Referrals To Emmaus Brighton & Hove - How to become a resident Companion
Pictured above is Mathieu Delarue, Community Leader, in charge of referrals to the Community.
'Companion' is the name we give to someone who lives in the Emmaus community and lives the life of a Companion and accepts its rules. [Top of page]
Once accepted as a Companion a person has to sign off any benefits they may have been receiving such as income support, jobseekers allowance or incapacity benefit and to work a 40 hour week to the best of their ability within the community.
There are few rules but pets such as dogs or cats are not allowed and no alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed on the premises. Anyone resorting to violence is likely to be asked to leave the community. [Top of page]
Each Companion has an individual bedroom with TV and lives in the community with all meals provided in a communal dining room and normal living expenses are covered. Each receives a weekly charitable allowance to pay for any extras.
Companions are encouraged to register with the local doctor and to visit the local dentist and optician as appropriate. Healthcare including prescriptions are usually provided free of charge. [Top of page]
Unlike in hostels, Emmaus Companions work a 40 hour week and normally have two days off a week, a long weekend after three months, and a week's holiday after six months.
Work is to the best of a Companion's ability and could include:
Appropriate free training is provided in health and safety, manual handling, basic food hygiene and other subjects as relevant. Opportunities are provided to access other courses, many of which are local and free. Companions can take on positions of responsibility within the Community such as team leaders, duty team members and 'Community Assistants' who assist the Community Leader.
Most Companions stay for at least a few months but some leave after a short time and others stay for years. Some Companions tell their stories on our stories page. [Top of page]
An individual can apply directly to the Community Leader (address and phone number below) to request a place in the community but if they are already living in a hostel or are perhaps sleeping rough but in contact with a referring organisation we ask that organisation to make the application for them.
If your organisation would like to refer someone to the Emmaus Community with a request for their admission as a Companion you will be asked to fill in a confidential referral form and post or email it back. If you use email please write 'referral' and the applicant's name in the email header.[Top of page]
This is a 'Word' document which you can download, fill in on computer, and email back to us as an attachment. Download the referral form here.
Alternatively you can print it, fill it in by hand, then post it back to us. The details are on the form.
Please read the information at the top of this page and explain it to the applicant, especially no.2 'rules' and no.4 'work' as we are not suitable for everyone.
The Community Leader is in charge of Admissions and referrals. If you would like to speak with him in confidence his direct number is 01273 426475. If you do not get an immediate answer you can leave a message on his voicemail and he will get back to you. He is normally available Tuesdays to Saturdays.
You can also email him or write to him at:
Community Leader, Emmaus Brighton,
Drove Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 2PA
What the Emmaus name means and why we use it
Emmaus Brighton & Hove, Drove Road, Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 2PA
Tel: 01273 426470
Email: contact@emmausbrighton.co.uk
Emmaus Brighton & Hove is a community of Sussex Emmaus
Sussex Emmaus - Charity: 1053354 Registered Company: 3130876
