Wandsworth Oasis Trading Company Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £50,000-£60,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 8 weeks (applications close January 31, decisions by March 31)
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 per project
• Geographic Focus: London

Contact Details

• Website: www.wandsworthoasis.org.uk
• Email: info@wandsworthoasis.org.uk / finance@wandsworthoasis.org.uk
• Phone: 020 3754 7726
• Registered Charity Number: 1126061

For grant enquiries, contact info@wandsworthoasis.org.uk

Overview

Founded on June 30, 1989, during the early HIV/AIDS epidemic in Britain, Wandsworth Oasis emerged from the Salvation Army's Wandsworth chapter as an AIDS Care Centre. Over its 35-year history, the organization has evolved from providing direct care services to operating as a grant-giving charity supported by a chain of 10 charity shops across South West London. The charity has awarded more than £1 million to HIV support and prevention projects since its inception. With total annual income of approximately £1.26 million (primarily from trading activities), Wandsworth Oasis distributes grants of approximately £50,000-£60,000 annually. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of life for people affected by HIV and work towards eradicating the virus in the UK while eliminating stigma. In recent years, the charity appointed Romeo Effs, CEO of RSPE Group Plc., as its new Chair, bringing governance expertise and diversity & inclusion leadership to the organization.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: Up to £10,000 per project

• Annual grant round with fixed deadline (January 31)
• Decisions communicated by March 31
• Typically funds 12-month projects (with some flexibility)
• Applications submitted via email to info@wandsworthoasis.org.uk
• Requires application form, two years of annual reports and accounts, and Charity Commission return (if applicable)

Priority Areas

Wandsworth Oasis focuses on six key themes for HIV support, awareness, and prevention projects in London:

1. Improve Health and Wellbeing - Clinical services, nutrition support, therapeutic interventions
2. Reduce Loneliness, Stigma and Social Isolation - Community connections and peer support
3. Grow Charity Capacity and Sustainability - Organizational development for HIV sector organizations
4. Provide Crisis Support - Emergency assistance for people living with HIV
5. Create Innovative Interactions with Young People - HIV prevention and awareness targeting youth
6. Build Community Connections, Especially with BAME Groups - Addressing health inequalities and reaching diverse communities

The charity is particularly keen to support:

• Innovative ideas based around their key themes
• Groups and charities that haven't connected with them before
• Initiatives that promote partnership working
• Projects that bring like-minded groups together to reach wider and more diverse sections of the community

What They Don't Fund

• Statutory providers
• Local council initiatives
• NHS trusts
• Individual student grants
• International HIV work (projects must be London-based)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Romeo Effs - Chair

• CEO of RSPE Group Plc.
• Respected senior executive, social activist, governance expert, and diversity & inclusion specialist
• Brings wealth of experience in corporate leadership and social activism

The charity has 6 trustees total who receive no remuneration or payments from the organization.

Executive Team

Raewyn Jones - CEO

• Leads overall strategy and operations

Iain Burnett - General Manager - Retail

• Oversees the chain of 10 charity shops that fund the organization's grant-making

The charity operates with a small core team of 20 employees and is supported by 40 dedicated volunteers who are described as “the backbone of our organisation.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Complete the application form “as fully as possible”

Application Method: Fixed annual deadline

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: January 31
• Decision Notification: By March 31
• Total Timeline: Approximately 8 weeks from deadline to decision
• All applicants are notified of decisions

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity distributes approximately £50,000-£60,000 annually in grants with a maximum of £10,000 per project, suggesting they fund approximately 5-10 projects per year.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are mentioned. Unsuccessful applicants may apply in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Funder

Innovation and New Partnerships: "We are particularly keen to receive applications from those with innovative ideas based around our key themes, or groups and charities that haven't connected with us before."

Partnership Working: "We are especially keen to invite applications from groups and charities that haven't connected with us before and would like support for initiatives that promote and champion partnership working, bring like-minded groups together to strengthen ambition and, by working together, reach wider and more diverse sections of our community."

Complete Applications: “Please complete the application form as fully as possible.”

Examples of Funded Projects

• Supporting HIV positive women who have experienced domestic abuse
• Providing individual clinical psychology, empowerment workshops, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy
• Target: Supporting 100 women over 12 months

• Funded massage service
• Delivered 233 massage sessions for 59 patients (286 total sessions offered) between October 2019-November 2021

• Nutrition support for vulnerable people living with HIV
• Served 524 new referrals, 732 individuals with food deliveries, 1,200 total beneficiaries in 2021
• Provides dietary advice, grocery deliveries, and social support

• Peer mentoring service for trans and non-binary people
• Focuses on health and wellbeing, HIV prevention and care
• Supports 75-85 mentees annually addressing anxiety, relationships, and social isolation

Key Success Factors

• HIV Focus: Projects must clearly demonstrate focus on HIV support, awareness, or prevention
• London-Based: Must serve communities in London
• Innovation: New approaches and creative solutions are valued
• Partnership Approach: Collaborative projects that bring groups together are encouraged
• Community Reach: Projects serving diverse communities, particularly BAME groups
• Organizational Readiness: Two years of accounts required, suggesting they fund established organizations
• Measurable Impact: Funded projects show clear beneficiary numbers and service delivery metrics

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• First-time applicants welcomed: The funder explicitly encourages applications from organizations that haven't previously received their funding, giving new applicants equal consideration
• Innovation is valued: Creative approaches to addressing HIV support and prevention are prioritized over traditional models
• Partnership projects have advantage: Collaborative initiatives that bring multiple organizations together to reach broader communities are particularly attractive
• London geography is essential: Projects must serve London-based beneficiaries; this is non-negotiable
• Complete documentation matters: Submit full applications with all two years of accounts and reports to demonstrate organizational stability and capacity
• Align with one or more of six themes: Clearly articulate how your project addresses at least one of their priority areas (health and wellbeing, reducing isolation, capacity building, crisis support, youth engagement, or BAME community connections)
• Fixed annual deadline: Plan ahead for the January 31 deadline; late applications are not accepted. Monitor their website as programme dates may vary year to year

References

1. Wandsworth Oasis Grants Programme page - https://wandsworthoasis.org.uk/grant/
2. Wandsworth Oasis Funded Projects - https://wandsworthoasis.org.uk/funded-projects/
3. Wandsworth Oasis Our Story - https://wandsworthoasis.org.uk/our-story/
4. Wandsworth Oasis Mission, Vision & Values - https://wandsworthoasis.org.uk/mission-vision-values/
5. Wandsworth Oasis Executive Team - https://wandsworthoasis.org.uk/executive-team/
6. Charity Commission Register - Wandsworth Oasis Trading Company Limited (1126061) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1126061&subid=0
7. Charity Retail Association - “Wandsworth Oasis board announces Romeo Effs as new Chairman”