10:00pm Tuesday 22nd December 2009
A CHARITY in Burnley has received a welcome festive gift with the announcement that a national trust has handed over a £250,000 to a housing project.
Supporters of Emmaus will use the funding, from the Henry Smith Trust, to convert the Booth Court sheltered housing complex, which it acquired from borough landlords Calico in August.
The scheme, off Old Hall Street in Daneshouse, was officially launched by former peace envoy, and the organisation’s UK president, Terry Waite, in Burnley last March.
Homeless people will be offered the chance to live and work at the newly-renamed Emmaus House, gaining training or qualifications in return for their efforts.
Ex-MP Peter Pike, Emmaus Burnley chairman, said: “This has been some very good Christmas news for us.
“Our work on the first phase will be starting in early January so this good news comes just at the right time. Our aims is to have our first residents moving in by the middle of 2010.
“We have still a lot to do - and more money to raise but we are on target to complete this project which provides the homeless with a home and also work and helps them to rebuild their lives.”
The organisation is also looking to secure premises in the town centre to establish a large fundraising shop, to back their activities.
Volunteers have run a regular stall on Burnley Market, in preparation for the venture, since October and have already received a number of donations from the general public.
Mr Pike said: “We plan to begin to run a smaller shop on a temporary basis throughout 2010 to ease the transition from small to large scale trading.”
An appeal has also been made for new Emmaus volunteers, either in the trading arm or their established grounds maintenance team. The team can be contacted on 01282 430860.
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