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