Julian started working at Emmaus Bristol in November 2021 as Online Charity Shop Manager and is now our Retail & Online Manager. Have a read of Julian’s story below to find out more about his role and what it’s like to work at Emmaus Bristol…
“Before Emmaus, I had worked in the charity sector for quite a long time but wanted to be at an organisation where I felt more in tune with the mission and values, so when I saw the job for Emmaus Bristol, I was ready for a change and went for it.
I started in the eBay team, sorting and listing donated items to increase our income and profile and supporting the companions who helped out. One of the companions, Anita works in eBay regularly and is always very focused and helpful. When I first joined, we were getting about £500 a week in sales and we pushed that up to £1000, so we’re going in the right direction. I’m now the Retail & Online Manager, which involves managing our three retail shops, Stokes Croft, Bedminster and Vintage, alongside running our eBay operation.
What I like about Emmaus Bristol is the eccentricity of the place because I’m quite eccentric myself. It’s a small charity, there’s a lot more freedom and I enjoy the company of the companions, volunteers and staff.
I don’t quiz companions about their history or anything like that, but obviously there are some stresses and strains that I’m aware of. Different companions have different interests and ability within the social enterprise too, so that’s something you have to work around.
The most important thing to me is that as a charity, we are doing something positive with people. Working in the social enterprise is so important for companion wellbeing, self-esteem, confidence and empowerment. The work is a massive part of their time and is crucial to the support we give as a charity. In our five-year plan, there’s a lot more talk about training and that’s something I want to help bring to the charity. I would also like to get more volunteers involved and visit other Emmaus communities to see how they run their social enterprises.”
To volunteer at Emmaus Bristol in our shops or online team, please email info@emmausbristol.org.uk
