Homelessness can be a devastating and isolating experience for any person to endure. Did you know about the welcome buddy participation scheme that operates at the Emmanuel House Support Centre?

Caroline, a beneficiary herself, has been volunteering as a welcome buddy since July. She tells us more about her how it is going. “It is going really good! I’m welcoming new people and helping them and it is helping me with my confidence. I am also learning that there are lots of different personalities and people with worse problems than mine. When a new person comes in they are usually sad because they are homeless. I can be that welcoming face, a friendly person and point them to staff members. I show them where the basic services are; the toilets, the nurses room, shower, clothing store and I explain about the meals and the vouchers.

It is also helping me to be assertive and it feels good when I have welcomed someone and then they come back and I see them again.”