National homelessness charity Emmaus has announced that Hermes UK, the leading consumer delivery company, has become a corporate partner, supporting its aim to give its companions a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.
The funds raised by Hermes will be used across the UK to expand the services the charity is able to offer. Unlike many homelessness charities, Emmaus provides a home for as long as it is needed, along with the stability and self-esteem that comes from having meaningful work to do every day. With support from Hermes, Emmaus hopes to increase the number of people they can support in the UK and improve training and development opportunities that companions can access.
Hermes will aim to raise a minimum of £100k for the charity through fundraising activities with clients and employees. The business is also exploring other ways to support the charity, including providing valuable work experience and work placements, running technology and interview training workshops and donating items for companions.
Simon Grange, CEO at Emmaus, said: “The issue of homelessness was already extremely challenging before Covid-19 and we can only see this situation getting worse as more and more people face an uncertain future. The virus and lockdown have presented many challenges for us, not only affecting our income from our shops and social enterprises, but also taking away the meaningful work that is such an important part of supporting our companions. This partnership comes at a great time as we work to overcome the challenges presented by the virus. We are extremely excited to be working with Hermes and look forward building a true partnership that both organisations can benefit from.”
Martijn de Lange, CEO at Hermes UK, said: “We’re seeing the impact of the pandemic first hand when it comes to the volume of people looking for work and applying for roles, and unfortunately a severe consequence of rising unemployment is that the UK’s homelessness crisis is being further exacerbated. There is an additional financial strain on local services, which makes charities such as Emmaus even more important now. We’re pleased to be able to support this crucial cause by giving people the tools to help them succeed, both now and in the future.”
