Wandsworth Oasis Wins Top Charity Award
Triumphing in the 'Biggest Community Impact' category
Wandsworth Oasis has won the 'Biggest Community Impact' award at the recent Charity Retail Awards. On Monday 26th June the world of charity retail – volunteers, staff and suppliers – came together for the tenth annual Charity Retail Awards.
The awards are organised and hosted by the Charity Retail Association (CRA), the only body to represent charity shops throughout the UK. Actress, writer and comedian Jo Caulfied was the host of the awards and kicked of the festivities with a set which both celebrated and poked fun at the sector.
On presenting the award, Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the CRA said, “Wandsworth have not rested on their laurels since winning our Innovation award last year. They host events that support their cause but also support other local charities, including hosting art exhibitions painted by service users of the learning disability charity Generate, selling plants grown by Share Community’s service users with mental health issues, donating space to the local community radio project, assisting Syrian refugees, opening shops in empty local buildings and only employing local staff and volunteers.
“It is difficult to overstate the diversity and uniqueness of Oasis’ community programmes. They are an incredible organisation, and thoroughly deserve to be a second time winner.”
Using the CRA’s Social Value Toolkit, Wandsworth Oasis have been able to identify many quantifiable benefits of their approach to blending profitable retailing and community impact.
Offering work experience and volunteer positions to local individuals with a range of disabilities including visual impairment, deafness, and learning disabilities, their policy is to recruit volunteers into paid roles whenever possible. Since 2011 eight out of ten paid vacancies have been filled by volunteers. 100% of these individuals had been unemployed for more than two years.
Wandsworth Oasis raises money through its seven sharity shops in the borough.
July 6, 2017