Homelessness charity gears up for 25th birthday carnival

Emmaus Mossley community members in the Secondhand Superstore

A local homelessness charity is preparing to celebrate 25 years since opening.
 
Emmaus Mossley will be celebrating with a day-long charity event including a carnival and giant puppets next month.
 
The charity’s ‘25th Birthday Carnival’ will take place on Saturday 17 September and mark 25 years since the opening of the Emmaus Mossley community. The event will include live music, a 75-member carnival band, giant puppets, food and drinks, activities for kids, and the relaunch of the charity’s Scrap Shed.
 
Gary Barton, one of the people supported by Emmaus Mossley, said: “Emmaus has evolved a lot in the years I’ve been here, including all the work that was done during the lockdowns to improve our Secondhand Superstore. Our supporters have shared that journey with us over the years, helping to keep Emmaus going and a roof over our heads.
 
“The main thing I’m looking forward to at the 25th Birthday Carnival is seeing the many customers and supporters, along with our volunteers, who together are such a big part of the Emmaus family. Celebrating and sharing the day with them will be a such a special occasion.”
 
Emmaus Mossley supports 26 formerly homeless people by providing them with a home, work, companionship and individual support. The charity opened in 1997 as the first Emmaus community in the North West. Since then, Emmaus Mossley has supported more than 500 people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.
 
To help the charity celebrate in style, carnival experts Global Grooves, based at The Vale in Mossley will deliver a showpiece carnival performance. 75 volunteers have signed up to be part of the carnival as drummers, dancers, brass and reed players.
 
Alison Hill, Director of Emmaus Mossley, said: “We’re really excited to be hosting this special anniversary event, bringing together friends, volunteers, supporters and members of the wider community. Our plans include a fun-filled day of celebration and charity shop treasure hunting, along with a few surprises, which we hope will be the biggest event in Emmaus Mossley’s 25-year history.”
 
Over the years, Emmaus Mossley’s Longlands Mill base has steadily developed and the community has grown. The charity’s main income is raised from their large Secondhand Superstore which sells donated and refurbished furniture, clothes, bric-a-brac and vintage items. Emmaus has also become a hub for the local community, hosting events, voluntary groups and as a valuable resource for reuse.
 
The Emmaus Mossley ‘25th Birthday Carnival’ will take place on Saturday 17 September, 10am-4pm, at Emmaus Mossley, Longlands Mill, Queen Street, Mossley OL5 9AH.
 
Find out more and support Emmaus Mossley here

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.