Oasis annual report 2013 2014 web

domestic abuse service

Impact report

2013 - 2014

Chairperson’s report Oasis is now 20 years old. This year marks the anniversary of 20 years of specialist support interventions for families affected by domestic abuse issues.

We are fortunate that throughout this time the charity has been able to meet not only the challenge of providing an effective and appropriate service with very able staff, but also has managed to maintain a well-funded organisation through a time of significant financial constraint.

The past two years have been a time of considerable growth in the range and scope of services provided by Oasis. This has had a significant effect on the day to day running of the service. The teams continue to strive for the best possible outcomes in the challenging environment in which they work, focusing constantly on the needs of the families who are at the heart of the life of the charity. The team day in late March was entitled ‘Envisioning the future’.

Those of us from the Board who were able to attend found the event very up-lifting as we witnessed the enthusiasm of the staff.

The important work that is carried out with the Consortium, (Kent Domestic Abuse Consortium – KDAC), continues. During the past year we have seen Maidstone-based charity, K-DASH, cease to function. This put extra pressure on the other KDAC members who have had to absorb the K-DASH work. It is remarkable how well this has gone and is a credit to the expertise of the staff directly involved. The CEOs and the Chairs of the four DV services involved meet regularly to ensure that the terms of specific contracts are running well.

The IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisers) contract has moved in to its second year. The full weight of this important piece of work falls to Oasis to ensure it is delivered correctly. Having been awarded the Leading Lights accreditation, the staff are now helping to deliver the IDVA service across Kent, ensuring high quality delivery. IDVAs work within the community, facing significant challenges from working with clients who need considerable support for a range of difficulties.

The team at Oasis has provided a means of helping young people understand that relationships should hold no fear. Work to provide youngsters with resilience for the future continues. Ensuring that there is help in the community for young people is essential and the Children and Young People’s mentoring scheme is very welcome for both males and females. Children who come with their mothers to the Refuge have been affected by living in an atmosphere of fear and can be deeply troubled by the harmful impact of abuse in its many forms. A counselling service is available to try to help restore feelings of

self-esteem and self-worth for future well-being.

We reported earlier that we were considering a prudent merger with another of our east Kent partners. After a considerable amount of work the Board felt that it was not the right time for this to happen. We have, however, been able to refresh our own brand and improve the website. Thanks go to all our colleagues who took part, for their time and hard work during the exploration of this possible merger.

The future holds some big challenges as Kent County Council looks at providing different methods to ensure good outcomes for the victims of domestic abuse and their families. Teams at Oasis are constantly scrutinising the ways in which they deliver services and seek to ensure that everybody is working effectively. Meanwhile funds have to be found to provide the excellent service to which we all aspire. The fundraising team is supported by the community as Oasis is so well known across east Kent. It is very fortunate to have wonderful people who regularly have functions to raise money, others who do ‘one off’ donations, and then there are the people who donate clothing. It is amazing just how much we receive and is a reflection of the esteem in which Oasis is held in the community. The Advocacy event in July helped to engage with people who would like to be further involved. Plans are well under way to start a new venture as we enter the world of merchandising by opening a shop in Margate. A very big thank to everyone who has helped in so many ways.

I will end with a word about the Board of Trustees. Our Board has remained fairly stable throughout the year, but as we now have to face fresh challenges we are looking to increase the number of trustees to ensure that the skills each person brings can strengthen the Board. Some changes have already occurred: it came as a wonderful surprise to learn that one of us has married and will be living Brazil. In addition we said good bye to Cllr. Doug Clark who had served the Board well over a number of years. We remain committed to good governance and to maintaining a high standard of service of this hard-working and successful charity and are indebted to the strong leadership and vision provided by our Chief Executive Officer, Deborah Cartwright.

Margaret McManus domestic abuse service

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“I have gone from walking on eggshells to stepping on stones .”

Services provided by Oasis Refuge accommodation Play work & therapy Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) Helpline (Mon-Sun 9-5) Counselling service Children & Young People and Young Adult mentors Training and education to external agencies Awareness-raising through talks, workshops and multi-media communications

Love Shouldn’t Hurt art competition in Thanet schools 2013 – Palm Bay School child winning entry. ‘’Through its Schools’ Outreach programme, Oasis Domestic Abuse Service is breaking down barriers by openly talking about the issue of domestic abuse.

We need to change attitudes; this competition was a positive step along the way.’’ Barbara Sturgeon (Radio Broadcaster & Competition judge)

What changes do our clients experience?

Safety

Most of the clients we support are concerned for their immediate physical safety and the safety of their children. Alongside this, clients are fearful that the perpetrators will inflict many other types of abuse and very often the fear that threats will be carried out is very real. Safety is a basic requirement of survival, but we understand that a client’s perception of safety is also very important. When we consider the needs of a client as a hierarchy, we see that without safety it is very difficult to achieve additional and on-going outcomes.

In our accredited IDVA service clients achieve significant improvements to their own and their children’s safety. IDVAs offer a targeted intervention for those at highest risk of harm.

The refuge service also enables those who are unable to remain in their homes to be housed and have the impacts of their experiences supported. As an organisation we feel that both of these approaches are necessary options for families experiencing this issue.

Key outcomes Oasis women’s refuge Empowerment Star: clients report an average 30% improvement to feelings of safety Kent & Medway IDVA Service: 88% of clients reported significant improvements to safety; 75% of clients experienced a marked reduction in risk levels and 85% reported marked reductions in risk to children.

Health

Domestic abuse has a negative impact both on the physical and mental health of our clients. Protection against domestic abuse not only reduces the physical harm from injury, but also removing women from emotionally abusive situations has a positive impact on the prevalence of associated mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Our services support clients to access health services and work to ensure the promotion of long term recovery and well-being. The team utilise the concept of the Ways to Wellbeing to think holistically about a client’s whole life needs.

Our refuge team utilise this concept to generate mindful-awareness and active participation in their clients. This approach enables clients to become engaged in both the external and internal communities. Each client has a person led support which enables them to seek out the best way for them to recover and move forward from their experiences.

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Key outcomes Oasis women’s refuge Empowerment Star: clients report an average 20% improvement to health and well-being and a 50% improvement to their empowerment & self-esteem Kent & Medway IDVA Service: 87% of clients experienced marked improvements to their well-being and reported that 88% of their children also experienced this outcome.

Social Well-being

Isolation is a large component within the campaign of domestic abuse and serves to reinforce the power / control dynamic. Many of our clients feel disconnected and socially isolated as a result of domestic abuse and often lack any real social network.

Once clients are able to rebuild their lives away from the abuse they are able to rebuild a sense of community and a support network. Because of the communal environment of the refuge collective experience, connections between residents are often very strong.

We aim to support all clients to increase their resilience in order for them to create independence and long-term recovery.

Key outcomes Oasis women’s refuge Empowerment Star: clients report an average 20% improvement to their work and learning and a 40% improvement to their support networks Kent & Medway IDVA Service: 84% of clients experienced marked improvements to their quality of life.

Economic wellbeing

Many of the clients we support have experienced financial abuse and subsequently have limited knowledge of money management and budgeting.

Activities within the refuge include budgeting and money management groups, supporting benefit applications and referrals into debt specialists.

Alongside this, women are encouraged to go shopping and cook together, ensuring that their household management skills are maximised. Once women leave the refuge we have a weekly support group and where a skills gap is identified, external organisations are invited in to hold interactive workshops.

Financial independence can ensure that clients go on to contribute financially to their community and wider society and prevent future need for services.

Key outcomes Oasis women’s refuge Empowerment Star: clients report an average 20% improvement to their work and learning and a 40% improvement to their support networks Kent & Medway IDVA Service: 72% of clients experienced marked improvements to their housing stability and 71% of clients experienced a marked improvement to their financial stability.

I suffered abuse from my step father since childhood. I was so terrified I didn’t know what to do. It took a lot for me to gather the courage to come out to say enough is enough. I found Oasis through the police who I contacted. My case was complex as my status as a resident of the U.K. was unclear and Oasis were the only refuge that helped me.

I was really lucky that I had resettlement after I left which helped me settle into my new home.

The support ranged from the refuge to resettlement, group support and counselling. I had weekly one to one key working too.

Oasis has helped me find my confidence, find housing, college, work and support networks that I’m still friends with today.

Life now is much better, I’m much more confident with myself, I now live independently and hold down employment while studying to became a Social Worker.

Without the help I had from Oasis I would be miserable; I wouldn’t be where I am today to make choices and to became the true me.

Support from Oasis has changed my life in so many ways allowing me to gain my documents to remain in the country for 5 years which allows me not to worry.

Oasis helped me grow from a young person to an adult giving me the confidence and courage to make my own decisions.

I hope to finish uni and qualify as a social worker to help people that are in a similar situation to the one I was in. I want to be completely self-sufficient having my own and happy relationship.

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Satisfaction Oasis uses a rolling questionnaire focussing on how the clients feel about the support received. In the past year 100% of clients stated that they felt happy with the support received, and that staff were always helpful. 10% responded that they were not involved in the running of the refuge and the client handbook has been updated to improve this response.

We asked our clients: ‘In a word, what did you gain at the refuge and what values do our staff have?’

Empowerment Star refuge outcomes Safety

9

8

1

1

2 3

1

4 5

2

6 7

3

8

4

9 10

5 6

Children

7 8 9 10

Money

2

1

3

1

2

3

2 3

4

5

6

7

4 5

8

9

10

9

8

7

1

1

4

3

2

1

1

2

2

6

4 3

2

3

5

5

3

4

8

6

4

5

5

6

7

8 7

5

4

7

10

9

6

8

9

10

7

9

6

10

Work and learning

Accommodation

10

Empowerment and self-esteem

Support networks

10

6

Legal issues

7 8 9 10

Health and well-being

Friendships Laughter Loved

Guidance Welcoming

Outings Security Conversation Care Growth Esteem Relief Safe Education Family Start Calm Relaxed Self Well New Kindness Better Hugs

Staff Team

Advice

Supported Future Being Budgetting Healthy Work

Homely Happy

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Children Oasis Domestic Abuse Service has offered a children’s service in the refuge for the 20 years it has been operational, through grant funding and the support of the local community. The play worker facilitates eight two hour playroom sessions each week. Morning sessions are aimed at pre-school children and older children attend sessions after school. The aim of the play worker is to facilitate a balance of child initiated and adult-led play and to support parent-child attachment and relationships during the recovery process.

There has been a trend towards fewer children in the refuge over the past two years. As a result of this, the Refuge Play Worker has been able to offer additional and more intense support to our refuge residents using a whole family approach. We have been able to continue developing an attachment and resilience therapeutic model for recovering from experiences that enables us to undermine the consequences and causes of family violence and abuse and other cross cutting issues.

Monitoring Progress Children were supported to complete age appropriate questionnaires on entry and exit. These related to a scale from 1-5 (5 Agree strongly, 4 Agree slightly, 3 Neither agree or disagree, 2 Disagree slightly, 1 Disagree strongly) in the following questions: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

I feel confident I understand myself and my feelings I like the person who I am I deserve to be respected as a person I am happy at school h I feel hope for the future I feel safe I miss my dad.

5.00

a

4.00

b

3.00 2.00 1.00

IN

g

c

f

d e

OUT

Children’s questionnaire responses

“We came to live here because my dad used to be naughty.”

“This place makes me feel safe.’’

“In our dining room we can eat our food with our friends from the house.’’

“I like living here because I feel safe and I like drawing.”

“I like coming to the playroom so I can draw. I like living here so I can draw.’’

“The adults that work here are really friendly, happy and kind.’’

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Counselling outcomes In 2013, 24 clients from East Kent made arrangements with the counsellor to start their therapy. This consisted of an initial 6 sessions with the possibility of more sessions where necessary. 19 engaged for the duration and several are still receiving therapy.

As shown below, we saw a significant reduction in clients assessed as suffering with severe anxiety from a total score of 17 people at the start and 0 severe ratings after counselling. There were only 5 of these 17 people remaining in the moderate range.

There is also a substantial reduction in the scores for severe depression, with 11 people scored as severe before counselling and 1 afterwards.

Number of people

25 20

Normal

15

Mild Moderate

10

Severe

5 0 Before

After Anxiety rating

Number of people

Outcomes used are the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (0 – 7 Normal/ 8 –10 Mild/ 11 – 15 Moderate/ 16 – 21 Severe) 20

Normal

15

Mild Moderate

10

Severe

5 0 Before

After Depression rating

Our counsellor has extensive knowledge and experience of those affected by traumatic experiences. The results of her work have caused us to develop a volunteer counselling service in order that we can train, develop and extend this helpful offer.

“This service has made such a difference to my life. Everyone should be able to have this counselling. “

“My counsellor was professional; she didn’t judge me, and she ensured that I got what I needed from the meetings with her.”

“Counselling allowed me to finally put to bed the problems I had been faced with as a result of my experiences.”

“I don't think so negatively anymore.”

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The Freedom Programme This is based on the Duluth model of domestic violence. This programme examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions and responses of both male perpetrators and women survivors. Staff at Oasis are trained to deliver the Freedom Programme with 4 programmes delivered annually in Thanet.

“I used to hide what was going on for me and feel ashamed but meeting other women going through the same has given me strength.”

“I now take the time to re-evaluate a situation / person before I make a decision about it.”

“The diaries have been really helpful to be able to reflect on situations and actions of others.”

“This group has helped me recognise that I can’t do a thing about how others behave but I can change how I think about it.”

“The pictures worked really well for me. I am more of a visual person and I think I will use these in the future.”

“My guilt towards my children is still huge. This has helped me to realise that having a balance is important.”

“This has helped me take control of my abilities in a relationship and feel more confident.”

Oasis women’s refuge support group Oasis has offered resettlement support of up to 6 months for the whole 20 years of operation. Moving forward into a life beyond refuge is very daunting for families who have left everything they know to flee domestic abuse. This transitional support is crucial to on-going life free from domestic abuse.

A key part of this has been the support group held at the refuge which current and former residents can use. Each week there can be between 8-20 clients present. They opt for this to be an informal group but there are many specific activities that take place through the clients’ direction of their needs. Activities include:

• An art group to develop an exhibition celebrating 20 years of Oasis • A stop smoking workshop through NHS health trainers • A sexual health workshop through the sexual health outreach nurses • A day out to spend time together more socially • Shared cooking activities to support those with limited skills • Craft and sewing groups to develop skills.

• Consultations – most recently Oasis support group contributed to the HMIC report.

“Support group made a real difference to my move-out and I felt like I was still being supported.”

“They made me realise that I deserved better and my opinion was important.”

“I was so grateful for the time my daughter was in the playroom.”

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Kent & Medway IDVA Service Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) provide short-term intensive support to high risk victims of domestic abuse throughout Kent. IDVAs normally work with clients from the point of crisis to assess the level of risk, discuss suitable options and develop coordinated plans which are focused on the victim’s safety.

IDVAs work as part of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) processes. In 2013/14, 13 MARAC IDVAs and 4 SDVC IDVAs provided specialist safety planning and support to 1856 clients.

In 2010, CAADA published Saving lives, saving money (2010) - a report which estimated the potential savings that could be realised if the MARAC/ IDVA model were sufficiently implemented. Research within the needs assessment for Kent & Medway shows a 1:10 cost to benefit ratio of abuse ending. Through IDVA intervention the cost to the public purse of a high risk victim of abuse is £10,000. CAADA estimate that a substantial return on investment is realised with an adequate level of provision. Research shows that for every £1 spent at MARAC, £2.90 can be saved in public spending.

Based on this we can see: £321 million - Cost to public services of domestic abuse in Kent & Medway £18 million - Potential cost to public services of clients referred to KDAC £1.8 million - Cessation of abuse savings to date.

The full Kent & Medway IDVA Service annual report can be found at www.oasisdaservice.org/

Spotlight on Prevention for Children and Young People Throughout the year Oasis have had the exciting opportunity to widen the scope of services available for young people who have been affected by domestic abuse through developing a mentoring service for Children and Young People between the ages of 11 to 25 years of age. We have a robust referral and assessment process which enables us to gain insight into the attitudes, beliefs and life experiences of our young people and it is through this that we are able to structure a programme of support which includes raising awareness, enhancing self-esteem and developing resilience.

The focus this year for the Children and Young People’s Team has been on building the foundations for the future and we have embraced this through working together with our young people.

We have created fantastic links with East Kent College raising awareness of domestic abuse for young people and some of their students, along with other young people in the community, have participated in the production of a series of short films with the aim of promoting the message that Love Shouldn’t Hurt. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in these innovative productions. To watch these productions, please go to the Oasis website www.oasisdaservice.org and click on the You Tube channel link (the red button) at the top of the page.

We are looking forward to the year ahead and have a number of exciting ideas in the pipeline.

Diane May Children and Young People’s Team Manager

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Young people in the community There were 2,169 children living in families deemed to be at high risk of harm for the year up to April 2014. Every improvement made to a non-abusing parent’s safety and risk level is an improvement for the future of their child. There is limited additional direct support for these children and in response a range of services are being developed and piloted.

Positive Relationships There is widespread coverage of the need for early intervention services for those living with domestic abuse. As a result of this, Oasis has worked in consortium with three other partners to deliver the KCC commissioned Positive Relationships Programme.

82%

of young people supported through the programme reported increased feelings of confidence.

80%

In more than of cases, clients had developed an improved understanding of risk.

“A weight has been lifted off my shoulders.�

Young Adult Mentors Having scrutinised the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) repeat referrals, it is clear they are often younger women with complex lifestyles. Research highlights that these are often borne out of childhood issues of domestic abuse and these women may have low aspirations, poor emotional coping strategies in relationships, and high risk taking behaviours as a result.

The two staff members delivering this work have been trained by Richard Rose, child psycho-therapist in an attachment-based model of working which utilises life-story to make sense of experience and to reduce pre-occupation.

Initial outcomes 2 clients have completed star data* 4 clients have reported reductions in impulsivity, anxiety, feelings of aggression and risk taking behaviours through our ABLE tool**.

*Teen Star measures the journey for a young person in a range of areas ranging from their social inclusion to substance use. **Attitudes, Behaviours & Life Experiences - this tool enables the young person and practitioner to assess their needs and also to understand the impact of the mentoring on a range of significant factors in their lives, such as, risk taking, personal safety and management of aggression.

In next years report we look forward to evidencing our learning through these tools of this new service.

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Children & Young People’s mentoring In addition we have developed a role for the mentoring of adolescents affected by domestic abuse. This work is also in its early stages and we are grateful to Orbit South for funding. We will capture a range of learning about the impact of it on young people who are deemed to be at risk of either instigating or becoming victims in abusive relationships.

The approach will be modelled on that of the young adult mentors.

Involving & consulting our clients

“The staff were always there for you, no matter what.”

“My key worker went above and beyond.”

“The support was excellent from the very beginning.”

“I felt believed for the first time.”

“Having night staff made all the difference to my time at the refuge.”

“An open door policy is really important.”

What do our partner agencies say?

“Oasis has grown in their delivery of an expanding, focused service in recent years and the staff present with a wealth underpinning knowledge and vast experience, which enables them to achieve desirable outcomes for families and individuals. They are invaluable.”

“The commitment towards staffing the Margate Task Force (MTF) DA Car using IDVAs and the police has been particularly effective during peak periods.”

“Thank you for all that you do.”

“New services such as positive relationships and male mentoring are great. Good to see new services developing. Well done Oasis.”

“This is a valuable service which offers people vital support. The staff are always fully supportive and engage with professionals to an excellent standard.”

“Having Oasis work closely with our students in college has been a great benefit to the services we are able to provide.”

“Oasis always go the extra mile to achieve what is best for clients and we have a great partnership working together to achieve positive outcomes for clients at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.

The team as a whole work extremely hard in safeguarding supporting and signposting clients to relevant agencies.”

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Oasis has had a very successful year with community fundraising. Here is a flavour of some of the events held during the last year: Guys in Ties / Girls in Pearls ball, supported by Round Table Oasis CEO Deborah had the honour of introducing Oasis at a fundraising event organised by an ex-client of our community service in conjunction with the Ramsgate and District Round Table. Having been supported by our Independent Domestic Violence Advisers with her and her children’s safety, this client put a huge amount of energy along with some kind friends into a beautifully presented dinner and dance. As a result of this £1000 gift, some of the children whom we work with in the community will have the opportunity to do activities which their lives would not normally afford. The chance to do these things will be a valuable way to boost their confidence and their outlook on life.

University of Kent Canterbury Oasis visited the University of Kent Canterbury to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and asked students to complete the sentence “I stand against violence because...” We shared their responses with our supporters to raise awareness of the violence that 1 in 4 women experience.

