Posted on 3rd Feb
Two kitchens at Newark Emmaus Trust’s accommodation have been spruced up thanks to funding from the National Highways team behind the A46 Newark bypass project.
More than £8,300 was donated to the charity to renovate two kitchens that had fallen into disrepair, which the charity said would encourage its residents to learn and develop basic cooking skills, and how to manage their health and wellbeing.
The trust offers temporary housing in Newark town centre for young people, aged 16 to 25, who are homeless or in need of housing. It provides 24-hour support for them and their children for up to two years, or until they have the skills to live independently.
Nikki Burley, trust chief executive, said: “The new kitchens are cleaner, safer, and a more attractive space for our current residents and those of the future.
“We always strive to provide more than just a roof over their heads and we’re grateful to National Highways and Skanksa in supporting us to achieve this.
“We believe the young people that stay with us deserve quality accommodation with safe and modern facilities, and by making our housing homely it helps keep them off the streets and motivated to better their situations.”
The makeover saw new worktops, cupboards, tiles and flooring, and appliances being fitted.
The National Highways project team said after hearing about the charity’s need to renovate its facilities it was keen to donate through the organisation’s community funding programme.
Project manager Naziya Sheikh added: “The Emmaus Trust is a vital charity and service for the Newark community and we wanted to try to make a difference where we could. Having fully-functioning and hygienic kitchens is essential for residents to learn life skills such as cooking on a budget and healthy eating.
“Funding this space means the charity can spend more on other important things, such as activities for improving mental health and wellbeing and workshops for learning other key skills.”
This funding was granted as part of National Highways’ Community Legacy Fund.
Pictured are, from left, Flinn Waldron, of National Highways; Newark Emmaus Trust chief executive Nicola Burley, the charity’s communications and outreach manager, Louise Rumble; and Fozia Fazil, of Skanska.
