We received a legacy of £50,000, which led to us launching a fundraising campaign to enable the purchase of the Damien Centre. Staff and trustees raised a further £50,000 and together with a £35,000 mortgage, the purchase was completed in 2006.
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Everyone is welcome!
We provide advice, support and hope for all people in need, in a safe and warm environment where everyone is welcome. Our two locations are Emmaus House in Berrymead Gardens and the Damien Centre in Church Road, Acton W3.
Why we are needed
When people walk into our two centres it's often because poverty has left them nowhere else to go. They might be sleeping rough, or have been evicted, or are sofa surfing or are just hungry. By offering them a free hot meal and a kind word without any judgment, we can set them on a path to getting help from us or other agencies.
It might be as simple as food, a shower and a change of clothes to begin with. We can also help them with other needs, like seeing a doctor or a lawyer, advice on housing or benefits, general health services, counselling and referral services to help with alcohol and drug dependencies.
Most of all, in a society that mostly shuns the destitute, we offer human contact and warmth to the lonely and desperate people who come to us.
The Centres
Emmaus House provides hot lunches during the week, Monday to Friday. It's also where clients can shower, pick up clothes and household items. There's a range of professional and medical services on offer. Every Wednesday, there's a women & children's group next door at 3 Berrymead Gardens.
Ian Breen is our Centres Manager. As well as looking after the team, making sure both buildings are operating smoothly, and reaching out to local schools, churches and communities, Ian sees clients every day, offering advice and support, and helping them with issues like housing, benefits and medical appointments.
The Damien Centre is open during weekday mornings and afternoons and clients can drop in for breakfast, a light meal in the afternoon or just for a chat and a hot drink. For those sleeping in hostels, or experiencing day homelessness, it's a safe daytime indoor space to read the paper, charge mobiles and use the Wi-Fi.
Our Team
Carol
Carol's day starts at 7.30am at The Damien Centre - her first task is to make breakfast for the clients. She receives a delivery of food from City Harvest and it's like a Masterchef invention test as she decides what to make each morning. Carol is one of our longest serving team members - she's been with us since 2009.
Damien
Damien has been with us since 2017, first as a volunteer and now as an employee at Emmaus House. He used to be in the miliary so he's used to making sure everything is super organised. Damien can often be seen helping with food deliveries, sorting through donations and making sure everything is spick and span.
Kate
Kate's our assistant chef who joined the team in 2021. With previous experience in the charity sector, we knew she was a keeper when after her job interview she rolled up her sleeves and started sorting clothes donations into different sizes. When she's not helping to create delicious lunches at Emmaus House, creative Kate likes to upcycle furniture.
Kim
Kim joined the Acton Homeless Concern team in 2015 from a background in further education and training. Her duties involve administrative tasks for the charity, and include dealing with incoming and outgoing correspondence, capturing and tracking statistics, updating records, ensuring the office has the supplies it needs to run smoothly, as well as meeting and greeting visitors.
Rose
Our chef/catering manager Rose has been with us since 2006. She cooks up a storm serving up to 200 hot meals a day, Rose creates delicious and nutritious menus thanks to all the food donations we receive, and she makes sure there is plenty of variety on offer so the clients can always find something they'll enjoy.
Nadia
Nadia started as a volunteer in 2015, and when the opportunity to become an employee working the afternoon shift at the Damien Centre came up two years later, she jumped at the chance. She reopens the doors at 2pm, and welcomes in clients with teas and coffees, and provides afternoon hot snacks or sandwiches.
Flavia
Flavia has worked as our bookkeeper for more than ten years. She is responsible for ensuring that our records are up to date and correct and for preparing accounts for annual audit. She is a happy member of the team and always has a smile for everyone.
The operational team are supported by a group of trustees who provide governance and oversee the running of the charity
Our Milestones
2024 Our 35th Anniversary
35 years on and we are still needed. Our clients now include both those suffering from homelessness and families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet and feed and clothe themselves..
2022
We welcome our new priests
We say goodbye and a heartfelt thank you to the priests of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who founded our charity in 1989 and welcome the new priests from The Spiritans missionary order join Our Lady of Lourdes parish and Acton Homeless Concern.
2021 Refurbishment of 3 Berrymead Gardens
Thanks to Barratt Homes the previously rundown 3 Berrymead Gardens space was transformed, making it light and airy with proper kitted out kitchen facilities.
2020Impact of COVID-19
Covid-19 and lockdown presented many challenges to the charity. We responded by moving to takeaway meals and groceries, and providing lunches for families who were missing out on free school meals while schools were closed.
2014Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make Acton Homeless Concern what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
2010 Establishing events
A big fund-raising year by some volunteers enabled us to purchase new kitchen and washing facilities at Emmaus House. We also held our first annual fund-raising Quiz Night, a much-loved fixture in local people's diaries ever since!
2005An enduring legacy
We received a legacy of £50,000, which led to us launching a fundraising campaign to enable the purchase of the Damien Centre. Staff and trustees raised a further £50,000 and together with a £35,000 mortgage, the purchase was completed in 2006.
2003 Meeting demand
We initially planned for the Damien Centre to be open for four hours a day with a probable attendance of between 20 and 30 clients. By 2003, this number had increased to 105 daily, so funding was secured for a second project worker and opening hours were increased to 10 hours.
1998Fundraising for improvements
Kitchen facilities at Emmaus house were deemed inadequate to cope with the number of clients attending each day for food. A fundraising campaign was launched and £40,000 was raised to bring the kitchen up to restaurant standards.
1996Our name and constitution
The charity changed its name and constitution and became known as Acton Homeless Concern Emmaus House. We were serving approximately 120 lunches every day. In 1989 it was between 40 and 50 so in six years we had a three fold increase in the number of meals being served.
1993Partnerships
In the five years since it was started, partnerships had been established with with all relevant health professionals so that clien ld access the services of doctors, dentists and opticians together with referrals for emergency housing, benefits advice and drug and alcohol counselling.
1989 Our Beginnings
Acton Homeless Concern was founded by the priests of the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Acton as a practical response to the needs and problems of a large community of homeless people sleeping rough on local streets.
2020 Impact of COVID-19
Covid-19 and lockdown presented many challenges to the charity. We responded by moving to takeaway meals and groceries, and providing lunches for families who were missing out on free school meals while schools were closed.
2014Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make AHC what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
2014 Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make AHC what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
2014Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make AHC what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
2005 An enduring legacy
2014Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make AHC what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
1998 Fundraising for improvements
Kitchen facilities at Emmaus house were deemed inadequate to cope with the number of clients attending each day for food. A fundraising campaign was launched and £40,000 was raised to bring the kitchen up to restaurant standards.
2014Our 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary reflected that there had been a four-fold increase in clients since we started delivering our services. We have continued to hold an annual volunteer party to thank the army of people who have worked tirelessly over the years to make AHC what it is today: a beacon of hope for hundreds of people every day.
1993Partnerships
In the five years since it was started, partnerships have been established with all relevant health professionals so that clients access the services of doctors, dentists and opticians together with referrals for emergency housing, benefits advice and drug and alcohol counselling.
