About the organisation
Emmaus Preston provides a home, work training and development for people who have been homeless or socially excluded.
People who become homeless do so for a variety of complex reasons. Many of the Community members (Companions) have slept rough. Emmaus offers stability, companionship, support and security for people to rebuild their lives.
The Community is fully inclusive. Companions are encouraged to play an active role in the day to day running of the Community and its social enterprise. Whereas Companions can stay as long as they wish, our aim is to build up their skills and confidence through experience, training and support so that they can move back successfully into society again.
We have up to 50 ensuite rooms’ available in our two premises in Preston and Burnley for people who were formerly homeless. Companions sign off work-based benefits and support the Community by selling items in our shops, collecting and delivering items on our vans, working within the community to keep the building functioning and answering our phones to customers. The income from the shops supports our Communities directly and pays towards their support and training, food, energy bills and more. The roles, which Companions play, give them a sense of belonging, training, work experience and, most of all, structure and a sense of achievement.
Training has continued to be a big part of daily life in our Communities with Companions having driving lessons, gaining City and Guilds qualifications in-house as well as externally and even attending College a few days per week for over the year to do an Electricians course. For some, these are the first formal qualifications they have ever had and for others this is the pathway into employment and move on.
Emmaus Preston is always exciting as Companions are encouraged to move on when they feel ready and the main part of our social enterprise is the selling of donated furniture out of warehouses, which are not being used by their owners or tenants. This means we have a fluid number of Companions each with a different set of skills trading out of premises of various sizes and locations. In Preston, between 2016 and 2023, we were trading very successfully out of a 47,000sq.ft former B&Q warehouse but since then we have been trading out of three high street shops. However, at the beginning of February this year we have the challenge of operating out of the former Debenhams’ department store in the Fishergate Centre, Preston.
Seeing Companions develop and regain their self-esteem and confidence is wonderful, particularly as you know that it is because of their own efforts. Emmaus Preston merely facilitates the process by providing our companions with the an environment in which they can re-discover themselves and contribute to society once again.
About the role
Emmaus Preston’s offices are at the Community, The Birches, 165 Ribbleton Lane, Preston
We employ a part-time Finance Officer, who has a part-time assistant. They do the book-keeping and produce the monthly management accounts on Sage.The role of Treasurer is an ongoing position and requires approximately 6 hours per month including 1.5 hours for the monthly Board Meeting.Azets are our accountants.Currently, there is no Finance Committee and there are no sub-committees.The current Treasurer has resigned as his wife is seriously ill.
Duties as Treasurer
To act as Chair of the Finance Committee
To oversee, to approve and to present to the Board, budgets, management accounts, financial statements and Annual Report.
To ensure that the financial resources of EP meet its present and future needs
To ensure that EP has appropriate reserves and investment policies, and that any investment activity is consistent both with these policies and with legal responsibilities
To oversee the definition of appropriate accounting procedures and controls, and to check that these are implemented
To ensure that the statutory accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders, the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commission
To ensure that the accounts are independently audited, and that any recommendations are implemented
To make formal presentations of the statutory accounts at AGMs, drawing attention to important points in a coherent and comprehensible way
To advise on the financial implications of EP's strategic plans
To advise the Board on its financial duties and responsibilities
To liaise with the Director and Finance Officer about financial matters
To provide professional advice/coaching to the Finance Officer.
To develop, as necessary, the financial acumen of the management team and the Board
Our ideal candidate
Essential: The Treasurer must have
A professional accounting or financial qualification and be computer-literate
The requisite experience to chair the Finance Committee, and be able to give advice to the Board on financial matters and the management of funds
The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
Be familiar with statutory and internal audit controls, so as to be able to ensure that they are being adhered to
Be a person of complete integrity, with the capability to address inappropriate financial transactions or management on the part of either staff or trustees, with a willingness to speak his/her mind and, if necessary, to make unpopular recommendations to the Board.
Be able to devote sufficient time and effort to EP to fulfil effectively the above duties as Treasurer. Experience suggests that this will, in addition to formal meetings , average an additional 5 hours/month
Desirable: The Treasurer will, preferably
Be familiar with the Sage accounting package
Have experience of the accounting aspects of pensions and taxation
Have knowledge and experience of charity law and accounts
Have experience on the Board or management committee of a charity or commercial organisation
What’s in it for you
I can only tell you what has been in it for me and hope that you will experience the same excitement and joy.
Having built up my own family business and deciding to step back to leave the day to day running to my two sons, I wanted to “give something back.”
I was not looking to go knocking on doors to raise money but wanted to use what skills I had.
One of my wife’s charities held a joint fundraiser with Emmaus. Being early at the event, I had time to read the programme, which outlined the ethos of Emmaus which is to help homeless people help themselves by raising money through enterprise. Self-sustainability is the goal.
To cut a long story short, I volunteered, became a trustee and have been chair for several years.
With Emmaus there is rarely a dull moment and you are using your talents to effectively change peoples’ lives. What highs there were when a dozen Companions cleared, cleaned and filled a 47,000sq.ft ex B&Q warehouse with donated furniture in ten weeks. Most of them found jobs elsewhere as a result. What lows, when we had to move out 18 months ago.
But, we are off again, we now have to clear and fill a 120,000sq.ft. department store in the next month.
How good is it to go into a supermarket and to be stopped by an ex-Companion who is working there?
We can only continue to support our Companions by having successful enterprise so we need a Treasurer, who can appreciate the ups and downs, but who can keep us going in the right direction.
I urge you to join us, you will not regret it.
Don.t take my word for it. Just have a watch of the short film “An Introduction to Emmaus North West” which we made recently. The lady in the first clip is Karen, an ex-Companion who is now employed by us as our Head of Support and who is one of the most remarkable people I have met.
Hot off the press.
On 14th March 2025 Emmaus Preston opened their latest charity store in the 120,000sq.ft former Debenham’s Department Store in the Fishergate Centre Preston.
Apply for the role
Please provide a short cover note setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation, any relevant skills/experience and why you think you might be a suitable candidate.
Thank you, your application has been submitted
Please enter all required information!
Opportunity Filled!
It looks like this volunteering role has already been taken. But don't worry, there are plenty more ways you can make a difference!
Welcome to Charterpath!
We specialise in connecting finance professionals with meaningful volunteer opportunities at charities in need of support. If you're eager to use your skills for a great cause, we're here to help you find the perfect match.
Explore more volunteer roles here and don’t forget to join Charterpath (for free) for more opportunities, exclusive events and more.