Jungle Jim’s Quiz with East Kent Mencap Oasis’ first charity quiz night in partnership with our friends at East Kent Mencap was a roaring success. With over 100 people attending we raised a combined total of £845. Fantastic donations for a raffle and auction added to the entertainment. The owner of Jungle Jim’s, Andrea, donated a signed football signed by multiple music artists, including Olly Murs.

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David Rundle on his bike David Rundle is a long standing friend and supporter of Oasis. Once again this year David got on his bike and did a gruelling 2000 mile tour of the Tour de France! David followed the Tour de France through the mountains with five hilly stages and six mountain stages.

KM Charity Team’s Assault Course Challenge Oasis had four teams take part in the KM Charity Team’s Assault Course Challenge at Fowlmead Country Park, Deal. A big thank you to the NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group teams, our friend Fiona Thomson and her friends and the Oasis Team who raised over £500. Teams tackled 19 specially designed obstacles including tunnels, balance beams, rope walk, water jump and tyre wall. Deborah Cartwright, Oasis CEO and captain of Team Oasis said: “We all gave 110%! It was such a fantastically muddy day!”

NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group after the Assault Course Challenge

Local artist Janie Grout held an art fair with a variety of local artists selling paintings, prints, textiles and books. Held at the Churchill Tavern Ramsgate the event raised £470.

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Anne & Frank Thorley and friends hosted a dinner and dance fundraising event at the Pavilion in Broadstairs. With over 140 guests, the event raised a fantastic £6160. Much of the money was raised in an auction which included items that were donated by local businesses and a print by the artist Tracey Emin.

Christmas 2013 at our refuge was fantastic this year thanks to our supporters.

We managed to hold a Christmas party for the children that have lived at our refuge, with Santa giving everyone a present, and plenty of food and decorations to get us all into the Christmas spirit. We even had plenty of gifts for our women residents. Sam*, a current resident said “I came back from work and found a bag of presents on my bed. I nearly cried with happiness because I didn’t think I was going to get anything this year. It really made me feel so happy, thank you!”

Mary* another current resident, said “I have never had a Christmas present before, so this really means a lot to me. I couldn’t stop crying when I saw my presents. Thank you all so much!” *Names changed

Boys & Maughan presenting Oasis with Christmas gifts for refuge residents

Sue Johnson presented the Broadstairs Rotary Club cheque for ÂŁ250 to go towards Christmas gifts

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Santa at the Tesco collection doing a great job!

The fabulous Inner Wheel of Margate raised ÂŁ710.50 for the work we do at Oasis. With fun fundraising evenings, they have continued their support for us.

Oasis fundraiser, Hazel, receiving the Inner Wheel cheque

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We are very grateful to the team at The Body Shop in Westwood Cross, who chose Oasis as their community charity of the year.

Supporter Jon Stringer, brewer at Gadds’ Ramsgate Brewery, raised £335 running the Kent Coastal Marathon for Oasis. Oasis would like to thank Jon for going above and beyond in support of our services. Gadds’ and The Chocolate Pod previously hosted a chocolate and ale evening at The Queen Charlotte in Ramsgate to raise funds for our work. The event was a great success and we’re delighted to have continued support from Jon.

John Stringer of Gadds’ Ramsgate Brewery

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Thanet Road Runners nominated us as their charity of choice for the Alan Green Memorial 10 Mile Road Race. Over 300 runners took part in racing along the Thanet coast from Westgate Pavilion to Palm Bay. The chilly winter run raised a grand total of £500.

First place prize giving at the Alan Green Memorial 10 Mile Road Race

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Margate for organising their yearly Swimathon where our team raised £100 for our community support group. It is our absolute pleasure to announce that Oasis is their charity of choice for 2014.

The continued support of Thanet’s community groups means so much to us.

Fundraising groups across the UK known as the Inner Wheel are celebrating their centenary birthday by buying local charities wheeled items. Ramsgate’s Inner Wheel raised funds to purchase a double buggy for one of our refuge residents, while the Inner Wheel club of Westgate & Birchington donated £90 and are purchasing a sewing machine and other items for our refuge craft group.

