From surviving to rebuilding: Leighann’s journey with Emmaus 

Leighann moved through 20 different hostels just to stay safe. For her, homelessness wasn’t just difficult, it was dangerous. 

After years of trauma, abuse and addiction, she reached breaking point. Today, she is rebuilding her life with renewed purpose and hope. Her journey shows how wienerberger’s partnership with Emmaus is helping people move beyond crisis and towards a future they can shape for themselves. 

From surviving to starting again

“For a long time I was surviving, but not really living,” Leighann explains.

Like many people experiencing homelessness, Leighann faced complex challenges. After losing her job due to her mental health, she found herself without support and living on the streets. For women, street homelessness brings additional risks, something Leighann experienced first-hand as she moved constantly in search of safety.

Despite everything, she wanted a different future, one with stability, purpose and the chance to rebuild. That turning point came when she found Emmaus. 

More than a place to stay

“One thing I love about Emmaus is that it’s not just about giving someone a bed, it’s about giving someone a reason to get out of it.”

That idea sits at the heart of the Emmaus model, and of the support Leighann found when she needed it most.

wienerberger supports Emmaus through funding, product donations and volunteering. But the impact goes further, helping people access skills, work opportunities and long-term support that enable lasting change.

Through its communities, Emmaus offers more than accommodation. It provides meaningful work, structure and the opportunity to rebuild confidence over time. Leighann has embraced that fully, getting involved in everything from retail and logistics to kitchen work and gardening, even trying blacksmithing for the first time.

It’s these everyday moments, learning new skills, contributing as part of a team, feeling valued, that start to rebuild independence.

Rebuilding confidence and rediscovering purpose

A key part of Leighann’s journey has been the dedicated women’s community, a safe and supportive space for those who have experienced violence, abuse and trauma.

Here, support goes beyond practical skills. Companions also access structured therapeutic programmes, including recovery courses tailored specifically for women.

“It’s one of the few places I’ve felt truly safe and understood… it’s helped me begin to process everything I’ve been through.”

With that support, Leighann has achieved qualifications in PAT testing, Mental Health First Aid and counselling, important steps towards regaining confidence and control over her future.

Today, she has clear ambitions: to become a support worker and help others who have faced similar challenges.

Transforming lives and perspectives

Leighann’s love of upcycling captures the spirit of Emmaus, and the power of second chances.

“We take things people have thrown away and turn them into something completely different… it’s a bit like what Emmaus does for people.”

With the right support, time and belief, people can build something new from even the most difficult circumstances.

Projects like the women’s community are already making a difference, helping people move into work, training and independent living.

Why this partnership matters

At wienerberger, we believe building for the future goes beyond the materials we create, it’s about the communities we help to strengthen. 

Our partnership with Emmaus brings that belief to life. Through funding for initiatives such as the women’s community, we’re helping create safer spaces, rebuild confidence and support people to take meaningful steps towards independence.

Leighann’s story is just one example, but it shows what’s possible when people are supported, not just housed.

Helping more people make a new start 

Today, Leighann has hope. She’s setting goals, building skills and looking ahead to a future that once felt out of reach.

Through continued partnerships and support, more people can take that same first step, from surviving to rebuilding, and ultimately, to thriving. 

Because with the right support, a new start isn’t just possible - it’s sustainable.