Client Stories

Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney

Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney are a relatively small charity working with people experiencing homelessness across Norfolk and Waveney. Part of a network of autonomous communities globally who support people who have been homeless by providing a bed and a reason to get out of it. They support people to gain skills for employment through their enterprises and put their residents at the heart of their community’s development. Their recent Capital appeal, for example, was the direct result of a request from their homeless community to access more work experience in hospitality and tourism, where there are many local employment opportunities.

Objectives

We started working with Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney in 2018 and began their capital appeal in earnest 2 years ago to turn the upstairs of their Grade 2 listed convent into a bespoke B&B for walkers and cyclists. With 23 bedrooms, this will be the biggest B&B within a homeless community anywhere in the world. We have also helped fund: 10 new bedrooms, an outside gym, a forge, a wood working workshop, a polytunnel, a paint machine and a stock inventory system. Over the period we have worked with them we have:

  1. Written a fundraising strategy.
  2. Trained their trustees to help them understand fundraising and map their networks.
  3. Undertaken corporate campaigns, started major donor fundraising and stewardship of donors.
  4. Provided a case for support and range of marketing materials.
  5. Written all grant applications, including to Emmaus UK.
  6. Liaised and opened negotiations with social investors on their behalf.
  7. Provided strategic support to their CEO and trustees, as needed.
  8. Written their annual report for the Charity Commission.
  9. Provided coaching and mentoring to their team.

The value of the contract

Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney have spent c. £50,000 with us over the last 5 years, of which, they have spent a total of £32,660 on their capital appeal – giving an ROI of over £56 for every £1 spent with us on the capital appeal, and a total ROI across revenue and capital projects of over £46 for every £1 invested. We have been responsible for almost all of their fundraising as they have no fundraisers internally.

Results from Capital Appeal

Emmaus UK £400,000 (over a range of bids); Community of All Hallows (landlords of the site) £500,000; Garfield Weston £250,000; Heritage Lottery £190,000. Range of smaller grants, major gifts and corporate sponsorship and £250k currently earmarked as social investment that we expect to replace with grant funding by the time the money is needed.

“The Fundraisers have been alongside us at Emmaus since I joined as CEO 7 years ago, fundraising for renovating, extending and updating our buildings and revenue costs. They have helped us double the number of people we accommodate and our income over the last 2 years alone. I love working with Julie and her team, they come with passion, integrity and knowledge.”
Cecille Roberts, CEO Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney