Oasis Cardiff: Championing Entrepreneurial Spirit for Refugees in Wales

“I wanted people to have a safe space where they could come and tell stories and where they could integrate into the wider community’ – Reynette Roberts

Oasis Cardiff aims to facilitate the integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the local Welsh community. Founded in 2008 by Reynette Roberts, a dedicated individual with a background in health education and promotion from Bangor University and over two decades as a school nurse, the centre has grown from its modest inception. Reynette, who began working with refugees at the age of 18, has developed Oasis Cardiff into one of the UK’s most significant refugee centers.

Starting with just Reynette and two Iranian asylum seeker women, the centre initially provided tea and coffee services three days a week. From welcoming 30 visitors a day, it now hosts up to 150, expanding its offerings to include meals, integration training, and advice. The centre organises a variety of courses, including art classes, English language training, and sports activities, tailored for both men and women. In addition to educational activities, Oasis Cardiff arranges cultural and sports trips throughout Wales and holds regular local community events like the weekly Supper Club, which features menus from different parts of the world, helping to bridge cultural divides and foster a sense of belonging among the local and refugee communities.

Since 2017, Fareshare Cymru has been providing Oasis with surplus food, enabling them to save money and employ more people. As the food is mainly western, the Oasis chefs show their clients how they can use it to make healthy and nutritious meals, on a budget that are similar to those from their home culture. Not only does this enable their clients to settle down better, but it also has a positive impact on their physical and mental health. 

In April 2022, Oasis Cardiff opened a refugee mobile kitchen in their car park, selling authentic street food from around the globe. Previously, they had used their blue food truck to service food and music festivals across the UK, helping to raise awareness of the importance of refugees.  In the off-season, however, the truck had been parked up, lying idle. According to the Oasis catering manager, Matt Davenport, they then got the idea that they could “bring the community into Oasis to help with the wider goals of integration by opening up our food trailer to serve lunch for the local community”. The truck has been a great success, drawing customers from all over the city. It is part of a £539,946 lottery funded “Plate Project”, the aim of which was to give the refugee and asylum seeker participants the opportunity to gain experience, skills, qualifications, and ultimately employment in hospitality and catering.

Catering at Oasis is not only about empowering refugees and asylum-seekers to tell their stories through a shared love of food, it is also about refugee employment.

In recognition of her work with refugees and the wider community, Reynette was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2020. By that time, Oasis had a staff of 30 plus a turnover of over £1 million. She had founded and grown the venture and had formed partnerships with housing associations and organisations such as the National Museum of Wales and the Welsh National Opera. After 15+ years in the post, she stepped down as CEO in 2023 in order to seek a new challenge. During her time as CEO, she claims that she learned a great deal from the refugees she had helped, not least that “peace is the only way”.  As she says, “in a world where nobody should be a refugee and women should have dignity and hope, I think of those who have had such an impact on my life”.

Oasis Cardiff is a Welsh enterprise that significantly contributes to sustainable development, especially through its core focus on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), by providing a safe and inclusive space for refugees and asylum seekers, thus fostering community integration and social justice. It directly supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by enhancing mental and physical health with nutritious meals and activities, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through language and educational programs, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by offering employment opportunities in hospitality. The initiative also aids SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring equitable support, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting community belonging, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) via efficient food use, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaborations with local entities. Indirectly, Oasis Cardiff addresses SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through its various programs and partnerships.

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