46 businesses have won ‘Shared Value’ charity awards in recognition of their support for Oasis Community Housing and its work with more than 1,300 people facing homelessness this past year.

The charity’s Patron, the BBC’s Reverend Canon Kate Bottley, presented the awards at the charity’s flagship fundraising event, its Black & Gold Ball, at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on Friday (17 May).

Almost 300 people attended the event, taking part in fundraising activities such as Hook a Duck sponsored by Helm and Norseal, 99 Red Balloons and a live auction. Over £44,000 was raised for the charity’s life-changing work with men, women and families facing homelessness.

PICTURES: See all of the pictures taken at the Black & Gold Ball 2024 >>>

“The Black & Gold Ball, offers us the chance to celebrate the companies who support us throughout the year,” explains Hazel Ditchburn, Corporate Relationships Manager at Oasis Community Housing.

“There are so many challenges in society, so much darkness, that neither Oasis Community Housing, nor the charity sector as a whole, can bring all of the change needed on our own. By working together with businesses, with everyone who will join us, we can build stronger communities and work towards ending homelessness. This is what the Black & Gold Ball is all about.

“Our corporate partnerships play a vital role in our work to bring hope not homelessness.”

Charity Awards Winners

On the night, Shared Value Awards were presented to Oasis Community Housing’s corporate partners who support the homelessness charity through donations, their own fundraisers, volunteering and so much more.

Receiving the highest accolades were Leeds Building Society and Lovell Partnerships North East, both winning Diamond Shared Value charity awards.

Our partnership with Leeds Building Society has enabled a short-term project for families fleeing the war in Ukraine, while Lovell Partnerships North East has raised over £15,000 of vital funds from a golf day, staff taking part in the Great North Run and The Oasis Cup, and were a key supporter for our 2023 Giving a Home Christmas appeal.

After receiving the award, Phil Jones, Head of Land & Partnerships at Lovell, said: “Having a roof over your head or a stable home to call your own is sadly not a luxury many people living across the UK have – especially during the current ongoing cost-of-living crisis. However, we believe everyone deserves to have a space where they can feel safe, which is why we couldn’t think of a better cause to partner with than Oasis Community Housing.”

Other businesses awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver and Business Shared Value Awards this year, include: Consultiv utilities, deVere Group, ForeverCare, Meldrum Group, Amazon MME2, FibroFind, Komatsu UK, OutsideIn, Reed in Partnership, Armadillo Self Storage, Bowmer + Kirkland, Carney Consultancy, Equans, Gentoo, Handelsbanken, HSBC, Karbon Homes, Kier Construction, Media Borne, Michelle Simpson HR Recruitment, Modo Bloc, Nexus, Pepperells Solicitors, Perro Design and Communications, Robson Laidler, Secure MP, Sweeney Miller Law, The Alchemist Newcastle, Toomey Legal, Tyne Tunnels (TT2), Utilita, Ward Hadaway, Wates Group, ATG Group, Constructing Excellence in the North East, Helm Consulting, Newcastle Building Society, Norseal, Stagecoach.

As well as winning their own Shared Value Awards, Muckle LLP, Naylors Gavin Black and Leonard Curtis sponsored this year’s Black & Gold Ball. Other sponsors included Northern Print Solutions, Big Purple Productions and Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.

Book your tickets for next year’s Black & Gold Ball >>>

Or to find out how your business could get involved with Oasis Community Housing’s work tackling homelessness, please visit our Workplace page or contact Hazel Ditchburn, Corporate Relationships Manager, on 07869 283728.

Gateshead-based national contractor Meldrum Group come to the rescue to replace decrepit windows of our mother and baby homeless project.

The kindness of Meldrum Group means this specialist work to replace two of the windows of our Elizabeth House project which would have cost in excess of £4,000, has been generously completed free of charge.

Urgent work

Replacing the windows required the use of expensive, specially-manufactured timber frames and custom glass due to regulations on the preservation of the building.

The two unique, circular port-hole style windows had deteriorated so much that one of the bedrooms had to be closed entirely in October 2023.

Claire, a Senior Support Worker at Elizabeth House, explained: ‘We have been unable to use one of the rooms for over 3 months now due to the damage of these windows, as they have caused such a health and safety risk.

‘Closing a room has had a significant impact on the project as we still have vulnerable women and children being referred for our support regularly.  We are all so thrilled to be able to have the room available again and we already have people ready to move in as soon as the work is completed.

