The Oasis Partnership UK is a registered charity in accordance with the Charities Act 1993. Our registered charity number is 1054524. The Oasis Partnership UK is also constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is registered under the Companies Act 1985, number 3164431. HQ office address, Oasis House, George Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2RZ. Telephone: 0300 6662747 Email: info@oasispartnership.org
Historically known for our work providing substance misuse expertise and support, we are now expanding our charity objects to extend our service provision, delivering socially inclusive, open access support for the wider communities of Buckinghamshire, through pioneering and innovative partnerships and initiatives. We take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, and believe that social prescribing for people of all ages and backgrounds is vital to connect them with their local communities, offering emotional as well as practical support.
Oasis has been providing services throughout Buckinghamshire for over 37 years, and currently employs 35 staff working across different contracts and from fundraised donations. The majority of our staff (27) work within the One Recovery Bucks service, which is managed by our NHS partner Inclusion. In addition to this we also employ staff supporting the Building Futures contract the Rough Sleeper Initiative, employment support workers and a team of staff at the Bagnall Project.
We run a great volunteer service which includes a team of volunteer counsellors, specialist volunteers and generic volunteers. Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, on average volunteers supported Oasis by providing up to 150 placement hours each week, during the past 12 months this number has reduced to about 40 hours per week as we are only able to engage volunteers with the Rough Sleeper Initiative, during online family groups and online arts and craft sessions. We are looking forward to engaging more volunteers in 2021, as services will be provided from venues as opposed to online, and volunteer placements are needed.
Service developments through fundraising
We are currently planning our next five year fundraising strategy for 2021-2026, aiming to develop and enhance all our different projects and the services we offer, in order to reach more people within our communities. We have challenged ourselves, and set a fundraising target of £2,000,000, meaning we hope to add value to the tune of £400,000 each year, from new contracts, and from donations and capital funding from Trusts, Foundations and individuals.
Oasis’ first five year fundraising strategy for 2014-2019 focused on raising funds to support the Recovery Network, adding value to our core contract, and also supporting a building refurbishment project in Aylesbury. The target we set ourselves was £800,000. The strategy was launched in March 2014 at a special event held in the State Rooms, Palace of Westminster. Five years later we held a celebration event at the same venue, where we celebrated smashing our target with a fundraised total of £1,023,732; we also held a photographic exhibition with unique photographs of music icons taken by a world famous photographer Simon Sarin, an ex-service user of Oasis. Many different Trusts, Foundations and Individuals supported our strategic plan which helped us develop some great services, enabling us to become the charity we are today. To review our celebration report, with an Introduction from Rt Hon Mr David Liddington, and some examples of Simon’s work click the link below:
Our Governance
The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees. Our Trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of Oasis Partnership. Board members lead the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The Trustees meet quarterly for Board meetings whilst also participating in sub-committees which convene as required, in line with business demands. Oasis Partnership’s governance procedures are reviewed regularly by the Governance Committee, finance is reviewed by the Financial Scrutiny committee, and business development is led by the Contracts and Tenders Committee.
The Oasis Partnership Board
Board Chairman – Dr Robert Fieldsend. M.A.,M.B., B.Chir., F.R.C.Psych. Medical Advisor
Qualified in 1971 from Cambridge University and Guys Hospital Medical School. Worked as a full-time NHS Consultant Psychiatrist in South Buckinghamshire from 1981 t0 2004. As well as working in general adult mental health services, a consultant for the substance misuse service from 1987-2001 – this was an innovative service based on a partnership between statutory and non-statutory services, working from the same building. Also special interest in training of doctors, as tutor/organiser of training schemes in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and an Examiner for the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Strong advocate of non-statutory sector in service provision. Founder member of the BCA (now Oasis Partnership). Also worked with Chiltern Counselling Service, Samaritans, and Relate in various roles. Since retirement from full-time NHS work has worked part-time in NHS and for the Ministry of Justice as a medical member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal.
CEO – Colin Mcgregor-Paterson
Colin has been the CEO of the Oasis Partnership since 2007. He gained a Diploma in Digital Leadership with the Association of Digital Business Leaders in 2016. In 2013 he graduated from Henley Business School, Reading University with a Masters Degree in Applied Management, having completed a Diploma in Business Management in 2009 at Reading University. He attained a Degree in Social Work at Salford University in 1999. Colin has a wide amount of knowledge and experience having worked in the sector for over 27 years. He started his career travelling the world and working in the hospitality sector, he began his social care career working at probation hostels prior to going to university at 29. He had worked as a probation officer for several years prior to working as a locality manager with Turning Point, a large national social care organisation, before joining Oasis.
Colin became a BIP100 member in January 2023, as part of the his plan to build his profile to work with corporate clients, as part of the organisations Knowledge Transfer Partnership project with Bucks New University. Follow this link for more info about BIP100. https://www.bip100.club/community-page
Treasurer – Mr Gary Clayton ACMA, CGMA
Qualified in 1977. Worked in various management accounting, Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Company Secretary, Pension Fund Trustee, and Commercial and Company Director roles over the years. Worked for several years in Papua New Guinea and Kenya, and was latterly the Managing Director of an international agro-industrial consultancy company for 6 years. Gary was elected as a Trustee of Oasis and appointed its Treasurer in 2017.
