Lots being achieved and more work to do at Oasis…

Ken Humphrey has just become the new CEO of Oasis Caring in Acton in February. Ken has a long history of work in community development projects. Most recently having served as Director of SOS Bus NI, however, Ken is glad to be working again in a grassroots project addressing disadvantage and tackling  issues affecting all ages, from the early years through to the elderly and those isolated in their homes. He says:

I am looking forward to working within a locally based organisation. Despite significant work already completed there remains considerable need and opportunity to address the stark inequalities present in east Belfast. Often inequality begins in the early years. The window for developmental learning is quite short so its important to assist children as early as possible, so that gaps can be identified and addressed. 

Last Autumn, Oasis Early Years worked with Belfast Trust to open a new baby room and cot room. This means that our Early Years facilities now include four rooms: Babies (0-2 years), Toddlers (2-3 years), Pre-school (3-4 years), and After-school (Primary P1-P7). We presently cater for 70+ children. The facility also offers pick-ups from 9 local schools and playgroups.

Oasis Caring in Action has an enthusiastic and skilled staff team of 40, and takes a multi-faceted approach to the work it carries out.  In addition to it’s Early Years and After-Schools it continues to deliver a range of projects including:

• Oasis Princes Trust Team Programme (16-24+ year olds)

• IMAGO Befriending Service providing mental health support through 1-1 and group work

• Family Support working with families going through difficult times.

• Good Morning Oasis telephone befriending service providing regular contact with those who may be isolated in their homes.

• Oasis Antrim Foodbank providing emergency food and support to people in crisis.

Oasis Caring in Action is deeply grateful for our partners, the help of many volunteers, and for the  personal donations which make this work possible. We are always looking to find better ways of working, including with other community organisations and agencies, to work collaboratively to address disadvantage.  Our website and FB pages provide more information about our programmes or call OCIA on 02890872277

The vital work of Antrim Foodbank continues

Following the previously reported closure of the Oasis Antrim Community Support Hub at the end of December 2023 due to the end of funding, we are pleased to report that the vital work of the Oasis Antrim Foodbank continues to meet the needs of people in the Antrim area. The service provides emergency food and support to those who are in crisis, working with local partners to do this most effectively.

Fionnuala O’Donnell, Manager at Antrim Foodbank, said:

The untimely closure of the Oasis Antrim Community Hub is reflective of the challenges facing the third sector. The demand for Antrim Foodbank continues regardless, as will the work we do in providing essential support to people in crisis in our Town.

We are immensely grateful for the ongoing support from the community, a support that has been unwavering since we first opened in 2015. Our volunteers continue to work tirelessly to support that community and build a hunger free future.

Last winter, Antrim Foodbank provided almost 1,600 emergency parcels to people within the local community. Beyond food, volunteers also provide countless hours of compassion, guidance, and expert support to people with nowhere else to turn.

Sessions are now operating 5 days a week across the Town, including Monday evenings to cater for people working during the day. Full details are available on their website at https://antrim.foodbank.org.uk/locations/

You can help support Antrim Foodbank by donating food, time, and money. Find out more at https://antrim.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/

TOGETHER, WE’LL CONTINUE TO HELP BUILD A #HUNGERFREEFUTURE

Sad Update Following Closure of Some Programmes in Oasis Antrim

It is with a real sense of sadness that we have to announce the closure of a number of programmes run by OCIA Ltd Antrim over the last two years.  We were very fortunate to get two years of core funding from Robin Swann when he was Health Minister, which ran out on the 31st September 2023.  As a Board we agreed to keep running these programmes at Antrim Oasis Community Hub for a further 3 months to allow time for the management team to see if they could secure replacement core funding.  We were optimistic that the funders we applied to would fund us, allowing us to continue.

Sadly on the 15th December 2023 we got the awful news from the final potential funder that they would not be funding Oasis at Antrim.  This meant that from the 31st December 2023 the majority of the excellent programmes working with 100’s of clients would cease and 4 core staff, who had been on 3 month notice of redundancy, would sadly be leaving us.

Truly tragic on many fronts, but all too common sadly in the community and voluntary sector at this time of no government in Northern Ireland.

It is really important to note that Antrim Foodbank run by Oasis under the management of Fionnuala and her 40 plus local volunteers will continue unaffected.  This important work in partnership with Advice NI and a number of local churches will continue to distribute food and support from Main Street in Antrim and satellite locations at CFC Antrim, Ballycraigy and Greystone.  Up to date information can be found at Antrim Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis

We would like to put on record our thanks to all of our continued funders both personal and public who continue to support us and allow us to deliver our vital services.

The Board at Oasis Caring In Action will be working throughout January 2024 to see if there are any willing partners who could come on board to set up similar programmes, before the new CEO of OCIA Ltd starts work in February 2024.

If you feel you could be part of this process, please contact the Board of Oasis Caring In Action via Board@Oasis-ni.org

Many thanks

Board of OCIA Ltd

SENI Awards 2023 | Social Enterprise NI

OASIS CARING IN ACTION - OUTSTANDING TEAM AWARD 2023

OCIA staff enjoyed a gala night out, hosted by NI Social Enterprise Awards, on the 27th October 2023. The Oasis Team picked up an Award in the category of ‘Outstanding Team 2023’ - Highly Commended. It was a great achievement across a competitive field of entries.

TEAM @ OASIS

FREE 12-WEEK PROGRAMME FOR 16-25 YEAR OLDS

PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK

I developed new skills

It helped to build my confidence

I learned how to work as a team!

The Adventure days were fun!

It's a safe place for me to express myself

JUST OPEN…

JUST OPENED 2 NEW BABY ROOMS IN OASIS EARLY YEARS! A PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE…

Get Chatty with Oasis

We had a great turnout for the ‘Get Chatty with Oasis’ Coffee Morning and we had a special cake to celebrate! Come and call for a chat at 81 Castlereagh Street. The Chatty Bench is a place to put your feet up and watch the world go by.

Get Chatty with Oasis

To celebrate our lovely ‘CHATTY BENCH’, we hosted a coffee and chat morning at Oasis No 81 Castlereagh St

Wednesday 17th May 10.30am to 1.30pm

Oasis Princes Trust Team 16

February 3rd was a day of celebrating the achievements of our Princes Trust TEAM 16 graduates! All 8 participants gave a presentation in front of family, friends, Prince’s Trust staff and Oasis Caring in Action staff and board members. They spoke wonderfully about their 12 weeks on programme and their future plans, and even pulled audience members to the front to run a “Team” game by themselves!

All 8 participants will be moving on to either education, training or employment with one young person securing her dream job before she even completed TEAM! After emotions running high, the young people took the weekend to relax before returning for a final day of games and fun with their teammates, accumulating in dinner at Frankie and Bennys which was enjoyed by all.

Well done Team 16!

Imago Knit n Natter Group

The Knit n Natter Group put away their needles and wool this week to a have a go at Macramé. A change is as good as a rest, so they say!

Expertly lead by Daryl Jones, the ladies were taken through the different types of macramé knots and shown how to make a pot holder. All this in between cups of coffee and setting the world to rights.