Support a sleep out! – “Even if we help one person by getting them off the street that would be a great achievement.”

Emmaus Mossley are attending a charity sleep-out to raise awareness about homelessness hosted by Oldham Athletic Community Trust.

The sleep out at Boundary Park, organised by Oldham Athletic Community Trust, is working alongside several local charities, including Oldham Food bank, Engage Grow Go (EGG) and North care Charity.

Five members of Emmaus Mossley will be taking part in this overnight sleep out.

Emmaus Mossley is a charity that supports people who have experienced homelessness by providing them with a home, companionship, tailored support and work opportunities.

The charity's community is home for up to 26 people at any given time, with each person supported to build their confidence, self-esteem, skills and work experience to achieve their goals.

Adrian France, senior finance officer at Emmaus and lifelong Oldham Athletic fan, is one of the people taking part in the sleep out: “we have great links with Oldham, in the past we have had matches at Boundary Park and at Mossley against an Oldham team.

“We have had visits from players over the years.

“One year the whole youth team came to visit us here at Emmaus Mossley to raise awareness of homelessness.”

Credit: Oldham Athletic Community Trust

The site on Queen Street in Mossley has a second-hand superstore and a café as well as the 26 rooms for their companions.

Gary Barton is one of the companions at Emmaus Mossley and has been there for over 11 years: “I do a variety of different jobs in different areas wherever I’m needed and can help out.”

EGG, one of the charities that money is being raised for, works alongside Emmaus in referring people who are homeless if they need somewhere to stay as well as helping people in the future with any support they need.

Gary decided to take part in the sleep out to help raise awareness of homelessness in the local area: “most of the people you see working here, live here as well, myself included have been homeless in the past.

“We want to let people know that it’s not a very nice thing, and with us having lived experience, we want to try and eliminate that. You will never 100% eliminate homelessness but if we can try and help one person by getting them off the street that would be a great achievement.”

Fanzines made by the companions at Emmaus Mossley.

Raising awareness of homelessness is extremely important for people to have the best quality of life.

Adrian said: “we’re in the 21st century, people should have a roof over their head and be able to live the best life possible and if you’re street homeless it’s very difficult to do that.”

Emmaus first opened in 1991 and now has 29 communities spread across the UK; they support over 850 people who have experienced homelessness.

The very first Emmaus community was founded in Paris in 1949, the group now has 425 groups across 41 countries.

Through the international sites there is the opportunity for the companions to travel.

Gary has been able to see lots of the world thanks to Emmaus: “I’ve been to Germany, Netherlands, France half a dozen times, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, Bosnia, Uruguay, South America, I’ve been all over, and I am going to France again later this year.

“It’s just brilliant to see other people from other Emmaus groups.”

The sleep out is on Friday 11^th April.