Local charity Oasis Hub Bath has been chosen for exclusive funding for 2023 by the not-for-profit Community Matters shop on Chelsea Road.

Oasis Hub Leader Jo Dolby and Michelle Braithwaite, Manager of Community Matters | Photo © Oasis Hub Bath
The charity, which has been established for nearly five years, provided vital crisis support to families during the Covid-19 lockdown, which has since evolved into two affordable food pantries which benefit around 600 people each week.
In addition to this, its city centre building, Oasis Church Bath, is home to groups and projects run by other organisations such as Bath Mind and Focus Counselling.
Oasis Hub leader Jo Dolby said: “As a small and fairly new charity, this support from Community Matters is a real game changer for us.
“The funding we receive will not only benefit the projects we run directly at Oasis such as our food pantries and warm space project, but also all those we host and support.
“In the charity sector all of us are facing unprecedented challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis, so news like this is amazing and will help so many people just when they need it most.”
While Oasis Hub Bath is also home to an inclusive church community, Oasis Church Bath, all funding received from Community Matters will be restricted to community work projects, and will not fund church-related activity.
Community Matters opened in May 2021 and donates all its profits to a chosen local charity, which changes each year.
Last year’s beneficiaries were Boys in Mind, which received over £40,000 from the proceeds of charity shop sales.
Michelle Braithwaite, Manager at Community Matters, said: “Oasis Hub Bath was selected from a draw comprising six shortlisted charities – all of whom are working hard at what they do.
“We are looking forward to working with them in the coming months and we know how much this means to them in supporting their wide range of projects.”