Sara came to stay at the Oasis Refuge seven years ago, with her three young children. During this time she became very involved in the daily life at Oasis, including showcasing her incredible cookery skills, and regularly treating the other women who were attending our weekly Support Group to her delicious, healthy and traditional Asian food.
Sara has since moved to her own home, but has continued to contribute her skills and time to Oasis; she attends Support Group regularly and continues to create beautiful dishes, most especially for our Eid and Diwali celebrations. This means that the other residents (and staff!) not only get to sample these delights but are also able to learn about other world faiths and cultures, in a fun and friendly way. Sara is also a Peer Mentor with Oasis and co-facilitates service user activities such as our recent Beach Hut and Sports Day events.
Recently, a local entrepreneur approached Oasis as she was keen to make use of volunteers within her new vegan ‘pop up’ café, exchanging their time and commitment to her business for professional catering and hospitality experience. Sara won this coveted role and has been flat out all summer, cooking for locals and tourists alike. The hugely popular café has even run specialist breakfast mornings in order to display her talents. This is an incredible achievement for Sara, who has always wanted to be a chef, but just needed a little encouragement and confidence to take this huge step.
When I was sent to Oasis, I was told that I was going to ‘the end of the world’, but it has been like the Land of Opportunity instead. I am never looking back. I have told my family that I love the people and Oasis is my ‘backbone’. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to get to where I am today
Sara
Get support
Call our helpline on 0800 917 9948 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 09:30–11:30am, 12:30–2:30pm
Thursday and Friday 09:30–11:30am, except bank holidays) or email helpline@oasisdaservice.org (if it’s safe to do so)
If you or your family are in immediate danger please call the police on 999 (if you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency)
In a non-emergency situation, you can call Kent Police on 101.
*All images used on this website are representative. All names are anonymised for people’s safety.