We are delighted to announce that Emmaus Bristol has been awarded a £5,000 grant from TAP for Bristol to help our companions move into their own homes after they have received support from our charity.
We support people who have experienced homelessness by providing accommodation in a shared building, work experience opportunities, funded training and tailored support. The service we provide gives people the time, skills and confidence they need to secure employment and live independently.
Over the past few years, our staff team has found it difficult to support residents to move out due to the lack of social housing, expensive and competitive private rental sector, and high living costs. The funding from TAP for Bristol will allow us to offer grants to companions who are leaving to help them cover expenses such as the first month’s rent, deposits, and utility start-up costs.
Fran Blishen, Support Manager at Emmaus Bristol, said:
“With the support of TAP for Bristol and Quartet Community Foundation, we will now be able to offer £500, £750 or £1,000 grants to our residents to help them move out when they are ready to do so, without fear of getting into arrears or debt. We do currently have some residents who are ready to move out but have not yet due to financial constraints, so this funding will help massively.
“Our ethos is to support residents into independent living through work experience, coaching, in-work support, and life skills and rent-ready training. With the new funding, we envisage a high success rate for residents who do move on from Emmaus Bristol and we will be able to support more people in need as we will have more rooms available. Their success will also have a positive and inspiring effect on other residents thinking about taking the first steps to move out.”
The first recipients
The first residents to benefit from the TAP for Bristol grant are Kevin and Gianni, who are both moving into their own flats in a local almshouse, which provides self-contained, low-cost housing to people who are over the age of 55.
Kevin’s story
Kevin became homeless in 2013 and moved to Emmaus Bristol in April 2022. Commenting on his new home, Kevin said:
“I’ve never had my own place; I just can’t believe it. I’m moving into a one-bedroom flat, and I love it. There’s a very nice garden I can sit in, a laundry room and also a TV and games room. Emmaus Bristol has been putting money into a leaving fund for me while I’ve been here and that, plus the move-on grant I’ve been given, will help when I leave.
“You can stay at Emmaus Bristol for as long as you need, but I’m ready to be independent and it’s very nice that I’ve got the opportunity for that. While I’ve been here, there are so many aspects Emmaus has supported me with. They got me support to get my British citizenship and passport, I got funding for a new computer, phone and walking boots, and I’ve done a computer course and food hygiene course because I want to work in catering. Now, I just want to look forward to the future and live a simple and peaceful life.”
Gianni’s story
Gianni spent two and a half years sleeping in a tent before moving to Emmaus Bristol in 2020. Also commenting on his new flat, Gianni said:
“The flat is beautiful, I can’t believe it. It’s been six and a half years since I had a place of my own because before I came to Emmaus Bristol, I was homeless. When I leave, I’ll have my savings from the leaving fund Emmaus provides and a grant from another charity. I’m happy that I’m leaving and giving the chance for someone else to come in. I’ll still be in the city, so I hope to volunteer in the Emmaus shops when I leave.”
About Tap for Bristol
TAP for Bristol is an initiative by Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with Caring in Bristol and Redcliffe & Temple BID. It fundraises for homelessness prevention and emergency support in Bristol by providing contactless donation points in various locations across the centre. All money raised is divided equally between Caring in Bristol’s Z House project and grants to other organisations that provide crisis funding for those experiencing homelessness. All donations to charities are facilitated, managed and evaluated by Quartet Community Foundation on behalf of TAP for Bristol.
Paula Ratcliffe, Business Liaison & Support Service Manager at Bristol City Centre BID, said:
‘We’re delighted to be able to support the amazing work that Emmaus do to in providing a long term and sustainable route out of homelessness using donations raised via TAP for Bristol. We look forward to seeing how this grant has a positive impact on Emmaus companions, helping them take their next step on the road away from homelessness.”
To find out more about TAP for Bristol, visit www.bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk/tap-for-bristol
