Oasis Farm Waterloo needs your help

Aim

I am raising money for a charitable cause that is very important to me so please donate and help me reach my target

Oasis Farm Waterloo’s budget has been massively impacted by the Coronavirus lockdown.

In a normal week we provide therapeutic and educational activities for vulnerable young people, but these have stopped as schools have closed. We also hire out our beautiful barn through the summer for weddings and other events, which generates much of the income to keep the farm running.

As the lockdown looks set to continue for a while we’re also having to cancel our main annual fundraiser – our wonderful summer barbecue and jazz evening, which brings in around £5,000 much-needed income.

We know first-hand (based on how much we, and our volunteers are missing it), how much community, green space and animals can impact our physical and mental health. We want to be able to give that to our community just as soon as we’re able to safely again but to keep doing what we do we’re going to need a little help.

Could you please help us? If we could replace the income lost by our Barbecue & Jazz night it would go a long way towards us being able to continue this vital work as we emerge from this crisis.

Who we are:

We’re an urban farm in Waterloo, a hidden gem just moments from the Southbank. Since 2014, we have been working with Feilden Fowles Architects and Jamie’s Farm to transform a strip of wasteland into a flourishing community resource. We have enabled hundreds of young people and local community members to experience the physical and mental health benefits of caring for plants, animals and ourselves in an urban oasis.

We’re not-for-profit; every penny goes back into the work that the farm and the wider Oasis Hub does in the Waterloo Community. We’re proud to be a part of the Oasis Waterloo network that also comprises of a Debt Advice Centre, Foodbank, ethical coffee shop, library & community playspace. 

Usually we’re able to support not just the farm’s work but also the larger work Oasis Hub Waterloo does through our fundraising and hiring our barn space for events. We’ve hosted pop-up cinemas, cabaret nights, ceilidhs, BBQ’s, theatre, live music and art shows; none of which we’re currently able to do.

What we do:

Week to week we run therapeutic and educational activities for children, workshops and seasonal events, and welcome volunteers. You can see what a typical week in the farm’s life looks like here:

Working closely with Jamie’s Farm we offer a transformational learning programme for young people based around the Jamie’s Farm philosophy of farming, family and therapy. The programme aims to help tackle challenging behaviours, engage children in academic life, improve their self- esteem and resilience. We do this by creating an environment where they feel respected, and are given opportunities to display their talents and show responsibility, whilst practically helping with the practicalities of running an urban farm.

Sam, on one of our recent programmes said: 

“Every Wednesday I always look forward to coming back to the farm. You do so much for me and are really nice people to be around. It’s nice having people to talk to and it makes me feel good when you understand.”

We also run community outreach programmes, which include; an after school young farmers club, free Friday feasts for the community through the summer holidays, family open days and volunteering programmes that involve the community in the work of the farm.

Kelly, one of our volunteers said:

“Being a volunteer at the farm has helped in so many ways. Without the peace & tranquility that this place offers my mental health would be worse. It has helped me get through some very difficult moments in my life and enabled me to meet some great friends. I love this place with all my heart and recommend so much for people to become volunteers here it will change your life for the better."

Our impact:

Our school programme focuses on working with disadvantaged pupils. Our data shows that, after visiting the farm:

• 79% of young people reported improvement in their self-esteem
• 50% of young people were no longer considered at risk of exclusion, when they had been considered so before

These results demonstrate the transformation people can experience through gardening, food growing and animal care.

Last year as part of our Friday Feasts programme we provided over 500 meals to families that are effected by holiday hunger. This programme also allowed us to share our space with our local community who got involved with planting and crafting projects through the summer.

This project successfully funded on 29th June 2020