The Parasol Project

The Parasol Project is an Oxford based charity committed to disabled and disadvantaged children and young people experiencing, or at risk of, social exclusion. It was established in 1991 by a group of professionals working with disabled and vulnerable young people in response to the lack of inclusive play and leisure activities within Oxfordshire.

For children, Parasol runs an inclusive holiday play scheme in Northway, Oxford with places for 40 children per day. Fifty per cent of the children attending each day are disabled. The Play scheme offers children the opportunity to develop through free play and also runs a range of activities including: Bushcraft, arts & crafts, mud kitchen, sports, sensory play and fancy dress.

For teenagers, Parasol offers holiday provision programmes for young people in the city: activity days, residentials, a term time youth group, and a Saturday dance group. Its activities focus on inclusion, having fun, and gaining new experiences. Some of our activities include: art projects, cinema and bowling trips, canoeing & kayaking, tobogganing, laser tag in 50 acres of woodland, cooking sessions, meals out, theatre trips, scavenger hunts, dance and drama projects, film making, bushcraft and residentials.

There is a Quaker connection with the Oxford meeting through Mena Remedios who is an attender and is on the Pastoral Care Group. Her youngest son has benefited from Parasol activities for many years when he was younger.

Back to January 2023 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 525 • January 2023
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Copyright 2023, Oxford Quakers

The Good Law Project

Sue Smith

Are you honest and truthful in all you say and do? 

Advices & Queries 37 

Truth and integrity in public life are essential to the functioning of a democracy that is backed by the legal system, and they are at the heart of our Quaker testimonies.

The Good Law Project is a not-for-profit campaign organisation that uses the law to protect the interests of the public. It takes up cases that defend, define or change the law and uses litigation to engage and educate. It challenges abuses of power, exploitation, inequality, and injustice.

Funding of the Project is mainly by members of the public. Details of the organization’s finances and how to donate are on the Good Law Project website at: 

https://goodlawproject.org 

Back to November 2022 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 523 • November 2022
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Copyright 2022, Oxford Quakers

Oxford Winter Night Shelter

The Oxford Winter Night Shelter (OWNS ) is a service set up and run by representatives of Churches Together in Oxfordshire (CTIO). It aims to relieve some of the suffering experienced during the coldest months of the year by people who have no accommodation. 

Elisabeth Salisbury has told us of the increasing need for this service and of the huge amount of work involved in organising warm and safe places for people to spend their nights. 

Back to October 2022 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 522 • October 2022
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Copyright 2022, Oxford Quakers

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

Gwithian Doswell

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) supports ordinary people to live for three months as human rights monitors in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) witness life under military occupation and share the real-life stories of the Palestinians and Israelis they meet. See https://eyewitnessblogs.com

EAs provide a protective presence, deterring soldier and armed settler violence towards civilians. They share human rights reports with the UN and other agencies. They engage with and support Palestinian and Israeli peace groups. On their return, EAs share their experiences and advocate for change – an end to the Israeli military occupation and a just and peaceful resolution based on international law.

EAPPI UK & Ireland is managed by Quakers in Britain. For more information, visit the website https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/eappi

Back to July 2022 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 519 • July 2022
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Copyright 2022, Oxford Quakers

Oxford Winter Night Shelter / The Living Room

Elisabeth Salisbury

At almost the last moment the City Council has refused permission for OWNS to open again from January to March.

OWNS (the Oxford Winter Night Shelter), like the Gatehouse a project of Churches Together in Oxford, was not able to operate in 2021 because of COVID restrictions. In 2022 it was planned that, instead of using seven different Churches each working one night a week, the entire project would be at one Church — making organisation, and COVID secure precautions, easier.

Selection and training of volunteers went on even while it was not clear if the Night Shelter would be allowed to operate. Although the Night Shelter will not be open, funds are still needed for staff, running costs, and food and drink for the guests of the Living Room, which is open in the day to provide a warm welcoming space where guests can shower, wash clothes and find some peace from the discomfort of living on the streets.

Back to January 2022 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 513 • January 2022
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Quaker Children’s Collection Asylum Welcome

Virginia Allport

This year the children and families from Oxford Meeting have decided to support the charity Asylum Welcome as their special collection in December. They were inspired by watching the visit to Oxford of Little Amal, the striking three-and-a-half metre puppet who has come all the way from Turkey raising awareness of the problems faced by migrant families. She has now arrived in Glasgow.

This is part of a letter from Mark Goldring, the director of Asylum Welcome:

Dear Friend, The Afghan crisis has been at the forefront of many people’s minds over these last few months. Several hundred refugees, evacuated from Afghanistan in the emergency airlift, are now being housed in hotels around Oxfordshire whilst they await longer-term housing. Asylum Welcome is playing a key role in supporting the new arrivals and coordinating resettlement efforts.

The new arrivals, including many children and families, have lived through unimaginable stress and trauma. Asylum Welcome is working closely with the County Council to help the families settle, to have access to clothing and other needs, and mobile phones and connectivity to stay in touch with their homes and communities, both abroad and here. We have helped them to register with services and to access healthcare, and for all family members to learn English and prepare for life in the UK. We must ensure that women are not left out and that their voices are heard. We know what a difference this work is making in helping people to feel welcome.

In September, dozens of the children started school around Oxfordshire. The first day of school is exciting and nerve-wracking for any child. Imagine how it feels for the new arrivals. The children – boys and girls, of primary and secondary – returned excited and positive after their first day at school, raring to go the next day.

The rest of life is less straightforward. Life in the hotels is transitory, as the new arrivals await permanent resettlement. Right now, nowhere near enough housing has been secured. They live with uncertainty about life back home and life here, and remain unable to fully begin a new life.

–– Mark Goldring, director.

Back to December 2021 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 512 • December 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Children’s Choice: Asylum Welcome

Virginia Allport
Matthew Gee

The December collection is chosen in conjunction with our children’s meetings. This December, the collection is for Asylum Welcome, which links with themes we have been exploring in the children’s meetings relating to refugees and peace.

Asylum Welcome offers information, advice and practical support to asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants living in Oxfordshire. They help adults, young people, and families to feel safe, respected, and understood as members of our diverse community.

Some books we have been exploring in the Sunflowers children’s meeting. 

Back to December 2022 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 524 • December 2022
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org

Copyright 2022, Oxford Quakers

Fran Ryan

Many people feel powerless in the face of the extreme housing need and lack of affordable homes. One way for you to change that is to support OCLT with a monthly donation.

Oxfordshire Community Land Trust is working to create an alternative and parallel system of land ownership and housing in order to ensure permanent affordability. It has one project for 8 affordable homes in Botley. Another is planned with Oxford City Council for some garage sites in Blackbird Leys. 

Eventually OCLT will have a small income from rents. Until then, it is volunteer-run and relies on grants and donations to maintain essential costs of £500 pcm.  Having double that would enable some admin support which is much needed.

Back to July 2021 Newsletter Main Page

Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 507 • July 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

newsletter@oxfordquakers.org