The Oyster Project is a Lewes, East Sussex
based charity
founded and run by creative people, many of whom are dealing with their own unique circumstances which contribute to their being disadvantaged & disabled.
It's all about ,working together, building self esteem and developing skills to make things happen for the better. Better for the individual and better for the community.
We have adapted to make sure we are Covid 19 safe.
Why? We believe in the skills of people with disabilities
What? we peer support and encourage people who want to be involved in the community.
How? Our various initiatives create empowerment environments where people can demonstrate positive role models and challenge negativity and prejudice.
What? we peer support and encourage people who want to be involved in the community.
How? Our various initiatives create empowerment environments where people can demonstrate positive role models and challenge negativity and prejudice.
We are based at the historic Westgate Chapel 92a High Street Lewes. (Currently on Zoom and in the woods!)
The Oyster Project was founded in 2002 by John Russell and became a registered charity in 2009 receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2014.
We support weekly groups, well being, drama, art and singing/movement and an annual family camp.
We also support the Westgate Trust who assist groups working with homeless people and those with addiction plus the work of Radio Lewes, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which was founded by Oyster members.
You can see some of our past activities on our Vimeo channel
Founded by and run by creative people who themselves have a wide spectrum of disabling conditions, they act as member volunteers. Through volunteering members learn not to think of themselves as “unwanted outsiders”
Unique our peer-to-peer process encourages members to re-assess their expectations and also to develop their aspirations. From here they learn to regard themselves as more active members of the community
New people join each week via an open community cafe that member volunteers run.
Members currently come from across Sussex and Brighton and Hove area and have a range of conditions including mental health issues; cerebral palsy, epilepsy, MS, deafness, autism, ME and other physical and learning disabilities.
90% of our Trustees have a disability, the remainder have a carers role.
We do not have non-member volunteers or carers for our day-to-day work, this is voluntarily delivered by the members themselves.
Point of contact either 5 or 6 days a week throughout the year excluding the usual holiday times
Funding has been used to pay for expert training and mentoring for members to increase their technical and organisational skills thereby facilitating the establishment of many new activities. These activities can then be managed and maintained with low levels of income, or better still bring funds in themselves.
The Oyster Project was founded in 2002 by John Russell and became a registered charity in 2009 receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2014.
We support weekly groups, well being, drama, art and singing/movement and an annual family camp.
We also support the Westgate Trust who assist groups working with homeless people and those with addiction plus the work of Radio Lewes, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which was founded by Oyster members.
You can see some of our past activities on our Vimeo channel
Founded by and run by creative people who themselves have a wide spectrum of disabling conditions, they act as member volunteers. Through volunteering members learn not to think of themselves as “unwanted outsiders”
Unique our peer-to-peer process encourages members to re-assess their expectations and also to develop their aspirations. From here they learn to regard themselves as more active members of the community
New people join each week via an open community cafe that member volunteers run.
Members currently come from across Sussex and Brighton and Hove area and have a range of conditions including mental health issues; cerebral palsy, epilepsy, MS, deafness, autism, ME and other physical and learning disabilities.
90% of our Trustees have a disability, the remainder have a carers role.
We do not have non-member volunteers or carers for our day-to-day work, this is voluntarily delivered by the members themselves.
Point of contact either 5 or 6 days a week throughout the year excluding the usual holiday times
Funding has been used to pay for expert training and mentoring for members to increase their technical and organisational skills thereby facilitating the establishment of many new activities. These activities can then be managed and maintained with low levels of income, or better still bring funds in themselves.