Today Jim joined local homelessness charity, Emmaus Cambridge, as they celebrated 12 years of the Emmaus Movement in the UK by having a party at the House of Lords.

The first Emmaus Community opened in Cambridge in 1991. Since then 19 more Emmaus Communities have opened and there are many Emmaus Groups across the country in various stages of development. Emmaus Cambridge operates a thriving Community and shop in Landbeach.

The party at the House of Lords provided an opportunity for Emmaus President and ex-hostage, Terry Waite, to meet with Jim and to discuss the Emmaus solution to homelessness. Emmaus Communities offer homeless people a home, work and the chance to regain self respect in a supportive community environment.  Residents work full time on the Community business, renovating and re-selling donated furniture.  Communities aim to become self-supporting through their business, with any surplus used to help others in need.

Jim said, ‘I have visited Emmaus many times over the past twenty years and am always impressed at the work they do with some of the most vulnerable people in out community – a very happy birthday!’