Ramsgate Inner Wheel members presenting community fundraiser, Hazel, with the double buggy

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Gadds’ Unite Pale Ale

March saw the launch of Gadds’ Unite Pale Ale. The unique beer was brewed

by Sue Fisher with the help of her friends Allegra Copps, Rebecca Lee, Angela Malloy and Helen Watkins at Gadds’ Ramsgate Brewery as part of the international women’s collaboration brew day on March 8th. Brewsters (female brewers) from around the world collaborated to brew the same base recipe at the same time. Unite Pale Ale is a 4% session pale late hopped with Cascade hops, with each Brewster putting her own twist on the recipe, so no two beers are the same. We were very excited to hear that Oasis had been selected by Sue to receive the proceeds of the beer. The launch event at the New Inn, Canterbury, raised £260 and the Black Dog in Whitstable raised £130 from sales of the Unite Pale Ale, with another donation of £285.00 from Gadds’ brewery from the cask sales!

And ………

The Internet is a wonderful place and helped join Oasis with an inspirational little girl who runs Treasure Boxes. By making and selling bracelets, the founder of Treasure Boxes passes on her profits to children in domestic abuse refuges. Now helping refuges nationally there is no doubt that we can expect great things from such a young entrepreneur. The children at the refuge sent this lovely card to show their gratitude ….

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In addition to the generosity of the community in fundraising, Oasis has been fortunate to receive grants during the last year from: Kent County Council Members Kent Community Foundation The Henry Smith Charity

How to help our cause If you would like to set up a monthly donation of any amount, big or small, please visit our justgiving site to set up a standing order at:

www.justgiving.com/oasis-outreach/donate Alternatively why not put on your own fundraising event? From cake sale to ballroom dance – whatever you feel you can manage to raise vital funds to keep our work going are welcome. Inspire yourself with our fundraising pack that can be found on our website:

www.oasisdaservice.org Although every penny counts, your time is just as valuable to us. At Oasis we are always looking for volunteers who are willing to give their time and expertise to helping with the fundraising events and helping in some way towards the running of Oasis. We are always looking for volunteers willing to support us with events, collect and sort donations, and co-ordinate our collection posts as these are jobs vital to keep Oasis going as a charity. To become a volunteer just visit our website to download an application form to send in to volunteers@ oasisdaservice.org.

You can always sell on Ebay in a bid to raise funds for Oasis. Just search oasisdomesticabuseservice and you can have a clear-out whilst raising funds for the work Oasis does.

Oasis has a brand new website – www.oasisdaservice.org Please visit it to learn more about our work and how you can help us to continue the valuable service to the Kent community.

Financial Review Oasis income increased significantly in this financial year largely as a result of the success of the consortium arrangement in securing the county wide IDVA service. We have also seen our investment in community fundraising improve this voluntary income which is vital for providing additional services to the families for whom we work, along with further grants secured for young people’s work.

Income Donations

£22,552

Bank Interest

Fundraising

£4,222 £7,061

Refuge

£307,773

Grants

£946,718

Expenditure

£1,137,864

83p in every £1 supported front-line work.

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If you have any queries about this donation form please contact us at:

fundraise@oasiswomensrefuge.org or call 01843 290891 domestic abuse service

I would like to make a one-off donation of

£

I would like to make a regular donation per month of:

£10

£20

Starting from

£30

or

£

2014

I would like to make a standing order from Account holder (s) name Bank name Bank address Postcode Account number

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Please return the completed form to: Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, PO Box 174, Margate CT9 4GA. By signing the form I confirm that I have read and accepted the terms and conditions below. Please pay the amount detailed above and thereafter the same sum on the same day of each succeeding month until further notice to the account of Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, account number 00021110, sort code 40-52-40.

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Name Address Postcode Email Contact number GIFT AID Thanks to the Gift Aid scheme you can give an extra 25p per pound. I confi rm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income tax and/or Capital gains Tax for the current tax year(6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for the current tax year.

I understand that other taxes such as VAT and council tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.

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Data protection information – Oasis is registered under the Data Protection Act. Your name and address will not be disclosed to any other organisation but we may, from time to time, send you news about Oasis and information on events.

If you would prefer not to receive information please tick the box Registered charity no.1126198 and as a company in England & Wales no. 05810653 www.oasiswomensrefuge.org

Images used in this report are for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in this material is a model.