Mike Liggins gets involved with Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney

I want to tell you a story, which has just about everything – an epic journey, a vision from God, a little bit of human frailty and a lot of human kindness.

At times, it reads a bit like a film script. And who knows? Perhaps one day someone might even make it into a film.

The only thing this story doesn’t have at the moment is an ending and that, I suppose, is largely down to you.

Emmaus from the sky (Image: Mike Liggins)

My involvement started about a year ago.

I decided to leave the BBC to go freelance and, luckily, the homeless charity Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney gave me some work.

Emmaus do amazing things, taking people who have suffered trauma in their lives and helping put them back on their feet.

There are 30 Emmaus communities around the UK and one of them is in Ditchingham, near Bungay. I knew they were planning a 450-mile walk across the country to raise money – the Walk of Kindness.

It sounded ambitious, a bit whacky perhaps, but I knew I wanted to be involved in some way, so I agreed to make a few videos to help promote the walk.

Steve Eggleton at a shed door (Image: Mike Liggins)

One of the first films I made included a sequence with Steve Eggleton from Banham, near Attleborough. 

Steve is an artist, teacher, author and wood carver and in 2009 he came up with the idea of a pilgrimage route across the country, from St David’s in the west to Lowestoft in the east. It was to be called the Via Beata, or  ‘way of blessing’. I say it was Steve’s idea, but he had some help from a friend. More than a friend really – he had some help from God.

It’s sometimes said that he had a vision from God, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. Perhaps more accurately, Steve realised that over a period of time, that he was doing God’s work.

Over the intervening years Steve has, with a team of volunteers, created 29 way stations along the route. What is way station? It’s a place to rest, to think and to pray.

The Via Beata runs past Steve’s house in Banham and so he created the first way station in his back garden. The route also runs past the home of Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney in Ditchingham and so it seemed a natural idea, for the Walk of Kindness to follow the route of the Via Beata.

Walking group (Image: Mike Liggins)

As part of the same film, I interviewed the Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher.

Bishop Graham has an interest in pilgrimage and has written a brilliant book about walking called ‘The Way Under Our Feet’. He’s very keen to support the Walk of Kindness and is planning to walk part of the last leg.

We did the interview in his private chapel at Bishop’s House in Norwich. He was lovely and thoughtful as always. I was a bit flustered and couldn’t get the camera to do the right thing. But then, almost out of nowhere, I witnessed a little bit of magic. If you’re religious, you might want to talk about the presence of God. I’m not particularly religious, so I can’t say that, but it was magical.  

At the end of Bishop Graham’s book, there is a South African poem/prayer and I asked him to read it on camera. Here’s an extract:

“Walk tall, walk well, walk safe, walk free. And may harm never come to thee.

"Walk wise, walk good, walk proud, walk true. And may the sun always shine on you.”

Bishop Graham is a great performer (most Bishops are I think) and he delivered the blessing with real style. When he finished the prayer, I sat there in silence for a moment. The poem and the Bishop’s reading of it seemed to sum up what the walk was all about.

It was a special moment and you probably had to be there, but if you’re curious, you can find the ten-minute video on my YouTube channel, Mike Liggins Media.

Chloe, Jagger, Cecile (Emmaus CEO), Peter and Carlton (Image: Mike Liggins)

The Walk of Kindness, which starts on August 26 and will take six week to complete, is raising money for Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney.

Four residents, or companions as they are called, are taking part in the walk; Jagger, Peter, Carlton and Chloe. They all have a story to tell and they have all changed how I think of homelessness. I’m more sympathetic than I used to be. Emmaus take a broad view of what defines homelessness and that seems right.

They have all suffered trauma in their lives and that can happen to anyone, at any time. They all face a daily struggle to get by and the Walk of Kindness won’t be easy for them, on any level. But the Walk of Kindness represents an opportunity to give something back. Emmaus has helped rescue them and I know they all want to help the charity and help others who might also be suffering trauma in their lives.

Chloe is taking part in the walk (Image: Mike Liggins)

Take Chloe for example. She was an alcoholic at the age of eleven. Imagine that? In her late teens, she was addicted to drugs and alcohol and when she was made homeless, Chloe spent some time living in her car. Each day is a struggle, but Chloe has now been sober for two years. Emmaus helped rescue her and that’s why she’s doing the Walk of Kindness. 

Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney is hoping the walk will raise £360,000, which is a lot of money. Will they do it? As I said earlier, that’s up to you.

Times remain hard for many, and you might not be able to afford a donation and I understand that. But either way, wish the walkers well and let’s hope for a happy ending. 

• If you’d like to donate some money, then you can visit www.emmaus.org.uk/norfolk-waveney to do so, and to fund out more information about the organisation.