wienerberger continues its support of leading homelessness charity Emmaus UK by partnering with woodworking social enterprise.
Planting with purpose: wienerberger & Emmaus UK
wienerberger UK & Ireland, provider of building solutions for wall, roof, heating and water management, builds on its national partnership with Emmaus UK with the purchase of handcrafted benches and planters from Emmaus Bolton’s social enterprise arm.
Ahead of Spring, two benches and four planters, made by people supported by the homelessness charity, whom Emmaus knows as Companions, have been installed at wienerberger’s Kingsbury brick plant to boost biodiversity efforts and create a welcoming outdoor space for colleagues.
Maisie McKenzie, Biodiversity Manager for wienerberger UK & Ireland comments “Outdoor seating and planting areas form part of wienerberger’s wider biodiversity strategy to protect and enhance nature across our sites. By creating spaces where colleagues can take breaks outdoors, we facilitate wellbeing and encourage connection while embedding nature into the everyday working environment. The benches, provided by Emmaus Bolton, also reflect our commitment to social value and reuse.”
Emmaus communities support people out of homelessness by offering a stable home and work opportunities through its social enterprises, which include charity shops, cafés, house clearance services, gardening projects and upcycling. These businesses not only help companions rebuild confidence and skills, but also generate income that keeps communities running and moving toward self-sufficiency.
Tony Stephenson, CEO at Emmaus Bolton added “Our woodwork shop provides valuable skills and training opportunities for the Companions who live in our Community, some of whom aspire to become craftsmen and others who are keen to use their new skills to maintain and keep their own property in the future. Every order contributes both to the financial security of our community and to the future of the formerly homeless people we support.”
wienerberger aims to tackle homelessness through its social impact programme – Moving Forward Together.
Sarah Nurton, Social Impact Manager comments “Our partnership with Emmaus UK is moving into its third year and spans not only financial support, but volunteering and product donations. We are always seeking new ways to work with individual communities, and it was fantastic to be able to work with Emmaus Bolton and their skilled team of woodworkers”.
Last year wienerberger pledged to donate 50p per pallet of their new Danum & Dual Danum TLE to Emmaus UK, supporting those affected by homelessness. In 2025 this initative raised over £40,000 and is continuing this year.