Former homeless people take over empty Debenhams to open one of UK's biggest charity shops

Department stores are lying empty across the UK following the loss of big names from Debenhams, British Home Stores and other high-street staples in recent years. 

But a homelessness charity has taken over a vacant Debenhams store to create one of the biggest charity shops in the country – and a potential future blueprint for filling the empty stores.

The 120,000 square foot store in the Fishergate Shopping Centre in Preston, Lancashire, has been lying empty since 2021.

Homelessness charity Emmaus Preston opened the new Emmaus Department Store on Friday (14 March) in a bid to transform the space into a sustainable social enterprise.

Stephen Buchanan, chief executive officer of Emmaus Preston – one of 30 Emmaus communities across the UK – said: “Emmaus Department Store is one of a kind – a sustainable social enterprise for the benefit of local people. It is a flagship store for Preston and Emmaus, involving formerly homeless people in every aspect of running the social enterprise, helping develop skills and work experience.

“Our new Emmaus Department Store is a shining example of people supporting others, breathing new life into a community asset, for the benefit of people.”

The huge new store offers many of the products you would expect to see in a Debenhams store. From pre-loved furniture and fashion to white goods and appliances with all sales raising funds for the community’s homes in Lancashire.

Emmaus communities support people experiencing homelessness off the streets and offer employment opportunities working in their stores. The skills and work experience learned in the stores is intended to offer a platform to help people progress in their lines.

That’s helped people like Karen Wallis turn their lives around.

Emmaus Preston’s deputy CEO and head of support was previously homeless on the streets for 15 years herself, sleeping in a public toilet in Southport in a bid to find a safe place to shelter.

“Emmaus has helped me more than I could ever imagine,” said Wallis. 

“When I was sleeping in toilets I could never have, for one second, imagined seeing tomorrow, nevermind this far down the line.”

For Wallis, the move to the department store is a significant milestone for her and the “family” of workers she supports.

“It means so much because we’re all together in one place working together whereas before we had had three shops in Preston and one in Rochdale so I was floating between all of them. This way we’re all together,” she added.

“It means a lot to these guys as well because they’ve started it from the ground up and it’s all their hard work. I’m so proud of every one of them. They’ll learn new skills for employment when they do move on which is a massive thing for them.

“If we can do it then everyone can do it. What I think is most important about this department store, when you come through the door as a customer, whoever is supporting you to buy that chair or that sofa is someone who has formerly been homeless and the money you are spending is going directly to those people.”

The grand opening on 14 March saw Emmaus UK ambassador Jay Flynn cut the ribbon at the store.

Flynn, from Darwen in Lancashire, experienced street homelessness for two years in his mid-20s but earned plaudits in Covid lockdowns when he hosted a virtual quiz that went viral. He now presents Jay’s Virtual Radio Quiz on BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show.

“Opening this incredible new store is a testament and sign of Emmaus’ strength and commitment to helping people move on from homelessness,” said Flynn. 

“The scope and sheer size mean that it won’t just benefit people whom the homelessness charity supports, but also the wider community. Everyone involved in making this happen should be proud of what they have achieved.”

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