Job Opportunity - IMAGO Befriending…
Oasis Caring in Action are seeking to recruit:
MENTAL HEALTH BEFRIENDER
To support the IMAGO professional Befriending Service at OCIA, Belfast
Hours of work: 12 hours per week
Working pattern: between MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.30-4.00pm (flexible to be agreed)
Hourly rate of pay: £11.94 per hour
Full information on the requirements and duties of this post are in the Job Pack https://www.communityni.org/job/mental-health-befriender-part-time
or please phone OCIA for Information.
Applications by CV please, along with a covering note demonstrating how you feel you meet the essential criteria, to be submitted by 12 noon, Monday 16th December 2024.
Oasis is an equal opportunities Employer
NxtGen@Oasis - New Youth Programme Launched
NxtGen@Oasis - Youth Programme Launched...
Oasis Caring in Action have been running youth programmes from our base on Castlereagh Street since 2017, previously we delivered a Prince’s Trust programme, however since July 2024 we have been delivering our own bespoke programme. With the support of our new funder, the Henry Smith Charity, we have designed a new programme aimed at 16-25 year olds. Using direct feedback from the last 6 groups under our previous funder, we have focussed on the needs of local young people, whilst ensuring we do not recreate anything being offered locally by any of our neighbouring organisations or clubs. Our focus is on supporting those young people who are at the start of their journey after school, or who have been affected by the covid pandemic or perhaps suffer with mental health challenges, including depression, poor self-esteem or social anxiety.
Our aim is to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem, whilst focussing on improving mental wealth and building life skills. Using tried and tested personal development strategies we will work with the young people to help them set realistic goals and agree plans on how best to achieve these. Across the duration of the programme we will encourage our young people to take part in workshops and they will contribute to their local community by identifying a problem in the local area and then designing and delivering a solution e.g. it may include fund raising for a local charity or community organisation, or it could be helping to run an activity on behalf of a local charity. This social action element will be youth led, each group will identify, design and deliver their project benefitting their local community in some way with support from our experienced team at Oasis Caring In Action.
A number of 1-2-1 support sessions will be planned across the duration of delivery to ensure all of the YP are fully supported. This will enable us to identify additional needs, or to discuss progression ideas with the individuals to ensure they all achieve sustainable outcomes. We will utilise existing partnerships that we have built over the last 8 years as well as forging new opportunities across the city, for the benefit of the YP, to expose them to as many opportunities as possible. We will also host a number of visits from other youth organisations, employment programmes and community organisations, as well as utilising other training providers for the benefit of the groups. We have partnered with a local training provider to ensure every YP gains a useful nationally recognised qualification during the programme.
Our programme will evolve with the input of the young people to ensure we remain responsive to their unique needs. Over the last 8 years we have seen a surge in the numbers of YP with mental health challenges, including anxiety, poor self-esteem and a stark increase in those suffering from social anxiety, whilst at the same time lacking in basic life skills. Therefore we will include a number of workshops focussing on a number of life skills that are often taken for granted, for example travelling on public transport, dealing with banking issues, how to apply for a job/housing etc.
At the end of every programme we hold a celebration event to ensure the young people celebrate their successes and recognise their achievements, we will also have a number of adventure days throughout the programme to help build teamwork skills and improve their communication, whilst having some fun at the same time.
Each programme runs 4 days a week and lasts for 16 weeks, we run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 until 15:00. Every Wednesday we operate a drop-in facility from 11:00 to 14:30 which allows for any young person looking for support, or interested in what we do to call in for an informal chat over a cuppa!
NxtGen is here, contact us for more information!
Search socials for #NxtGen@Oasis or send us a message below
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
PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
I developed new skills - it helped to build my confidence - I learned how to work as a team - I learned communication skills!
The Adventure days were the Best!
It's a safe place for me to express myself
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…
Two new baby rooms at Oasis Early Years. The perfect place for your little one!
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.
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 are hosting a coffee and chat morning at Oasis No 81 Castlereagh St
Wednesday 17th May 10.30am to 1.30pm
All Welcome!
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
Princes Trust Team 16 Presentations
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
Imago Group has a go at macramé
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.