About us
The Oyster Project believes in supporting and empowering people in the local community who have disabilities or experience significant life challenges.
We are an award winning charity, offering a range of activities to people with disabilities or significant life challenges, within a safe and friendly community. Oyster serves all people in need, but particularly focuses on meeting the needs of people with dementia, physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems, and unpaid carers.
Oyster is based in Lewes, but reaches out to people in the surrounding areas, empowering members to be involved in the running of the charity at every level. We aim to help members build their self esteem, develop skills, and create links to the wider community. Each year, Oyster runs in excess of 1500 group sessions, plus further one to one support, helping members to gain skills, express themselves and progress on their chosen paths.
Oyster is run by a dedicated small team of trustees, paid group leaders and member volunteers, and is constantly reaching out into the local community to make connections which will benefit the membership and advocate for inclusion.
Since the pandemic we have experienced an increasing need for our services - with many more people feeling isolate and finding life a challenge. Oyster is now providing regular online groups to connect people, as well as providing outdoor opportunities where possible
We currently provide
Support during the Pandemic
During lockdown, we moved our creative and well-being groups online to zoom in order to enable us to still reach all of our community, who needed extra support; and to keep our members safe during the pandemic. As well as online social interaction and learning, we have been providing telephone and email support.
The work we do supports those most in need in the crisis by continuing to provide community, support and self development for people with disabilities from their own homes. Since June we have started running new online groups for people with dementia and family carers.
A recent survey confirmed that many of our members are still self isolating at home and for most the groups are the main focus to their week, it lifts their spirits. For some members the Oyster Project groups have been the only social interaction outside of their home.
All members said that the groups have become more important to them during
lockdown. Therefore as we enter into autumn and winter with many people still self isolating, it is crucial that we continue to provide this service as a means of improving and maintaining mental health and well-being for all our members.
We are an award winning charity, offering a range of activities to people with disabilities or significant life challenges, within a safe and friendly community. Oyster serves all people in need, but particularly focuses on meeting the needs of people with dementia, physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems, and unpaid carers.
Oyster is based in Lewes, but reaches out to people in the surrounding areas, empowering members to be involved in the running of the charity at every level. We aim to help members build their self esteem, develop skills, and create links to the wider community. Each year, Oyster runs in excess of 1500 group sessions, plus further one to one support, helping members to gain skills, express themselves and progress on their chosen paths.
Oyster is run by a dedicated small team of trustees, paid group leaders and member volunteers, and is constantly reaching out into the local community to make connections which will benefit the membership and advocate for inclusion.
Since the pandemic we have experienced an increasing need for our services - with many more people feeling isolate and finding life a challenge. Oyster is now providing regular online groups to connect people, as well as providing outdoor opportunities where possible
We currently provide
- Weekly online groups: Singing/Gentle movement, well-being, drama, art.
- Two separate groups for people with dementia and carers: Singing/gentle movement and well-being.
- Outdoor woodland creative well-being group (Railway land, Lewes).
- Personal art therapy sessions
- Personal creative career development for members
- Community meet ups & events
- An online community art gallery
- Radio Lewes (live online radio shows by DJs with and without disabilities created and run by Oyster Project members)
Support during the Pandemic
During lockdown, we moved our creative and well-being groups online to zoom in order to enable us to still reach all of our community, who needed extra support; and to keep our members safe during the pandemic. As well as online social interaction and learning, we have been providing telephone and email support.
The work we do supports those most in need in the crisis by continuing to provide community, support and self development for people with disabilities from their own homes. Since June we have started running new online groups for people with dementia and family carers.
A recent survey confirmed that many of our members are still self isolating at home and for most the groups are the main focus to their week, it lifts their spirits. For some members the Oyster Project groups have been the only social interaction outside of their home.
All members said that the groups have become more important to them during
lockdown. Therefore as we enter into autumn and winter with many people still self isolating, it is crucial that we continue to provide this service as a means of improving and maintaining mental health and well-being for all our members.
