International
Emmaus was founded in France just after the Second World War to combat poverty and homelessness. A residence was shared by homeless people but they could not afford to feed themselves, so they had the idea of recycling and selling those things that others throw away. This combination created the foundation for Emmaus.
There are now over 400 self-supporting, self-governing projects in 44 countries, all based upon the original model. Each one offers homeless and unemployed men and women a home, work, companionship and a chance to gain self-respect.
Emmaus UK
Emmaus did not take off in this country until 1990. The motivation was the large increase of homeless people on our streets following changes in housing benefit which removed the provision of rent deposits for private accommodation.
Twelve projects have opened in the UK since then, at Cambridge, Coventry, Greenwich, Dover, Brighton, Gloucester, Carlton, St Albans, Bristol, Leeds, Bolton and here at Mossley in Tameside. It is hoped that premises in Sheffield will be ready to open shortly.
Emmaus Mossley
A member of the group that founded the first UK project near Cambridge brought the idea to the Manchester area in 1994 after he moved to Oldham. 28 buildings were viewed in Manchester, Oldham and Tameside before Longlands Mill in Mossley was obtained.
Tameside Council granted planning permission in January 1996, the Company and Charity were registered in Spring 1996, and the purchase was completed in August of that year, thanks to a grant from a national charitable trust.
Longlands Mill was built in 1871 as a doubling mill but became a cotton waste mill in 1929. By the time of the purchase it was empty and becoming derelict.
A co-ordinator was appointed in May 1997 and a small shop was opened on Manchester Road, whilst the mill was open on Saturday mornings for the sale of furniture, clothing, bric-a-brac, toys, etc.
Phase one of the conversion of the mill took place in 1998, providing workshops, sales areas and ten en-suite bedrooms. The second phase, which took place in 1999, included a kitchen, dining room, leisure area, eight further bedrooms and an electrical workshop.
Four more en-suite bedrooms have been added in 2006.
A small industrial heritage centre opened in 2001, in a corner of the lower floor, recording the history of the cotton industry in Mossley, in partnership with Mossley Civic Society.
Emmaus Mossley has its own workshops where donated goods are repaired or refurbished. Companions are offered the opportunity to learn a variety of skills.