The Oasis Centre at the heart of their community

The Oasis Centre, now based in St Eval, works to provide a caring and supportive environment for lonely or vulnerable members of their community. These members could be housebound, isolated, disabled and/or elderly. The Centre also provides support for people with mental health issues, family members supporting someone with dementia and young parents who may be unemployed and needing help as well as support for people who are bereaved with a bereavement support service.

The Centre supports their members through different activities that help to build social skills and confidence, including a weekly Wellbeing Café where members can drop in, have a chat, enjoy a free hot drink and take part in sessions like art and crafts. A NHS Outreach Worker fortnightly joins the Wellbeing Café sessions and offers to address certain issues for individuals often including budgeting, weight management and exercise.

Throughout lockdown The Oasis Centre was on hand to support people on both a practical and emotional level. They provided hot meals to families and individuals, helped with shopping needs, picking up medications for the vulnerable who had to shield and established a phone buddy system where people who lived alone were contacted regularly. Towards the end of lockdown, the Centre helped their members rejoin the community, organising afternoon teas for up to six people and meeting outdoors as much as possible using their newly purchased gazebos.

The Centre has had several grants from Cornwall Community Foundation totalling just over £70,000. More recently they received a £500.00 grant from CCF’s Crisis Fund. Part of grant helped to pay the electricity bill for an elderly gentleman and helped him to pay for essentials including food as he sadly fell ill. He is still regularly supported by the Centre.

Manager of The Oasis Centre, Pat Walton adds "Cornwall Community Foundation means a tremendous amount to our group enabling us to help those most in need in our community. It is surprising how much can be achieved with a relatively small amount of money and some support. Quite recently I described Cornwall Community Foundation as “a port in a storm” They really are."

The Oasis Centre works with people in marginalized communities and looks for ways to help them access the services they need to rebuild their confidence and often rebuild their lives.