What We Do
The Oasis Project has been providing a warm welcome to all since 2005.
We provide practical care and training, and emotional and spiritual support in a community cafe setting.
Helping people to build a future and bring hope to lives in crisis.
We work with our associated project, Plymouth Foodbank and the church at Plymouth Central Hall
In the last year 216 people attended a course or an activity at the centre. 68% said their self confidence improved, 17 gained work, 12 went on to other training.
Our Annual Report can be found here.
For lunch, clients can choose between different savory fillings in sandwiches, a soft drink or soda, and complete their meal with one of the delicious cakes, such as lemon drizzle, which are baked on the premises.
Food can be eaten in the cafe, bought to take-away, or delivered to addresses in the surrounding area.
“My confidence has improved greatly- am more positive and forward-looking. Loved the warmth,
understanding and patience of everyone at the centre”
“Great support and great advice”
Alan – Coffee morning & IT“Loved coming, easiest place I have been”
Colin – IT & Job ClubCafe and Catering
The cafe is open Monday-Friday (09:30-15:30). Food can be eaten in the cafe, bought to take-away, or delivered to addresses in the surrounding area. We are able to supply buffets for conferences and events, phone Maria on 254981 for more information. Click here for the buffet menu.
Information, Advice and Guidance. Practical and spiritual support
Job Club. Support with finding jobs, help with CVs and help using the computers.
Budgeting - benefits support
Help with filling in forms
Puzzling questions course, looking at those tricky questions all of us have sometimes. Who am I? What is God like? What happens after I die? How can I be happy? Why is there suffering in the world? What is the spiritual world and how does it impact my life?
Prayer room available
Open the book
A team goes into two schools with dramatised Bible Stories and we have Open the Book sessions in the centre at half terms for local families. The latter includes free breakfast and lunch.
Courses
Art - Tuesday and Thursday 10am-12noon. Try your hand at a variety of craft and art. No prior experience necessary.
English - Wednesday 10am-12pm. The English class will help you develop reading, writing and listening and speaking skills. Entry Level 1 - Level 2.
IT - Monday 1.30-3.30pm, Tuesday 10am-12noon, Wednesday 1-3pm. Friendly supportive tuition. From how to turn on a computer to shopping online. The Basic IT is for anyone scared of computers, but has realised it is essential in todays world.
Maths - Tuesday 1.15-3.15pm, Scared of numbers? Come and let Robert guide you to success. Entry Level 1- Level 2
Healthy Cooking - various courses. Thursday afternoon 1.30-3pm for people with learning difficulties. Eat Well Spend Less courses - please ring Maria on 234981 for details.
Level 2 Food Safety in Catering - Ring Maria for details.
Job Club - Fridays at 11am - 1pm. Need help with updating or creating a CV or looking to job search? Come along!
Volunteering
We need help in the kitchen and cafe, admin, support for tutors, and helping at the coffee morning.
News
Oasis' IT group comes to Plymouth Methodist Central Hall . On Tuesday morning 15th October Phil, our IT tutor, and Martin one of our learners, will be in the Discovery café or the welcome area showing you how our basic computer course works as part of UKONLINE WEEK. If you have friends who are technophobes bring them along.
Thanks to funding from The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS) Martin was able to take his Level 1 maths exam and achieved a fantastic score of 44 out of 45. "It is an achievement for me. Originally I just wanted to improve my maths and wasn't going to take the exam but I am glad I did as it has given me confidence and inspired me to go on the Level 2 which will be equivalent to a GCSE. I couldn't have done it without all the help from Robert.
Larry says after he completed the IT course he finished his sports therapy and massage course at University thanks to the help he received at Oasis and submitted all his college work on line on time He wouldn't have been able to do this without the IT course.
Paul is now working in a restaurant, now he is earning he has bought a laptop and tablet and uses them daily.
The Oasis Project Cafe has a food hygiene rating of 5
The Oasis Project is delighted to announce that it received £2,000 through the Tesco Bags of help scheme. This is the one where customers choose which project to support in their local area. Hayley's entertaining cooking demos have been going down well and and Maria is offering free Level 2 Food safety in catering courses to those on benefits or volunteering for a charity. For more information ring Oasis on 254981
Oasis Project was sad to say goodbye to Rev Dave Martin but now welcomes Rev Gareth Higgs as Chair of the management committee. After growing up in the West Country, Gareth has served in ministry roles in Mansfield, Gloucester, Burnley and Derby before joining the staff team at PMCH in September 2018. He is married to Laura and dad to Joseph, Naomi and Beth. He is passionate about seeing the local church energised and impacting people’s lives. He is a big sports fan, following his home town football team Bath City all over the country and, if it were left to him, would spend as much time as possible playing Football Manager on the PC!
About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
To improve self-confidence, enhance skills and inspire hope through improving financial stability, social inclusion and educational and personal achievement.
216 people have attended training or worked as a supported volunteer at the Oasis Project from September 2018 - August 2019. 41 people have gained a Level 2 in Food safety in catering. 6 people have gained a maths or English qualification.
17 learners/volunteers have obtained work and 9 have gone onto other volunteering roles, 12 have gone on to train elsewhere. 1 person also commented that their Christian faith had developed over the year.
Of 72 learners who attended courses lasting more than a day and responded to a follow - up questionnaire/phone call 68% said their confidence had improved.
The computers in our café have been used 932 times for job searches and internet enquiries. Whilst there is an assumption that everyone can afford the cost of being online we know this is often something that is beyond the reach of stretched budgets.
Our staff (4) tutors (4) trustees, management committees and volunteers all work on a person centred approach to help people grow and be fulfilled.
We work with partners such as Plymouth Community Homes, Plymouth Octopus Project, Transforming Plymouth Together, Stonehouse Action, 100 Homes Project and Stonehouse Timebank.
Our funding comes from individual donations, earned income through room hire, catering, solar panels and courses. We are grateful to the following funders:-
DISTRICT ADVANCE FUND
The Plymouth Astor Trust (VHS)
We are always happy to work with other groups to host events or run short courses. Please do get in touch if you would like to work with us.
Contact Us
Come Visit Us
28 Manor Street
Plymouth
Devon
PL1 1TW