‘Elizabeth House staff, are overwhelmed with the kindness and generosity of the Meldrum Group for organising and replacing the circular windows.’

As a Christian response to homelessness, we exist to reignite hope and a future for people experiencing homelessness across the areas we work including the North East, London and Peterborough. Part of the ‘Home’ programme, Elizabeth House provides supported accommodation for vulnerable young mothers and their babies in Gateshead.  

Continued support from a valued partner

Meldrum Group is a vibrant, dynamic and innovative company. Through their group of companies they are able to offer clients a fully integrated service; from planning and designing, to the civil engineering and construction of projects.

Ben Lambert, Customer Care Manger at Meldrum, explained: “When we heard about Oasis’s predicament and the loss of a much-needed room, we were only too happy to support. We couldn’t walk away from their situation, young mothers in need of space to raise their children and a heritage building that needed our specialist attention.

“There aren’t many Heritage Approved Contractors in the area that could replace the windows and we knew there were service users who need that vital space as soon as possible. Donating our time and materials free of charge has meant Oasis have been able to get the room fully functional and offer that safe space to a young mother and her children.

“Our charitable arm, Meldrum Foundation, has worked closely with Oasis for a number of years and we’re thrilled to be able to support such an amazing and worthy charity.”

Meldrum Group have been one of our key corporate partners for the past three years. Recently they have been a key supporter of the Giving a Home Christmas appeal, helping to raise in excess of £309,000 across 3 years to support people experiencing homelessness.

In addition, Meldrum staff have volunteered by gathering toiletries, food, and clothes for the people who come through our doors, and taken on a variety of physical fundraising challenges like the Great North Run and Hardmoors 55-Mile Ultra Marathon.

Local charity dedicated to supporting people facing homelessness to enter into unique partnership with North East manufacturer.

Oasis Community Housing will work closely with Komatsu UK, a company that manufactures excavators at their plant in Birtley, after they were selected to be the company’s charity partner for the next three years.

Operating across the North East, London and Peterborough, Oasis Community Housing exists to reignite hope and future for everyone facing homelessness by addressing the immediate needs of the people they support, and the root causes of homelessness. They deliver this through their crisis service, 24/7 supported housing, support for women escaping domestic abuse and financial skills support.

A Unique Partnership

Komatsu UK recently introduced a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy enabling it to work with charities on a longer-term basis, is focused on projects that make a difference in communities around the region.

Katie O’Brien, Komatsu UK HR general manager, said: ‘With the North East overtaking London as the UK’s highest region for children living in poverty and one in four people in our region living below the poverty line, Oasis Community Housing really stood out as an important charity responding proactively to help people directly impacted by these conditions.

‘Everyone deserves a roof over their heads and Oasis Community Housing is a charity that provides hope to homeless people and supports them to retrain and rebuild lives, and eventually finding long term homes.

‘Komatsu introduced a new CSR policy because we want to do more for communities. The new guidelines allow employees more time to volunteer for our chosen charity and we encourage them to do so, helping the charity with some of its projects, as well as monetary donations.’

Oasis Community Housing was selected as Komatsu’s chosen charity by the firm’s Sports and Social committee, which leads fundraising efforts throughout the year. Staff are working with the charity to support a series of events, such as the Mile in Their Shoes Lent challenge, and Komatsu will be taking a table at the Black & Gold Ball, raising vital funds to support Oasis Community Housing’s work.

Oasis Community Housing’s corporate relationships manager, Hazel Ditchburn, said she was delighted to link up with one of the region’s most recognisable manufacturers and was already working with Komatsu to organise a series of events throughout the year.

She said: “We are honoured and excited to embark on this meaningful journey with Komatsu as their chosen charity partner for the next three years. This partnership not only reflects Komatsu’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, but also underscores the shared belief that together, we can build a foundation of support and empowerment for those facing homelessness in the North East.

“It was absolutely brilliant to meet some of the team at the Komatsu Ball and we are looking forward to working together to increase the impact we can make for our community.”

A key part of this partnership will be to raise awareness of homelessness and how Komatsu employees can deliver a positive impact on people’s lives. The charity will be holding awareness sessions with staff around homelessness and domestic abuse in the coming months, providing information cards for staff to hand to someone who they meet who might need support.

Oasis Community Housing is taking part in the Big Give to raise £70,000 in just one week to support people facing homelessness this Christmas! The aim is to raise vital funds to support the charity’s year-round work providing crisis intervention, supported housing and a range of other services to help vulnerable men, women and families.

