Emmaus North East Launches UK’s first Free Community Launderette
Emmaus North East, based in South Tyneside, supports homeless individuals by providing permanent homes, training, and work opportunities. Its goal is to help individuals progress and transform their lives. In late 2022, the charity began working towards iiE Bronze-level accreditation, which it has since achieved. This effort involved engaging staff, volunteers, and companions, and led to the creation of an Environmental and Sustainability Policy, a Social Impact Report, and a detailed action plan. A Green Team was also established to drive sustainability initiatives.
Situation/Challenge: Addressing Laundry Poverty with a Sustainable Solution
From discussions with head teachers in the area, it was discovered that the main issue faced by local schools, aside from food poverty, was children arriving at school in dirty clothing and not in school uniform. This was due to a lack of a working washing machine at home or parents being unable to afford utility bills
What Did Emmaus North East Do? Launching a Sustainable Community Launderette
In an act of solidarity and to support the wider community, Emmaus North East partnered with Procter & Gamble and Riverside Housing to establish the UK’s first free community launderette, Lucie’s Laundry. Opened in February 2023, the facility is named after Lucie Coutaz, one of the founders of Emmaus in Paris after the First World War. This innovative project was created in response to the cost-of-living crisis, providing a space where individuals can wash and dry clothing at no cost.
Emmaus North East also collaborated with other Local Authority areas to explore setting up similar facilities, extending the model’s benefits to additional communities.
The Impact of Lucie’s Laundry: Sustainability, Social Support, and Community Wellbeing
Over 2,500 individual users have benefitted from the facility, and its reach extends to an estimated 6,000 people, most of whom use the service to wash clothing for their families.
Beyond providing essential laundry services, Lucie’s Laundry has become a welcoming space where community members can connect, build friendships, and find a sense of belonging.
The initiative has also provided an opportunity for formerly homeless individuals and volunteers to get involved in running the launderette. This involvement has helped reduce social isolation and loneliness while promoting awareness of sustainability and the importance of solidarity-driven projects.
Additionally, the centralisation of laundry services has resulted in significant savings in electricity, water, and gas costs for thousands of households, alleviating some of the financial pressure brought on by the cost-of-living crisis.
The success of Lucie’s Laundry has earned Emmaus North East national recognition. In October 2023, the charity received a prestigious Emmaus UK award for this act of solidarity. Beyond its immediate impact, the initiative has inspired discussions with other local authorities to replicate the model in other areas, extending the benefits to even more communities.
Looking ahead, Emmaus North East aims to collaborate with academic researchers to quantify the full impact of Lucie’s Laundry and advocate for similar community-driven projects across the UK.