CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

Oasis Cardiff offers a variety of creative activities to clients, some as regular activities and others run by external artists. As many as 61% of asylum seekers experience serious mental distress, usually due to a combination of experiences before, during and after their arrival in the UK. But, studies suggest that engaging in creative activities can can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress and decrease anxiety. For many of our asylum seeking or recently granted refugee clients, art supplies are out of reach due to their high cost, particularly when considering art forms such as photography. All of our activities are free of charge, aim to build skills and provide the opportunity to create something meaningful.

BLANCOT

Blancot is a sustainable tailoring project in collaboration with refugees and asylum seekers at Oasis Cardiff. Using vintage Welsh blankets, the team works together to create beautiful coats for sale on our online shop. Blancot has a zero-waste ethos, so all offcuts are made into lavender hearts and draught excluders, also available on our online shop. The project provides an opportunity for participants to improve their employability and language skills, gain a sense of wellbeing and achievement. You can find out when it operates on our Activities Timetable.

The project is run by Teilwr Bach and funded by The Ashley family foundation & Viridor ‘ Proiect Gwyrdd.’ If you have a vintage Welsh blanket to donate, please contact [email protected]. 

ONE WORLD CHOIR

Oasis One World Choir is an external organisation that has been working with Oasis clients since 2015. Local people and refugees and asylum seekers come together to make music and movement, both informally at their regular sessions and formally during performances in the local area. An example of this is performing with Catrin Finch at her recent fundraising event for Oasis Cardiff at The Gate.

Sessions operate at Oasis Cardiff and we offer both a mixed gender session and a session for women only. Find out more on our activities timetable.

STITCHING WORKSHOPS

In partnership with St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life, our clients are contributing to stitching a tablecloth as part of the banquet project. Different organisations around Cardiff have contributed to the tablecloth, which depicts food from different cultures. The tablecloth is soon to be finished and displayed as part of the museum's collection.

Haf Weighton is coordinating the project, and has worked with our clients in the past to create a tapestry for Cardiff and Vale Health Inclusion Service.

WOMEN'S ART AND CRAFT

Women's art and craft is one of our many women-only sessions that is coordinated by our Women's officer, Jacci. The sessions allow our female clients to explore creativity through a variety of mediums in a safe space. Sessions are volunteer led, so mediums differ from week to week depending on volunteer skill/interests. The session provides an opportunity to chat about any issues you may be facing and spend time with others. This session is open to all refugee and asylum seeking women whether you're creative or not.

Find out more on our activities timetable or contact [email protected]. Head to our volunteer page if you are interested in volunteering in this session.     

STUDENT-LED ACTIVITIES

Students from universities such as University of Wales Trinity St David and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama have run creative projects at Oasis Cardiff as part of their degrees. These range from arts and craft sessions to drama and movement and change over time, so keep an eye on our activities timetable for details.

If you're a student interested in getting creative at Oasis, please contact [email protected]