Stepping Stones to Hope - Emmaus Bristol and the work of rebuilding lives

On a cold morning in Bristol, someone sleeping rough might walk into the Emmaus charity shop just off Stokes Croft looking for a coat. Many of the people running the shop and loading the van have themselves experienced homelessness. They know exactly what it means to walk through that door.

Emmaus Bristol has supported people experiencing homelessness since 1998, offering not just accommodation but work, community, and a genuine stake in something. Residents - known as companions - take part in running the shop, the warehouse, and the van that collects donated furniture across the city. The model is built on the belief that recovery from homelessness isn't just about having a roof. It's about having a reason to get up in the morning - and a vision of where life might go next.

"The main thing that makes Emmaus different is that we are a community. Friendships and purpose are part of recovery from homelessness. Our companions provide both for each other by working together to solve problems, living together, and cooking shared evening meals. They also steer our organisation and keep all our social enterprises running.

Cassidy came to Emmaus after a period of rough sleeping and, several months later, had moved on - but kept coming back as a volunteer. Working on the van, in the shop, in the warehouse, Cassidy is now training in counselling and mental health towards a career in support work.

"It's good for my depression because it gets me out of the house and it gives me something to get up for in the morning. Everyone is so positive here, support work is brilliant and I really enjoy it here."

"I've really come out of my shell a lot and I've sorted out all my issues, well most of my issues - and without Emmaus I wouldn't have done it because I was in a right state before. But Emmaus has just brought me out of it, which is really good. Exactly what I needed."

One of the things Cassidy loves most is painting the bedrooms - preparing them for new companions arriving from the streets.

"I think it's important to why I was painting the rooms because I know what it's like being homeless and from the streets into an accommodation. If you walk into a room that's really nice and that you haven't had for God knows how long you've been on the streets - it makes a lot of difference. You think, 'Yes, I've got somewhere.' It just cheers you up a little bit because you know you've got a room and it's clean."

"One of the special things about Emmaus is how companions support each other to settle in and learn to be part of the community. We are more than just a staff team - we have companions who know what it is like to have that first day in the community, to work in our social enterprises or to cook for twenty people for the first time. They also know what it is like to experience homelessness and the importance of a safe home and healthy relationships."

That spirit of solidarity runs through everything Emmaus does. The organisation doesn't just house people - it invests in where they want to go next, supporting companions with skills, work experience, and the confidence to imagine a different future. The partnership with Bristol Cathedral on Pants for People - stocking new underwear, socks, thermals and warm essentials for people sleeping rough - is one expression of that wider mission: practical, dignified, and rooted in community.

"Being on the streets in the winter is horrible - especially if you've got no gloves, you've got no coat, you've got no hats," says Cassidy.

It is exactly that lived understanding - of what it feels like to have nothing, and what it means to be given something - that makes Emmaus's approach distinctive. For Cassidy, the desire to give something back isn't separate from the work. It is the work.

"I've got experience, I can help people and I understand a little bit what they're going through and I just want to give something back."

For more information, visit emmausbristol.org.uk and bristol-cathedral.co.uk