All About Play
Oasisplay is a local charity that runs four different and unique facilities for children and young people in Stockwell, London.
Oasisplay provides innovative and inclusive outdoor play and learning opportunities that enable disabled and non-disabled children and young people to lead happy, fulfilled lives and play positive roles in the community.
About
Oasisplay runs a Children’s Nature Garden, a youth led go-karting project – Right Track Project, Stockwell Adventure Playground and Bolton Crescent Adventure Playground. All projects are open access and available for local children to attend after school, on Saturdays and during the school holidays.
Specialist activity sessions are also provided for schools, youth groups, private groups and other agencies.
Each of the four projects has a team of experienced play and youth workers who ensure that all children and young people are able to make the most of the amazing opportunities and experiences that are available on each site.
Oasisplay is managed by a voluntary management committee and funded by the London Borough of Lambeth, The Big Lottery, BBC Children in Need, The Walcot Foundation and Comic Relief.
Please visit the individual project pages to find out more!
Vision
Providing innovative and inclusive outdoor play and learning opportunities that enable disabled and non-disabled children and young people to lead happy, fulfilled lives and play positive roles in the community.
Values
- Inclusive – addressing inequality
- Collaborative – working together within the community
- Respect – valuing difference and diversity
- Openness – a willingness to try new things/ ideas and approaches
In 2000, Oasisplay secured a 30 year lease from Lambeth Council for the Larkhall Adventure Playground. With the help of volunteers the site, which had become neglected once more, was cleared and the structures made safe for a new generation of children.
Today Oasisplay provides play and youth activities for children and young people from the local community at Oasisplay Children’s Nature Garden, Oasisplay Karting Project ( Right Track Project) and Oasisplay Adventure Playground.
Schools, youth clubs and playschemes can also visit the projects to take part in a wide range of educational and outdoor activities.
History
Oasisplay as an organisation has grown organically since its inception in 1973. Local parents and residents transformed a derelict green space into a playground with swings, a slide and skateboard ramp. Then, in the early eighties, Oasisplay users took hand built karts to an unused school playground across the road, and the karting track was created.
A few years later, Oasisplay joined forces with Allen Edwards Primary School, to create a garden in an empty plot of land adjacent to the school
Difference We Make
Our unique offer empowers children and young people facing multiple disadvantage to lead happy, fulfilled lives and play positive roles within their community; improves family and community members’ wellbeing, knowledge and skills; and strengthens relationships among community members of all ages.
We regularly evaluate each of our services, collecting data using a number of methods to that we can get true measure of the impact of our services.
92% of young people reported an increased understanding of risks posed to them within their community
“Right Track gives me something to do and keeps me focussed. If I’m not at school, I’m usually hanging around with my mates on the street and that usually leads to trouble.”
– Volunteer, 16
“When I’m here I feel like I have a gang of my own – but a positive one, like a family.”
– Volunteer, 15
84% of parent carers report that the play project is improving the physical health of their children and 89% report improvement in their emotional well being.
100% children said they felt healthier.
“Six hours of running about playing football and other stuff makes you feel good”
– semi-structured interview respondent aged 8 yrs 2016
92% of young people reported an increased understanding of risks posed to them within their community
“Right Track gives me something to do and keeps me focussed. If I’m not at school, I’m usually hanging around with my mates on the street and that usually leads to trouble.”
– Volunteer, 16
“When I’m here I feel like I have a gang of my own – but a positive one, like a family.”
– Volunteer, 15
84% of parent carers report that the play project is improving the physical health of their children and 89% report improvement in their emotional well being.
100% children said they felt healthier.
“Six hours of running about playing football and other stuff makes you feel good”
– semi-structured interview respondent aged 8 yrs 2016
Our facilities include an adventure playground (with a mountain bike track through wild woods, a hard surface area for sport/ball games, play structures and two indoor areas), a motorised karting track and a nature garden.
Our diverse offer attracts children and young people to our services, but we are about far more than just fun. Our services, run with local volunteers aged 15+ and responsive to community needs, include:
• Free, inclusive, supervised after-school, Saturday and holiday play schemes (at the adventure playground and nature garden);
• Free under-5s stay-and-play sessions (nature garden);
• Youth-led go-karting sessions for children and young people;
• Free accredited training for young people (leading to AQAs);
• Volunteer programme for people aged 15-plus;
• Mentoring programme for children and young people at risk of gang involvement;
• Community events programme;
• Environmental education, Forest
School and play-based learning.
Our Inclusion Project (OIP) ensures all our services are fully inclusive and provides supported volunteering for disabled young people
AIMS TRIANGLE
Oasisplay aims to improve the lives of children, young people and the local community. We do this by delivering supervised play facilities across three neighbouring sites. These are a nature garden, a go-karting track and an adventure playground.
Staff and Trustees
Management Committee
Tim Bowker Chair
Juliette Garside Vice Chair
Cathy Atkin Treasurer
Simon Pring Secretary
Peter McNally Member
Hen Boxer Member
Andrew Sawdon President
Staff
Joanne Brown Director
David Ogwe Projects Coordinator
Tesfai Meresse Finance Manager
Gemma Hindi Nature Garden Manager
Stuart Barber Gardener and Playworker
Ros Warmington Education Worker and Playworker
Marisa Bicknell Under 5s Playleader
Kirstie NOrman Play worker
Emma Trueman Playworker
Danny Hames Right Track Project Manager
Malcolm Brebner Head Mechanic
Mark Fearon Right Track Project Mentor
David Grant Senior Karting worker
Jolene Campbell Community Play Project Manager ( Adventure Playground)
Rio Garcia Deputy Community Play Project Manager
Lola Adeyole Deputy Community Play Project Manager
Philippa Marlowe Playworker
Tyrone Scott Playworker
Riccardo Blanchino Bike Mechanic
Marianna di Mauro Playworker
Marigona Dalloshi Playworker
Lawrence Lubbock Inclusion Team Leader
Kyle Chandler Inclusive Playworker
Bob Downer Inclusive Playworker
Rob Murcutt Inclusive Playworker
Rebecca Dick Inclusive Playworker
Anna Reading Inclusive Playworker
