Oasis Reaches Out in Tough Urban Areas

Oasis UK is calling all dancers, skaters and musicians to live out their faith with action and use their talents to make a change in some of the toughest urban areas in England as part of a new outreach programme.

Oasis is a Christian charity which works to confront injustice and promote inclusion. It is now expanding to some of the UK's toughest urban areas and calling on young people between the ages of 18 and 25 to take a gap year with a difference and join their new Hub Teams.

All the teams will be based at Oasis sites around England where they will work alongside Oasis staff and the local communities to live out their faith in action by serving the local communities.

Those who take up the challenge could find themselves helping to run a skatepark or join the team Oasis' new state-of-the-art multi-media centre in Clitheroe in Lancashire. Places are also on offer at Church.co.uk in Waterloo where Hub Teams will develop church in the heart of inner-city London and work with young people who have fallen victim to gang culture.

The urban outreach in Enfield, North London, meanwhile, involves mentoring children at risk of exclusion from school while participants in Grimsby are needed to help run a youth club.

Jill Rowe, Church & Community Development Director for Oasis, said that those joining Oasis could expect to be totally changed by the experience:

"This is no easy ride. It is raw-end, challenging stuff, and we are looking for people who are really up for it. Guts, courage, self discovery, outrageous loving, extravagant grace, broken people, challenging places, and belief in a God who is in the process of restoring the whole of creation to Himself - that is what Frontline UK is all about," she said.

"And we want young people aged 18-25 to join us as together we seek to bring hope and transformation to communities around the UK as part of the new Oasis Community Hubs."

Steve Mwara, 19 has been on the Frontline team at Church.co.uk Waterloo since September and highly recommends the experience to anyone:

"Before I came on Frontline I was comfortable with my faith, but Frontline has challenged me to wrestle with what I believe in, in order to grow. I am realising I am not supposed to keep God to myself - I feel more passionate about serving God and living out my faith."

All participants will receive ongoing training and mentoring, and are overseen by a dedicated Oasis staff member. Participation costs £2000, but participants are supported in their fundraising efforts.

There are opportunities at the following Oasis locations:

Clitheroe, Lancashire: Based at the Grand, a multi-million pound multi-media venue with some of the best recording and performance facilities available in the UK, as well as dance studios and other creative arts opportunities. Oasis is also running a skatepark in Clitheroe, officially one of the top three skateparks in the UK. We are looking for skaters, dancers, musicians and those interested in other forms of youth work.

Salford, Greater Manchester: Based on the Ordsall estate, an area of high crime and deprivation. We need people who are passionate about youth and community work, and engaging with young people to see lives changed. The Frontline Team will be instrumental in the development of the second Church.co.uk Network Church there.

Grimsby, NE Lincolnshire: September 2007 brings the opening of an Oasis Academy in Grimsby. The hub team will be based in the vicinity around the school, in an area called Nunsthorpe. Working alongside other Oasis staff, the team will live in the community and be responsible for community and youthwork, in liaison with the police, social services and housing agencies.

Waterloo, London: Based at Church.co.uk Waterloo, Frontliners in this location are involved in a broad range of community initiatives including working with young people engaged in gang culture, ex-offenders, advocacy work, children's work, mentoring, schools work, and the life of the local church. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to develop in the areas of church work and understanding the role of church within local communities. Participants are pushed hard to develop their leadership capabilities.

Enfield: September 2007 brings the opening of Oasis Academy Enfield. For the last year Oasis has already been delivering a broad range of youthwork in the area. Being here is about being fully engaged with the lives of local people. At the same time, discover what it means to be part of a new Christian community developing in the area, and participate in the activity of the new Oasis Academy.


For more information go to www.oasisuk.org