Emmaus Mossley Spring Fayre draws crowds and unveils new shopping space

A homelessness charity in Tameside welcomed crowds of supporters for a lively Spring Fayre, using the occasion to unveil a brand-new shopping area.

Emmaus Mossley hosted the event on Saturday 21 March, with local residents, families and supporters turning out in force to enjoy a packed programme of entertainment and activities.

Held at the charity’s base at Longlands Mill, the fayre featured live music, giant puppets, screen printing and a range of free activities for all ages, alongside plenty of food and refreshments.

The event also marked the official launch of Emmaus Mossley’s new Mezzanine shopping space, which has been transformed in recent months and is now stocked with a wide range of affordable items, many priced at £5 or less.

Emmaus Mossley supports people to overcome homelessness by providing not just a place to live, but tailored, long-term support to help individuals rebuild their lives.

Marek, a resident at the charity, said: “Our Spring Fayre was a very fun and nice day! The weather was perfect – it was a very good atmosphere, and my highlight was seeing everyone happy.”

Visitors enjoyed a variety of traditional fairground-style games and activities, including hook-a-duck, splat the rat, a coconut shy, tombola and stocks, making it a family-friendly day out for charity shoppers and treasure hunters alike.

Hazel Hodkinson, Retail Manager at Emmaus Mossley, praised the community spirit on display.

She said: “Our Emmaus Spring Fayre was such a lovely day, made all the more enjoyable by the people who attended and the nice March sunshine. We are very grateful to everyone who joined us, took part in the activities and supported us on the day.

“This event and the transformation of our new Mezzanine area could only happen with a huge team effort from our fantastic Emmaus Mossley companions, volunteers, staff and trustees. Massive thanks and very well done to everyone who helped out on the day and in the months leading up to this event.”

All funds raised from the fayre will go towards sustaining the charity and the support it provides to residents. Nestled in the Tame Valley, Emmaus Mossley’s residential community is home to up to 26 people at any one time, helping individuals build confidence, skills and work experience as they work towards independent living.

The charity is already looking ahead to its next event, “After Shift Thrift”, which will take place on the evening of Thursday 7 May. The event will include an open discussion hosted by Manchester-based collective Future Fashion Fair, along with a screen-printing workshop run by Notorious.