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‘As we head into a cold winter, we’re all juggling the cost of living crisis – but for some, it will push them over the edge into homelessness. Latest figures already show that rough sleeping is on the rise and we fear things will only get worse,’ explains Hazel Ditchburn, Corporate Relationships Manager, Oasis Community Housing.

‘Our Christmas appeal provides the financial foundation for our next year’s homelessness service meaning every penny donated goes towards making a life-changing difference for the 1,300-plus people who walk through our doors each year.’

Donations to the Giving a Home appeal will be generously matched by a number of local businesses including Meldrum Group, Lovell Partnerships, Utilita, Karbon Homes, Muckle LLP, Toomey Legal, Handelsbanken and Gentoo during the campaign, meaning the money received can support twice as many people facing homelessness.

Dave Meldrum – CEO, Meldrum Group, a North-East based construction services business, said: ‘We are proud to support such a fantastic charity such as Oasis Community Housing and the work they do, giving people the help and support they need to turn their lives around.

‘It is their commitment to not only providing a solution to homelessness by offering accommodation – it is their commitment to tackling the root cause of homelessness in the first place. No-one should ever have to face a future without a home (or without hope) and thanks to Oasis and the amazing work they do, that doesn’t have to be the case.’

Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships at the North East region of leading national housebuilder Lovell Partnerships, said: ‘As a housing developer that creates communities, we understand how important it is to have a ‘home’ – and what this can mean beyond simply having a roof over your head.

‘This time of year is especially difficult for those who are struggling, and we hope our support for the Big Give campaign can help to bolster further donations made towards this fantastic cause that helps so many people in the region.’

Fiona Pallister, National Sales Manager for New Initiatives at Utilita, said: ‘While we can’t control the prices of energy, suppliers like us must throw their full support to vulnerable people during the cost of living crisis.

‘We are always striving to help families, individuals, and community organisations – particularly as the months grow colder – so it’s an honour to play a small part in this incredible initiative. Thank you to Oasis Community Housing for organising something that will make a huge difference to so many.”

How can people maximise their impact this Christmas?

Visit www.givingahome.org.uk/donate-now and make a donation from 28 November – 5 December, during this time all donations will be doubled.

That’s one donation, twice the impact for people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.

Leading developer has raised £10,863 at its inaugural annual charity golf day for North East homelessness charity, Oasis Community Housing.

The day welcomed 76 attendees, from employees to sub-contractors, who tee-ed off to raise awareness about homelessness across England and vital funds for the charity, which relies on donations to carry on the fantastic work it does across the region.

Launched nearly 40 years ago, Oasis Community Housing is a Christian charity that provides housing and support for people across the north east of England and south London. It addresses both immediate need and the root causes of homelessness through support which also includes helping to build confidence and feelings of self-worth and supporting women with young children who are experiencing domestic abuse.  

Paul Devaney, regional managing director for Lovell North East, said: “This was our first golf day, and what a fantastic day it was. It was great to see so many of our sub-contractors come and show their support for a cause which does such excellent work across the north east community. It was brilliant to see so much talent out there on the golf course too, with huge congratulations to DJR Smith who were victorious on the day.

“We chose Oasis Community Housing as our charity of the year earlier this year and our recent golf day marks just one of the many events we have in the pipeline to help support the cause. From raffles to sports challenges, there’s still so much more to come as we continue our mission to help raise as much money as we can for the cause over the coming months.”

Throughout the day lots of generous prizes were also donated from businesses across the region and placed into a raffle followed by an auction and family friendly BBQ.

David Smith, chief executive at Oasis Community Housing added “We’d like to thank everyone who attended the Lovell North East golf day and those who donated to such a special cause. Our aim is to the transform communities by creating access to housing, addressing homelessness and journeying with people as they fulfil their God-given potential.

“We had such a lovely day. The funds raised will make a massive difference to the work we do. Our partnership with Lovell is hugely valuable to us and we are so excited to see what the future holds.”

For more information about Oasis Community Housing, visit https://www.oasiscommunityhousing.org/

To find out more about Lovell Partnerships, visit: https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/

A North East charity, which reignites hope and a future for people facing homelessness, has been nominated as leading developer, Lovell Partnerships’ charity of the year.

Until the end of 2024, staff at Lovell’s North East region will be taking part in a range of fundraising activities to help support the vital work Oasis Community Housing does each day.

Launched nearly 40 years ago, Oasis Community Housing works hard to prevent homelessness and support those who are currently homeless across the North East and south of London.

