Newark homeless charity enjoys kitchen makeovers thanks to A46 bypass scheme

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 says will encourage its residents to learn and develop basic cooking skills, and how to manage their health and wellbeing. 

The Newark Emmaus Trust offers temporary housing in Newark town centre for young people aged 16-25 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, CEO at Newark Emmaus Trust 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 has seen new worktops, cupboards, tiles and flooring and appliances being fitted. 

One resident said the transformations had made a positive difference to their experience, adding: 

“The bigger space means I can now buy more food to make fresh, homemade, healthy meals and even do some baking once in a while.”

While another said: “Having a new kitchen is inspiring me to cook more. There is a lot more storage space to keep everything clean and organised.”

The Emmaus Trust’s staff and residents will directly benefit from the nearby A46 Newark bypass scheme once completed, with improved travel to and from the centre and better access to the town centre. 

The National Highways project team said after hearing about the charity’s need to renovate its facilities, they were keen to donate through the organisation’s community funding programme.

Project manager, Naziya Sheikh, said: 

“The Emmaus Trust is a vital charity and service for the Newark community and we wanted to try and 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 which helps to create positive change through its work. By integrating social value work into daily operations and collaborating with its supply chain, the company ensures every project maximises positive impact in the community.