Emmaus North Staffs work to end furniture poverty in the region and support more than 800 local households each year.

In 2022, the charity opened a brand new Furniture and Home Charity Emporium in Etruria, as well as a large store located in the Potteries Centre, Hanley – and now plans are taking a step further to launch their own Emmaus Community in Stoke-on-Trent.

John Webbe, Executive Lead at Emmaus North Staffs, said: “Our charity has undergone some fantastic developments in the last year with the opening of our new emporium and charity shop and we are looking forward to welcoming more trustees to join our board as we push forward with the next phase of our developments, which will see the first Emmaus Community in the county.”

Emmaus North Staffs is part of the Emmaus UK movement and there are currently 30 communities throughout the country. Each community provide vital life skills, employment opportunities and accommodation to those who have experienced homelessness.

John adds: “The community will offer a home, work experience, daily support and funded training to help companions rebuild their lives. We have been raising funds towards the community and looking to be able to bring this to the region as soon as possible. We would like to now welcome more trustees to join our board who are equally as keen to really want to help make a difference and drive social change in their home county.

“We are looking for those who share the same values as ourselves, they could be business professionals looking to share expertise, or young people who are looking for experience sitting on a board and being able to share their own skills and experiences.”

Trustees will be expected to attend regular meetings, advise on strategy and get to know staff, volunteers and companions. They will also need to have an understanding about how the charity’s social enterprises operate, and to advise on the strategic development of the charity. This involves each trustee bringing their professional experience, skills, and knowledge to the charity’s Board meetings, as well as seeking opportunities to collaborate with local partners to achieve the goals of the charity.

The Emmaus North Staffs emporium and shop are open to the public six days a week where various household items, clothing, white goods and more can be purchased.

For more details about the trustee vacancies and to apply please contact Emmaus North Staffs by emailing Jo*******@*******************rg.uk or telephone John Webbe on 07710 434025.