Good news and hope for at-risk pupils as new programme launches

By Jill Dando News

It’s good news in the wake of Labour’s landslide victory and their declared manifesto goal of creating “a new Young Futures programme with a network of hubs reaching every community”.

Now the Oasis Trust will open a pilot at the beginning of September to help young people at risk.

The ‘Oasis St Martin’s Village’ in Tulse Hill, South London is designed to transform the life chances of children and young people who are struggling with or absent from mainstream education, by offering them and their families support and opportunity.

The St Martin’s Village will support local schools, parents and families, to tackle the school attendance crisis, special educational needs and mental health, behaviour issues and exclusions.

Through mentoring and one-to-one therapeutic care, youth workers and mental health support teams will also work with children and young people to prevent them from being drawn into violence and crime.

The Oasis St Martin’s Village is the first of a small number of Young Futures pilot projects they are planning to open over this autumn around the country, in response to Labour’s manifesto commitment.

Through working with a range of partners it will develop sport, music, agriculture, dance, art and other enriching activities whilst never losing sight of the importance of numeracy and literacy through supplementary education.

All of the services and support will be free both to children and their families.

Steve Chalke, Oasis founder, pictured, said: “Our work is to support Labour in their manifesto promises. Just like the new government, we believe that the poorest young people should be worthy of the greatest attention. 

“We also know that the only way to achieve a reduction in youth violence and knife crime is to change the question and to double down on inclusion; to give children the opportunity to explore their strengths and skills and develop their character through our range of creative activities and learning styles tailored to meet their interests.

“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, we must start teaching the way they learn. That way education becomes a pleasure.

“We are getting started ahead of the policy detail and funding being worked on and finalised, because that is the best way to inform that process – Oasis is not a think tank, we are a do-think tank.

“The school attendance crisis is a systemic problem, it’s not something that can be seen in isolation and solved with a pull of a policy lever here or there. The whole ecosystem of a child’s life matters.

“At Oasis St Martin’s we will therefore work in partnership with families and local community and grassroots groups, as well as the statutory services. We believe that the power of the voluntary sector and local people will add huge value.

“For too long we have repeated the mantra that it takes a village to raise a child, and then left the village out. We’ve side-lined our greatest national asset: local people – mums, dads, families, and other community members. It’s time for a radical reset – and it’s one that Oasis is committed to helping Labour deliver”.

Oasis have been pioneering sustainable, holistic community development for 35 years.

They work in many communities affected by inequality that impacts all areas of life. So they work in a joined-up way across communities to create change – economically, socially, physically, spiritually; in education, housing, justice, health, youth, and family support; with people of all ages and in all situations.

Their website says: “We believe that things can change. Where systems leave communities disadvantaged we’re bold about pioneering alternatives and trying new things.

“We’re not satisfied with the status quo where it keeps people trapped in poverty, or constantly at risk of exclusion.”

Oasis was founded in 1985 in Tonbridge, Kent, by Rev Steve Chalke. After five years of fundraising and awareness raising, the first Oasis project – a hostel for homeless young women in Peckham – was opened by Steve and Cornelia Chalke in 1990.

Since then Oasis has grown in to a global movement pioneering a whole range life-changing projects around the world.