Its services include the provision of housing, support with employability including help with writing CVs, and helping to build confidence and feelings of self-worth. The charity also supports women who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Phil Jones, head of land and partnerships at Lovell Partnerships’ North East region, said:

“Having a roof over your head or a stable home to call your own is sadly not a luxury many people living across the UK have – especially during the current ongoing cost-of-living crisis. However, we believe everyone deserves to have a space where they can feel safe, which is why we couldn’t think of a better cause to support this year than Oasis Community Housing.

“The work Oasis Community Housing does, providing vital support and housing to thousands each year, is truly fantastic. We’re really looking forward to doing all we can to help raise funds to help them continue the crucial work they do. Over the coming months, we have lots of great plans for fundraising activities, including a sponsored golf day and taking on the Great North RunIt’s set to be a great year of fundraising for a cause that is so very worthy.”

Over the past year, Oasis Community Housing has supported over 1,300 people, including 4,616 interventions to help people who are sleeping rough or in a housing crisis through its drop-ins, directly housing 221 individuals and families in its 24/7 supported accommodation and prevented or alleviated 370 incidents of homelessness.

David Smith, chief executive of Oasis Community Housing, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a dramatic increase both in the number of people who need our help, but also in the levels of the crisis people are in by the time they reach us.

“Each year we work intensively with around 1,300 people to help prevent homelessness, or to support those who are experiencing homelessness themselves.

“Significant partnerships, such as the one with Lovell Homes, help us to be able to support the growing numbers of people who rely on our services each day.

“We’re really grateful to the whole team at Lovell’s North East region for supporting us and choosing us as their charity of the year. We’re really looking forward to seeing what fundraising activities they get up to over the coming months.”

To find out more about Lovell Partnerships, please visit: https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/  

Approved Mortgage Solutions has announced a partnership with North East homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing by offering zero brokers fees for Oasis Community Housing supporters, with £25 from each completed mortgage also being donated to the charity that supports people facing homelessness in the region.

An extension of a friendship

Based in the North East Business & Innovation Centre in Sunderland, Approved Mortgage Solutions provide independent insurance advice including, buildings and contents, life insurance, critical illness protection and income protection, as well as mortgage advice.

It’s not the first time the independent mortgage broker has supported the homelessness charity. At Oasis Community Housing’s Oasis Cup football tournament last September they raised £766 through a just giving page in addition to their entry fee.

More recently, Approved Mortgage Solutions also arranged for the donation of 10 mobile phones to be dropped off at the charity’s Sunderland Basis homeless drop-in. The mobile phones donated are for people facing homelessness so they can keep up with appointments and be in touch with their support network.

A local business with local ties

Owner of Approved Mortgage Solutions, Paul Hampton, commented on the partnership:  “At Approved Mortgage Solutions we help people get the best mortgage so that they can secure and enjoy their dream homes. Not everybody is fortunate enough to be in the position of our clients.

“Of all the noble charities we could have supported we feel that Oasis Community Housing helps homeless people in a way most other homeless charities don’t. They don’t just provide food and a warm drink; they provide a route and support to help homeless people get back on track by doing the more practical things such as arranging and attending meetings with housing officers etc.

“Our partnership with Oasis Community Housing means a lot to us because most of our clients and all of our staff are based in the North East, and Oasis Community Housing help mostly local people just like our clients but a little less fortunate.”

The importance of partnerships

Oasis Community Housing’s Corporate Relationship Manager, Hazel Ditchburn, says the North East homelessness charity are delighted with the partnership:  “We are so chuffed to be working in partnership with Approved Mortgage Solutions. Their passionate and supportive team are going above and beyond to support the North East homeless community in the same way they go the extra mile for their clients.

“With mortgage rates starting to gradually decline there is no better time to make the most of this generous offer and benefit from their expertise.

“Our corporate partners mean so much to us, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue to do what we do without businesses like Approved Mortgage Solutions journeying with us to continue to bring hope to those facing homelessness in our region.”

In the past year, thanks to support from businesses such as Approved Mortgage Solutions, Oasis Community Housing has been able to support more than 1300 people who are facing homelessness across Gateshead, Sunderland, Southwark and most recently in Peterborough. This new partnership will help to strengthen the bond between the North East homelessness charity and the independent mortgage broker.

To benefit from the offer from Approved Mortgage Solutions contact info@approvedmortgagesolutions.co.uk or call 0191 516 6894 and quote ‘Oasis Community Housing’.

