Our History
Oasis has been delivering services to people experiencing domestic abuse in Kent for over 25 years. Our charity began with a handful of dedicated people opening a refuge service in 1994.
Back then, 2 women a week were being murdered as a result of abuse in the home. Sadly that statistic remains the same today. Every day our staff are confronted with the distressing results of this issue on the lives of the adults and children whom we work for.
At the front and centre of our work is a client-first, recovery-focused approach. We enable positive safe futures, with interventions for every step of the journey from crisis to trauma-recovery and lives lived free from abuse.
Today, Oasis delivers services to adults and children both in refuge and in the community across East Kent, Medway and North Kent. In 2021, we came together with sister organisation Choices Domestic Abuse Service to create an even stronger service across these areas.
We continue to build a dedicated approach to not only intervening but also preventing, these issues in the future. We would like to see an end to the issue which we work for, and every child we teach about healthy relationships may be a step closer to this aim.
We are overwhelmed by the support we receive from the community and are glad to see that word of mouth about our work often precedes us. We were honoured to be awarded Kent Charity of the Year in 2019, in recognition of our work.
That award meant a great deal to us, both as recognition of how hard our staff work to support families in the most horrific circumstances, and as a celebration of the bravery of those families, those adults and children who have had to flee their homes and seek refuge with us, and our services
Throughout our history, we have striven to end not only the consequences but also the causes of domestic abuse and with your continued support, we will do so until the abuse stops.
over 25 years of Oasis - our work is a vital now as it was then
Our Fundraising Manager Loukia Michael looks at the history of refuges for women, our important work and why this milestone wasn’t a ‘celebration’ but more a reminder that our work is as vital now as it was when we launched in 1994.
Read our blog
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse, Oasis is here to help you. Get Help Now and call our helpline 0800 917 9948.