The latest from Emmaus Sheffield...


Emmaus Sheffield joined the UK effort this year in travelling to the Paris Salon to sell items of bric a brac.  The Salon is an Emmaus International event, where Communities from around the world  take over the equivalent of Earl's Court Exhibition Centre for a weekend, spending Saturday setting up the stalls and Sunday selling items that have been collected over the previous months.


Apparently teapots are particularly desirable and one Community had collected over 100! 

The journey started on Thursday, with a minibus containing staff, volunteers and Companions from both the Leeds and Sheffield Communities driving to the South Lambeth Comunity for an overnight stop.  Early the next morning a convoy of vehicles set off for the Eurotunnel arriving in time for the train at 11.30 am.  When we arrived in France we met up with other vans and minibuses from around the UK and set off for Paris.  After a straighforward journey we arrived in Paris just in time for rush hour on the Peripherique - nose to nose traffic with typical French drivers. 

After a quick wash and brush up at the hotel we all met, some for the first time, and had a relaxing dinner at a nearby restaurant.  The next day dawned bright, early and hot and we all set off for the Salon to set up the stall for the next day.  It was a flurry of vans, goods and people and we set about laying out the stall.  We met Emmaus staff and companions from all around the world, some of the poorer countries had very little to sell but still managed to put on a good show.  Fortunately for us, we finished around lunchtime and were shown the sights of Paris by a Parisien volunteer - which was a treat for all of us.





On the day of the sale we all arrived early at the Salon to apply the finishing touches to the stall, in readiness for the ensuing stampede at 9.00 am.  As we had been told, but not quite believed, the first customers literally ran into the venue, frantically looking from left to right to see what was worth buying and that pretty much set the pace for the day.  Thankfully we had a couple of rench speakers to communicate with the customers which did ease the confusion but we did make a very resectable sumof £5,000e.  The doors finally closed at 7.00 pm and we boxed up and donated our remaining goods to the Polish Community.  We then returned, worn and weary to the hotel for a shower and a final meal together.

The return journey started at 4.30 am (!) the next day and we arrived back in Sheffield at 4.00 pm.

The whole event was tiring yet exhilarating and I know that both John and I would do it all again next year.  (That's water by the way)!



Companions and staff complete

26 mile Baslow Boot Bash

Above: L-R Michelle, Andy and Maks proudly display their badges and certificates.

Companions and staff from Emmaus Sheffield descended upon the village of Baslow recently to take part in a gruelling 26 mile cross country walk through the picturesque countryside of North Derbyshire.

Companion, Maks Power to the People Jemanuilovs hardly broke sweat as he ate up the miles, bouncing a tennis ball and talking about the European championship.  Walking alongside was our trusty Community Support Worker, AndyPennine Way Bache, sporting a ruck sack that Father Christmas would be proud of! 

The only drama of the day came when Lawrence and Michelle were charged by a bull as they crossed a field.  Lawrence's red T-shirt was blamed for attracting the attention of the rampant angry beast, but it was no match for the speed of a frightened Community Leader.

Bringing up the rear was Mars Bar munching Deputy Community Manager, Michelle Buckley, who ditched her other half after 18 miles when he conked out with blisters and promptly romped home to the finishing line with a man of 70!!!

Results - Winners

Maks Jemanuilovs - Completed in 8 hours and 2 minutes

Andy Bache - Completed in 8 hours 2 minutes

Michelle Buckley - Completed in 9 hours 24 minutes


Results - Losers

Lawrence Buckley - Retired after 18 miles

Dave Fraser - Retired after 18 miles

John McPartland - Retired after 18+ miles

Lee Booth - Retired after 9.5 miles (shame on you!)

Stephen Wade - Retired after 9.5 miles (shame on you!)

Companions pass First Aid course


Above: Dave and Lee with their First Aid certificates after having passed a one day course run for free by the British Red Cross.

All hands on deck as Companions make the most of the Summer

Above: Stephen gets cracking on  putting together the framework for the Community's new decking area.

Above: Dave and John lend a hand and begin to get the boards down

Above: What a team! Maks and Dave fixing boards into position.

Jobs-a-gud-un! All we need is some sunshine, some planters & garden furniture to take advantage of this great new communal space.

Companions have got it off to PAT!


Above L - R: Seth, John, Dave and Lee, show off their certificates.

Six Companions from Emmaus Sheffield and one from Emmaus Leeds, recently completed a training course in portable appliance testing.  The course, ran by DMS Training, was an intensive 1 day course culminating in an examination with a required 80% pass mark.  This will now enable Companions to tackle the mountain of electrical goods, kindly donated by our supporters.

Books take pride of place in new look shop


Above: Community Manager Lawrence Buckley fixes the new bookshelves to the wall.

After the great success of our on-line book sales, we have decided to make all of our books available to both our customers on-line and to customers visiting our shop on Blast Lane.  Deputy Community Manager Michelle Buckley commented, "The new bookshelves look great and will help us shift more books even quicker.  We hope to attract even more customers to the shop and be able to offer a wide selection of titles and somethiing for almost every everyone.





Companions help out at Lakeside YMCA  

 

In an act of solidarity with the YMCA, Companions from Emmaus Sheffield gave up their time over a weekend in February to help out at the 390 acre site in the Lake District, restoring and resurfacing previously flooded footpaths.  Companion Lee commented, "It's been great, they've fed us and put us up us and in return we've been resurfacing some of the paths."

   

Above left: "When I nod my head, you hit it."  John proved more than handy with the sledgehammer ... but Lawrence wasn't taking any chances.

In addition to this the group also constructed a set of steps for one of the accommodation blocks at the South Camp area.  John, 25, also a Companion at the Sheffield Community since it opened in late January 2008 said "I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the work, because I work all week for the Community but I'm glad I came now, it's been good."

  

Above left: Maks gets to grips with Pythagorus's theorem. Above right: Job done - Lee, Maks and the two Johns take a well earned break.