Emmaus charities celebrate Walk of Kindness success as nearly £50k raised
By Jill Dando News
Fundraisers are celebrating after the huge success of the Walk of Kindness challenge, which has raised almost £50,000 and involved Emmaus charities across the UK.
An inspiring team of staff and people the charity supports, known as ‘companions’, made the epic 450-mile journey from St David’s in Wales to Ditchingham in Norfolk to take action on homelessness.
It took them six weeks of walking through 11 counties, where they were cheered on by other Emmaus charities, known as ‘communities’.
Cecile Roberts, CEO at Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, said: “It’s very emotional to be home and lovely to see so family, friends and colleagues, and lovely to get back and give everyone a big hug.
“I’m so proud of everyone on the walk and everyone back home at Ditchingham. It’s been tough at times, but we’ve never given up.
“It feels really special to have completed this journey. We walked day in and day out to create change for people but also had a life changing experience ourselves.
“Every pound that has been generously donated will help people who are experiencing loneliness, isolation and mental health issues.”
The team has managed to raise £38,000 online so far but a further £10,000 has been donated by trusts, foundations and offline donors. They are still accepting online donations for a further few weeks.
They even received a special thanks from the Royal Family, who congratulated them on an “extraordinary achievement”.
Bringing Emmaus charities together
A group from Emmaus South Wales joined the walk for a six-hour trek along the Welsh coast, whilst Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire and Emmaus Cambridge also provided crucial support for the Walk of Kindness team.
Falisha Channer, Community Leader at Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire, said:
“Walking together like this is about more than just covering miles – it’s about bringing people together who’ve been through similar struggles and showing that we’re united in our fight against homelessness.
“The Walk of Kindness is our way of saying that we’re here to support each other, and we believe that together, we can make real, lasting change. Everyone deserves a place to call home, and this walk is a step towards making that a reality.”
The fundraising team incudes Chloe, Jagger and Peter, who have all received support from Emmaus after experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues.
Jagger, a companion at Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney, said:
“I’ve been living on the streets, on and off since I was about 18 – I’m 61 now. I’ve taken all my life: from food banks, charities, and night shelters, and I wanted to give something back.
“That’s why I took on this challenge. To raise money to help more out of homelessness is fantastic and we’re grateful to everyone who has donated money to the walk.
“But I wanted to raise awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness and I think we’ve done that – that’s what I’m most proud of.”
The Walk of Kindness comes at a time when rough sleeping figures are continually increasing, an estimated 3,898 people slept rough in 2023, an annual increase of 27%.
Emmaus communities across the UK are experiencing increased demand for their services, with more people than ever finding themselves without a place to call home.
There is still time to donate to the Walk of Kindness team.
For more good news click here
