It is a deceptively difficult sector

to work in, with an immense

amount of politics and as funding

streams become ever more

competitive, it is increasingly

territorial. But despite all this, it

is an immensely rewarding and

satisfying sector to work in. The

return on social investment

(ROSI) can be remarkably high

on some projects and this can

attract funding easier than some-

thing that might only benefit a

few. So the few descend even

lower on the scales or resourc-

ing… So we decided to make the

better funded projects subsidise

the lower echelon. OATS focus

on EMPLOYMENT and employa-

bility. A wage earner in every

home in our communities is one

of the quickest and most positive

ways of helping most social ill’s.

The other is their well being and

sense of worth. So Arts and

community social spaces are key.

Wow oh what a year…...

Well more like, just over 8 months

involvement in the volunteer and

community organisers sector.

Myself and my family started by

developing our own community

and training center. Developed

from an old 1935 Art Deco Cinema

the OATS center is now en-route

to some major renovation and

preservation thanks to the Heritage

Lottery Fund.

My youngest son’s venture into

running a business (to support

these training efforts) was to be

thrown into the Student and Com-

munities café world of catering and

customer services.

We now have a community Cen-

ter, two community cafes, a local

community Job club and several

other community social enterprises

being mentored and supported.

We have joined or collaborating

with several other community

organisations (National and Local).

Some welcoming , some suspicious

and surprisingly, some are openly

hostile….So be it…. But here we

are in our first year and still serving

our community and now through

collaborations we are operating in

Preston, Wakefield, Anglesey and

our own prestigious heritage HQ

in Nottingham.

We, almost as I type, have break-

ing news with a collaboration to

utilise the adventure and K9 train-

ing center in Anglesey to expand

our program for the difficult to

reach or disadvantaged employ-

ment seekers and excitingly and

totally unique, the expansion of K9

training skills for the Handicapped

and for all. It’s actually a huge

sector employing thousands.

Building on a world reputation

of both civil and Police dog

training, we are breaking new

ground on employment and

career structures and even writ-

ing new awards up to level 5

currently. But to degree levels

soon. This program and several

new social enterprises we are

mentoring, will see OATS job

club become hugely successful

in creating many, many new jobs

and some volunteer positions

over the next 12 months.

This is so exciting and such a

great ROSI That I decided to

project lead on it myself. OATS

is collaborating with APG

mostly ex-police and military

instructors now dedicated to

helping unemployed on this.

Jim Vernon (Snr)

The Old Rio Cinema (1935)

Now OATS Head Quarters

Lead Article by:

Jim Vernon (Snr)

Oakdale Arts & Training Spaces

Employment & Training Expands

Wow… ARTICLES

CONTENTS

OF

INTEREST

Guest Article

Funding news

Members Fun

Up coming

Training News

Job club

When good people stand by and do nothing while wickedness reigns, their communities will be consumed

It is a great night out for

Ladies GB Olympic Canoe

team hosted in our new

community Bistro

Organisations

WE WORK WITH OR

SUPPORT (ED)

P A G E 2

14 Year old Polish

immigrant girl wins

OATS intergenerational

art competition. Funded

by NCC Community

Learning Fund.

Job Club and Training News

Intergenerational Activities The intergenerational theme

is one we at OATS will be

giving some respect and time

this year.

Our first event was one we

were fortunate enough to get

the support and funding from

Nottingham City Councils

family learning unit.

For those unfamiliar this is

where we get parents and

sons and daughters to engage

in leisure and artistic events

TOGETHER…. My youngest

daughter was spending in-

creasing amounts of time on

line or on the tablet in her

room. I’m sure a lot of par-

ents can empathise with this

scenario. She was buzzing

about digital drawings and so

we thought “cool lets try get

her... teaching us”!!! The idea

was born and by co-incidence

NCC were offering assistance

for just such an event.

Despite a bit of misunder-

standing about timings and

forms compliance it was a

very, very successful event

and some great parental inter-

activity...the fathers were not

as big in numbers, but the

standard of art both digital

and free art was AMAZING.

The feedback from parent and

child was equally amaz-

ing…..They loved it. They

ALL wanted more workshops

“TOGETHER”….huge suc-

cess and very exciting result.

We hope to attract funding

for similar events and soon.

But especially over the sum-

mer school holiday periods.

A great weekend event was sup-

ported by OATS Staff and volun-

teers. From running BBQ food to

hosting singing sea shanty troupes

as seen here, to providing simple

toilet facilities for handicapped

through the community cafes

special facilities, in what is largely a

residential area but it borders

OATS Sneinton community area.

A real community buzz was felt

like the street parties of old…..In

a week we are supporting the

Garden Festival.

The most exciting I guess for

this month is the development

of our own Barista Coffee

Course. (level 2).

Students from CATCH 22 seen

here clutching certificates and

smiles.

We need more equipment and

bids are in for help with this.

but employability is one of the

most difficult to sustain with-

out local support. At that we

excel we live in this community

and we understand them ….

Digital art is

again producing

amazing work.

As seen here as

another 14 year

Old produces

stunning works.

OATS Support Lady bay Festival

We take Russian food into schools

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

This event is something we have

done before. We work the Lan-

guage Champions who were

thrilled at the pupils response to

our using food and power points

about diets in the Stalin era and

the wholesome fresh foods and

home grown produce common in

modern Russia. Sadly because of

school funding cut backs and de-

spite getting asked back. This is a

program under threat.

A shame as this was a huge suc-

cess at breaking down barriers

and incorporating Language and

diet issues multiculturally.

closer together in subtle ways that

tend to make their interactions

normal and yet rewarding….those

that know our programs will see

the link to our “community” ac-

tion and rewards card program.

APG are being mentored to de-

velop their K9 talents and re-

sources to produce dogs for

Handicapped and on-going

employment training and skills

Cre8 are a new SE that have

been teaching youngsters on bor-

derline criminality to express their

frustrations and feelings with mu-

sic and video and to help other

kids on the same slippery slope.

They will become part of the

OATS establishment and its objec-

tives this summer holidays.

Teen—Agers is our program

to bring the two generations

building via their resources.

SE mentoring This is about

bringing our specialist IAG men-

toring and Business advice to-

gether to help people create

their own sustainable employ-

ments. Especially in or for the

benefit of the third sector so

volunteer and K9 rescue roles

will also benefit.

Here the team are engaged in “Street

Listenings” this is the most direct method

we have used, to gather data on what the

community wants, or how it feels about

local issues. It is this data and other infor-

mation from surveys or statistics that help

us keep supporting projects and ideas that

the community feels it needs or would like

for their area.

This we then analyse for Funders and to

target our own resources effectively. We

carried out just over 500 interviews for

the Community café and projects to host.

Watch this space…( News & Events )

Nothing would

be more

tiresome than

eating and

drinking if God

had not made

them a

pleasure as well

as a necessity.

~Voltaire

Street listenings...your view matters

Isobel & Dad Art Together