A message from Gary, “I joined Oasis in 2017 when I was elected a Trustee, appointed the Treasurer, and was registered as the Company Secretary. As Treasurer, I hold financial oversight responsibilities, but I also provide accounting services, and I have helped Oasis develop its financial reporting and strengthen its internal controls. As a Trustee, I have participated and helped Oasis move in a new strategic direction. Why did I become a Trustee? I thought it might just work if I crossed over and used my business experience in the private sector to help an organisation like Oasis achieve its social impact goals in the not-for-profit sector. In return, I hoped an organisation like Oasis would help me see beyond being an uncompromising business-like financial dictator. At present, I think we are both on track in terms of helping one another.”
Trustee Safeguarding Lead – Liz Barter
“I have worked for organisations supporting vulnerable adults and young people since leaving school, starting as a bank support worker during my BA in History at King’s College London in 2002.
In 2011 I completed an MSc in Clinical and Public Health Aspects of Addiction at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, and soon after spent a year as Programme Manager for Alcohol and Drugs at Public Health England. I have experience managing a range of community services and eventually some large contract portfolios for care and support organisations, with a particular interest in business development, regulatory compliance and quality improvement.
2017 saw a change of direction, when I joined the Care Quality Commission as a mental health hospital inspector, a fascinating role that included the regulation of substance misuse as well as mental health and learning disability services. Since 2021 I have been Head of Quality at Huntercombe Hospital, Maidenhead, a large CAMHS in-patient unit caring for young people with mental health problems. I am also a registered Social Worker, having also completed a Post Graduate Diploma with the Open University in 2021.
My voluntary roles have included two years as a Samaritan and four years as a Trustee for Oxford Homeless pathways, and I am Heart of Bucks’ Ambassador for Isolation and Disadvantage. I believe now more than ever the voluntary sector is vital to challenging social injustice and inequality, and that our clients need us alongside them more than ever.
I am really proud to be part of the Oasis team.”
Emma Darlington
Emma joined us during the pandemic – Sept 2020 – whilst she was Community Fundraising & Corporate Manager with the Bobarth Centre in Watford. Prior to this she was a Fundraiser with the Epilepsy Society. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures and history. She has been to Kenya on a few charitable trips to help support a community in Embu which is North of Kenya. When she visits the children, she helps to educate them and put on drama workshops.
Emma studied film studies and drama at school, and she describes herself as a positive and confident individual with strong persuasive skills. She has arranged annual fundraising awards, and shares stories of fundraisers in e-newsletters. She has an individual membership with the Institute of Fundraising which means she can keep up to date with the latest news and updates in the fundraising world.
Aifra Perveen
Aifra joined the board in Sept 2020 with a BSc in Computing & Internet Technology. She is an IT professional who is keen to pursue her chosen career. A good communicator, Aifra works well as a leader, or part of a team. She has volunteered at a number of different organisations including Wycombe Homeless Connection & Wycombe Museum and is also a school governor at Beechview School in High Wycombe. She is an avid reader and speaks three different languages.
Mrs Atim Henshaw
“I have an MBA from Brunel University and a first degree in Marketing and Management from Bucks New University. I have over 8 years experience working in the Charity Sector specifically in international NGOs working in various positions, and leading teams in internal and external communications, global marketing and more recently in Community Fundraising. I currently lead a regional team which works with our supporters to deliver on our organisational income across England. It is such a pleasure to join the Board of Trustees and I look forward to providing my experience and expertise around fundraising at Oasis Partnership.”
Wadell Wilson
Wadell is married with two grown-up sons. Educated at a local Secondary Modern School, followed by an HND Technical Engineering qualification, gained through an indenture apprenticeship, successfully completed with a local heavy engineering company. Wadell has done a lot of work with voluntary groups for the betterment of community and society. In the early 70s he, and five others, established a community association in order to facilitate Educational, Economical and Social needs of the local community. In 1988 he was appointed to serve as Justice of the Peace for the Central Buckinghamshire Bench, during this time he served on the Licensing committee, Family Panel and as a member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. He has recently retired and enjoys all sports, particularly hockey, which he has played for over 42 years.
Sebastian Moh
Sebastian has worked in the substance misuse field with young people and adults for over 20 years. He has worked in youth offending, resettlement, gang operations & homeless projects in London and the suburbs. He currently works as Director of Operations at MacIntyre. He enjoys sport and is also involved in community projects via his local church, specifically projects directed towards young people (16-25yrs). Sebastian has been a Trustee with Oasis for two years.
Joseph Baum
A proud Chesham resident with a background in communications, Joseph has a particular passion for supporting community groups and young people, and joined the Board in 2021. In addition to spending three years as a School Governor at a local school – working with parents and teachers to improve outcomes for pupils – in 2018 Joseph re-established the Chesham Youth Council with the purpose of giving more young people a voice in the town – an initiative which is still going strong today. As a member of both Chesham Town Council and Buckinghamshire Council, Joseph is determined to support the most disadvantaged people in the county.