Newcastle based property developer Modo Bloc has announced a unique partnership with North East homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing to donate £2,000 towards housing and supporting people experiencing homelessness, for every new house or two flats it sells this year.

An exciting partnership

Modo Bloc has already sold two properties ‘off plan’ at its luxury, seven design-led, four-storey townhouses development, The Ropes, at St Lawrence Road, overlooking the Ouseburn Valley and River Tyne, in Newcastle.

George Jenkins, MD of Modo Bloc, explained: “We have a busy, exciting year ahead with new home developments across the city – especially in and around Ouseburn. These projects will set a new standard in residential development and drive regeneration in a key area of the city.

“As part of our wider plans to be a catalyst for regeneration we felt it was important to do something with people struggling in the communities in which we invest. It’s important to look to the people as well as living places when trying to build better communities and attractive destinations.

“Homelessness is a national blight. People end up on our streets, for a mix of reasons, and often only need a bit of kindness and a practical pull up to improve their situation. Oasis Community Housing has been doing this for years and was the perfect choice for us to work with. They’re doing some fantastic work tackling homelessness around Newcastle and beyond.”

Oasis Community Housing, established in Gateshead in the 1980s, works across the North East, the South East and London to address the immediate needs and the root causes of homelessness. It provides crisis services as well as 24/7 supported accommodation. Last year the charity supported more than 1,300 people and housed 221 individuals and families.

Invaluable support

Hazel Ditchburn, corporate relationship manager at Oasis Community Housing, said: “We’re delighted to have Modo Bloc supporting us in our efforts to ease North East homelessness. Their support is invaluable and crucial to helping fund the services we provide to local people.

“They are one of only a few property developers to support us, but the Modo Bloc partnership is the first of its kind. We would call this cause related marketing. Where we are taking a donation from the sale of a product, in this case a new home.

“This funding is important for our UK-wide team of 80 people but more importantly the hundreds of vulnerable men, women and families we are supporting every year.”

Modo Bloc recently submitted a planning application to build a 28 unit apart-hotel with two commercial units in the Ouseburn. If passed and developed out this would see a further 14 people experiencing homelessness sheltered and supported for a year.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved and help to support us click here >>>

A Charity Golf Day has raised over £6,750 to help people facing homelessness, thanks to the 72 players who joined Oasis Community Housing and event co-organisers Pepperells Solicitors at Wynyard Golf Club last week (16 June).

Sarah Gray, from dynamic and growing law firm Pepperells Solicitors, who came up with the idea of hosting a Charity Golf Day for the local homelessness charity, said: “What an amazing day for us at Pepperells and Oasis Community Housing!

“We at Pepperells, are truly proud to be working with such a fantastic, worthwhile charity – and are looking forward to collaborating on future events. My phone has never stopped today with so many messages of thanks and praise from our golfers.

“Hazel from Oasis was a dream to work with in pulling this event together and golfing expert Kevin Maddison was the icing on top of the cake in making the day run that bit smoother.

“I love some of the comments from the golfers on the course … that the day was thoroughly enjoyable but the golf was a little shady! So, I’ll finish with a quote from Tiger Woods ‘If you are caught in a storm and are afraid of lightning hold up a 1 iron. Even God can’t hit a 1 iron.’ Ha, ha!”

18 teams of golfers, from businesses across North East England, signed up for the afternoon of networking, good food and 18 holes of golf on Wynyard’s championship course – followed by an Awards presentation.

David Kempshall and his Pepperells’ team took home the Winner’s Trophy with 87 points, and Firearms Police and Tilney Investment Management came in a very close second and third, respectively.

Prizes were also presented to: Ian Hush of Tolent with his guess of 250 no-returns (249), Peter Hodgson of Hodgson Fish for getting nearest to the pin on the third hole and Jack Hayward of Stephen Hope Wealth Management for winning longest drive on the tenth – and finally a special mention to all 7 players who Beat the Pro on the seventeenth hole.

Hazel Ditchburn, Oasis Community Housing’s Corporate Relationship’s Manager, added:

“Every penny raised from the day will make a life changing difference to the people we support – those sleeping on the streets, escaping domestic abuse or mums trying to keep a roof over their children’s heads.

“Thank you to businesses and individuals for pulling together from across the North East. A special thanks to Pepperells, especially Sarah Gray and our volunteers who helped so much during the afternoon.

“We’re always keen to hear from businesses, keen to give back to our communities, so please do get in touch with any ideas or an interest in helping give hope to people facing homelessness in your area.”