New opportunities for volunteers at charity Emmaus North Staffs
Volunteers at a Stoke-on-Trent charity will now be able to access valuable skills development and training following on from the appointment of a new development coordinator.
Emmaus North Staffs – a charity which works to prevent homelessness – has welcomed Keziah Stott as Volunteer Development Coordinator to help to oversee volunteers at the charity’s shop – Emmaus Furniture Mine, which is based in Hanley.
The new role – which has been funded by the National Lottery’s Community Fund – will see Keziah promote volunteer opportunities, recruitment, supervision and management of volunteers whilst also establishing personal development plans for those volunteers who want the support.
“For a long time I’ve known about the brilliant work Emmaus does worldwide and the fantastic set up Emmaus North Staffs has and I’m delighted to be working with the charity at Emmaus Furniture Mine,” says Keziah, whose career so far has included providing pastoral support to university students and supporting community groups throughout Stoke-on-Trent.
“The charity do amazing things helping hundreds of vulnerable families every year and the volunteers we already have work in all sorts of departments, from assisting on our reception to helping with customer deliveries, as well as gaining retail experience. I am really looking forward to helping our current and future volunteers to develop their skills further.”
John Webbe, Emmaus North Staffs Executive Lead and manager of Emmaus Furniture Mine, said: “It is great to have Keziah on board. We are so pleased to have been granted the funding from the National Lottery’s Community Fund which will mean – working with Keziah – we can offer more to those who help us by volunteering in our social business. We can now provide so much more and Keziah has a wealth of experience – we know she is going to do great things working with us.”
As well as helping volunteers to strengthen their skills, and providing personal support, Keziah is working with the charity to widen its volunteer opportunities in order to support the work which it does in the North Staffordshire area.
“The opportunities we have for volunteers are very broad and open,” adds Keziah. “As well as the retail, admin and delivery side of things we are also looking for people who may have experience in other areas including social media. We would really like to introduce more volunteers at Emmaus Furniture Mine and we welcome enquiries.”
Emmaus North Staffs works with the most vulnerable of communities, particularly those who have been homeless, and part of that work is being able to offer discounted furniture to referral partners including local authorities and other organisations in Staffordshire.
Emmaus Furniture Mine, based at Cannon Place, in Hanley, is open to the public six days a week. Anyone who would like to enquire about volunteering opportunities at Emmaus Furniture Mine is asked to contact Keziah Stott by emailing: KeziahStott@emmausnorthstaffs.org.uk or telephoning 01782 846111.
You can follow Emmaus North Staffs on Twitter @Emmaus_NStaffs & Facebook @FurnitureMine
(Article by Baba Baboon PR.)