History of Emmaus in the UK research brief May 2015

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Andra Sherilyn Montgomery
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History of Emmaus in the UK research brief May 2015 Contents 1. About Emmaus... 1 2. Background to the research project... 2 3. Research objectives... 3 4. Research questions... 3 5. Research outputs.

1 History of Emmaus in the UK research brief May 2015 Contents 1. About Emmaus Background to the research project Research objectives Research questions Research outputs Additional research requirements & methodology Timescale Expressions of interest About Emmaus Emmaus supports formerly homeless people by giving them a home, meaningful work in a social enterprise and an opportunity to get back on their feet again. For many people who experience homelessness, one of the biggest obstacles they must overcome is a loss of selfesteem. Emmaus provides an opportunity to regain this, with a chance to make a real contribution to their community. There are currently 25 communities in the UK which together provide home and work for over 600 people who have experienced homelessness. Emmaus communities are not hostels; they provide a home for as long as someone needs it. For many, this support and stability is like the family they don t have, providing a safe environment in which to settle and rebuild their lives. Often this is an opportunity to overcome issues such as addiction, get support with mental health issues or rebuild relationships with estranged family. Social enterprise is central to the Emmaus model as it provides meaningful work for companions but also generates funding to maintain communities. Companions living in

2 Emmaus communities are expected to sign off all benefits, with the exception of housing benefit which is used to help support the community. Emmaus communities deliver a significant return on investment. Research shows that for every 1 invested in a community, there is an 11 social, environmental and economic return, with savings to the benefits bill, health services and a reduction in crime. 2. Background to the research project Emmaus was founded in France after the Second World War and brought to the UK in 1991, when the first community was established in Cambridge. Seeing the potential of the Emmaus model to provide a sustainable route out of homelessness, volunteer-led groups began working to establish Emmaus communities elsewhere in the country. Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire opened in 1993, followed by Emmaus Greenwich in 1994, Emmaus Dover in 1995 and Emmaus Mossley in At this point, it was decided to adopt a federal structure, with each community set up as an independent registered charity, affiliated to Emmaus UK. Due in large part to Emmaus s federal model, there is very little documented history about how the organisation has developed since it was first brought to the UK. As communities have developed via multiple local, grassroots initiatives, information about how Emmaus has grown is fragmentary and dispersed. Emmaus does, however, have a strong oral tradition and there are many stories about the early days of Emmaus in the UK. The passage of time means that there is a risk that this rich heritage could be lost. The aim of this project is to capture these memories and stories and use them as the basis of a range of resources about Emmaus s history: an audio archive of the interviews; short videos of interviews with key people; a brief written history of Emmaus s first 25 years; and a collection of archival materials and photographs that document the history of Emmaus in the UK. The history project is particularly timely as in 2016 Emmaus will be celebrating the 25 th anniversary of the founding of the first UK community in Cambridge. The project will play a central role in marking our quarter-centenary, helping to raise the Emmaus s profile both locally and nationally.

3 3. Research objectives The project has four main objectives: Preserve oral history. The research should include interviews with up to 30 key stakeholders from Emmaus s history, which should be recorded and summarised. The project will thereby ensure that Emmaus s unique history is fully documented. Build understanding of how Emmaus has developed in the UK. The project should provide a strong grounding in the history of Emmaus for both internal and external audiences, including the challenges that the Emmaus movement has encountered in the past and the ways that Emmaus s philosophy and principles have taken root in the UK. In order to get a full overview of Emmaus s development, it may be necessary to supplement the detailed interviews with some additional shorter, more journalistic interviews. Provide a platform for Emmaus s 25 th anniversary celebrations. The research project should generate high-quality written and audio-visual materials that can be used as a focus point for celebrations of our 25 th anniversary, helping to raise the profile of Emmaus in the UK. Create a shared archive of key documentary materials. The project should bring together key photographs and written materials from across the federation to create a central repository of information relating to the development of Emmaus in the UK. 4. Research questions We would like the research project to address the following questions: How was Emmaus brought to the UK and how did the early communities develop? Why did those people involved in the early years choose the Emmaus model? What were the challenges in establishing the early Emmaus communities? How have Emmaus s ethos and philosophy taken root in the UK? What do those people involved in first establishing Emmaus in the UK think about the way the movement has developed over the past 25 years? What are their hopes for the next 25 years?

4 5. Research outputs Written publication the research should be used to create a short written booklet (around pages, to include photography and text) that provides a brief chronological history of the first 25 years of Emmaus in the UK, along with quotes or short accounts by key stakeholders. This should be suitable for use with a range of internal and external stakeholders (e.g. key funders, donors or potential corporate partners). Archive of audio recordings full recordings and summaries of interviews with up to 30 key stakeholders should be provided to Emmaus UK. Film key interviews should be filmed and the project should provide at least four new short films for the Emmaus website. Documentary archive the project should include collecting and archiving any significant materials and photographs. We do not envisage that there will be a large volume of materials that will require archiving. 6. Additional research requirements & methodology Travel the project will require travel to meet with individuals and visit communities. At a minimum, we envisage that travel to Cambridge, Brighton, Coventry, Dover, Gloucestershire, Greenwich and Mossley (nr Manchester) will be required. Companion involvement where possible, former companions from the early days of Emmaus should be interviewed. Research techniques interviews could follow a life history approach, but should have a strong focus on the interviewee s involvement with Emmaus. We envisage that the majority of interviews will last around 3 hours, although a small number (5-7) could be longer. Detailed interviews with key stakeholders may need to be supplemented with additional shorter, more journalistic interviews, in order to get a full overview of Emmaus s development in the UK. Ethics researchers should follow OHS/BL ethical, legal and technical guidelines.

5 7. Timescale The research must start by August 2015 and be completed no later than February Expressions of interest If you are interested in carrying out this project, please a short proposal by 5pm on Friday 26 June to Katie Earnshaw, Policy and Research Officer, at kearnshaw@emmaus.org.uk The proposal should include: A detailed plan of how you would deliver this research study, including details of the proposed approach to interviewing, producing summaries and archiving; Timeline; Number of days that would be dedicated to the project; Risks and how you would mitigate against these; Brief CV of researcher(s); Brief case study of relevant past work; Roles and responsibilities of the research team; Details of any external partnerships that would be used (e.g. for filming or transcription); A detailed budget, including all expenses and VAT if applicable. This should include the costs of producing at least four short films, as well as the written publication. If you would like to discuss the brief and our expectations prior to submission please contact Katie Earnshaw, kearnshaw@emmaus.org.uk/

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