Based in Splott, Oasis is a centre for asylum seekers and refugees, providing them with food, activities, English lessons, day trips and more.
Oasis reached out to Egin for help with energy efficiency, waste management, expert advice and support with funding applications.
Getting Started with Egin
In 2023, Oasis first connected with Egin after attending a Zoom seminar. Operating out of a former Methodist church in Splott, the team was looking for ways to improve their energy use and make their building more sustainable. A quick visit to the Egin website and a request for support led to a connection with facilitator Lisa Williams, who proved to be an invaluable guide. As she recalls:
“I worked with this group to help them develop an Action Plan to achieve their vision of making their building as energy efficient as possible. Oasis also wanted to look at the amount of waste they produce and reviewing their procurement practices to make sure they were being as environmentally friendly as possible. Oasis play a huge part in tackling food poverty in Cardiff and they felt it was important to be able to support their local community by providing valuable services, tasty home cooked meals and lots of different activities and workshops. Reducing their energy costs would enable them to use more of their resources on working with their community members.”
One of the first things Lisa did was to arrange an energy audit, which according to Steve, came at a critical time.
Support That Sparked Change
The audit confirmed many of the team’s assumptions, but more importantly, it gave them the evidence they needed to take action.
For context, Oasis was able to purchase the former Methodist church from the Methodist circuit in 2023, after leasing the property since 2014. The purchase was completed on 3rd July 2023 with help and support of various funders including Wesh Government and Tudor Trust, this gave Oasis the opportunity to apply for funding which they had not been able to previously due to not owning the property.
With the help of funding from The Shared Prosperity Fund and Clothworkers Foundation, they’ve now completed a major upgrade: the replacement of all the roofs, upgrade of roofing insulation where applicable to current regulations and the installation of 60 solar panels, and 2 battery banks. These improvements have slashed their energy bills by more than half.
“Our bills had shot up to around £2,400 a month due to the global cost of energy rise in 2021. Now they’re around £1,100 per month. That for us is the difference between paying high utility bills and hiring a member of staff to support our clients,” said Steve Gardiner, Facilities Manager at Oasis.
Sam Holt was assigned as a mentor to the group and shared his expertise during several fruitful discussions, suggesting that they look into helpful practices such as reducing food waste and water harvesting.
“The main thing was turning an onsite waste stream into a resource stream with a safe process, that can feed the site or produce a sustainable income by providing soil conditioner to the community,” Sam remembers. “As they are a food establishment of large scale the best option was a tumbling hot composter large enough to handle their food waste outputs and fit in their space.” This switch from manual saved them up to three times the cost.
Investing in a Building – and Its People
Now that Oasis owns the building, they are continuing to develop it.
The next step? Replacing windows to make the space even more comfortable and efficient.
“We want to improve our facilities not just for staff, but for clients, volunteers, and the wider community, “said Steve.
For many people, the building is more than a venue – it’s a safe second home. Oasis works with refugees and asylum seekers, and ensuring the space is welcoming and warm as part of the care they offer.
“The building hadn’t seen investment in decades. It wasn’t built for our current level of use. Now, we’re giving it the love and care it deserves.”
Environmental Values, Practical Impact
Improving the building isn’t just about comfort – it’s also about sustainability.
“I’ve always wanted to improve things from an environmental perspective. The Egin audit helped us begin thinking about what was possible.”
Thanks to the Egin-supported changes, the organisation now sees its premises as part of its mission: reducing carbon emissions alongside strengthening community resilience.
The Power of a Positive Space
A recent visit from a local Cardiff councillor summed it up perfectly:
“You can tell this is a community space that is loved.”
The improvements aren’t just physical – they’re emotional and symbolic. The building now reflects the values of those who use it and those who care for it.
“We want an inviting facility for everyone. This is a place people feel at home.”
The Most Significant Change?
“The solar panels and batteries, without a doubt. That change has been huge in terms of both visibility and savings.”
Looking Ahead
The Oasis team is continuing to apply for funding and improve their building.
While busy with day-to-day operations, they know Egin’s support is always there as a foundation.
“Everything Egin has given us will continue to guide our thinking. Even when we’re not actively engaging, we know we can refer back to it.”
Reflections on the Journey
As Steve sums it up, “The whole experience has been very positive. It’s given us room to think, to plan, and to act.”
While time pressures (and Covid) meant participation was sometimes limited, the face-to-face and practical support has made a lasting difference.
Visit Oasis’ website here, or follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and BlueSky.
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