A CHARITY is appealing for new volunteers as it works to open a residential community for homeless people.

Emmaus Bradford, a homelessness charity, has been working towards opening its community home for a decade and has recently purchased a new property in Undercliffe to achieve this aim.

The charity plans to welcome the first eight people to the home this year and grow this to 20 more as further refurbishment gets underway.

During last week alone, volunteers donated 129 hours to giving the charity’s newly acquired property a makeover.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Emmaus Bradford volunteers Hannah, Ali and Faith.Emmaus Bradford volunteers Hannah, Ali and Faith.

Recent volunteers have included 11 staff members from the infrastructure services and engineering firm, Amey, who got involved during their work hours as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

This is in addition to 313 volunteer hours spent this week helping the charity raise funds needed to sustain its future community home through its two reuse stores on Cross Lane in Great Horton and Bank Street in the city centre.

Now Emmaus Bradford is on the hunt for additional volunteers and corporate partners to help drive the first phase of works at its community home to completion.

General Manager of Emmaus Bradford, Fran Graham, said: “Our local volunteers are such an important part of the Emmaus Bradford team.

"We’re grateful to anyone who can spare some time to help out in our reuse shops or at our community building, either independently, through work or as part of a corporate social responsibility programme. 

“We need more help, particularly on our van service and in our shops, to help the new community thrive, and from skilled DIY or maintenance teams.

"We’d welcome any support companies or individuals can give us.

“We’re keen to expand the range of roles we offer and hope there are opportunities on our website that appeal to all ages, skills and interests.

"If you would like to get involved, please get in touch or visit us to see first-hand what we’re all about.”

The charity holds regular DIY SOS-style makeover days for people to get its new community home ready to welcome people with experience of homelessness.

Training is offered where possible, and food and travel expenses are available. 

If you would like to apply to become a volunteer, call 01274 955870 or e-mail emmausbradford@outlook.com or visit the Bank Street or Cross Lane and ask for an application form.