Emmaus Cambridge
Life at Landbeach
Emmaus Cambridge was the first Community to be established in the UK in 1990. In the years since the Community has gone from strength to strength, becoming fully self supporting through the hard work of Companions, the name we give to those living in the Community, and staff. By collecting, refurbishing and selling furniture and other household goods no longer needed by their owners in our shop, the Community has been able to increase the original intake of Companions to 30 as well as directly supporting other local organisations helping homeless people and those affected by poverty, including Jimmy’s Nightshelter and the Cambridge Foodbank.
Also, by offering goods at discounted rate to those in receipt of some state benefits, we aim to help those on the lowest incomes in society and by doing so, continue to fulfil the original aims of Abbé Pierre’s vision: “To serve the most needy before ourselves”.
Helping people help themselves
Emmaus is not an easy option - on joining the Community, Companions commit to volunteering 37.5 hours a week, sign off unemployment benefits such as Job Seeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit (although they may be asked to apply for Housing Benefit which is paid directly to the Community) and every one lives by the principle of helping others to live, grow and find dignity through sharing, work and self respect.
Newsletters
For the latest information on Community life read our Summer 2011 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 3.4MB).
Previous newsletters can also be viewed - see Summer 08 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 961KB), Autumn/Winter 2008 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 226KB), Spring 09 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 609KB), Autumn 09 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 5.0MB), Winter 09/10 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 2.4MB) Spring Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 2.7MB), or Summer 2010 Newsletter (Adobe/PDF, 4.2MB).
If you would like to receive future newsletters by email please send your email address to marking the message line newsletter.
Annual Reports
If you would like to read the latest Annual Report & Accounts see Emmaus Cambridge Report & Accounts 2011 (Adobe/PDF, 1.0MB)