventy years after Emmaus founder Abbé Pierre delivered a radio appeal for solidarity, Emmaus groups around the world are taking action and calling on the public to take action too.

"As a community, Emmaus Mossley will be carrying our acts of kindness in our local community and we encourage everyone to be more kind and do what they can to support the causes they care about.”

In 1954, France was experiencing a serious housing crisis.

It was a freezing winter and thousands of people were sleeping on the streets.

Outraged at the situation, Emmaus founder Pierre launched a radio appeal that sparked a historic outpouring of generosity and prompted the government to finally take action to protect the homeless.

To find out more about the anniversary of Abbé Pierre’s radio appeal and how you can get involved, please click here

To find out more about Emmaus Mossley, please click here

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