More Than Care: How Oasis and CEG Are Building Futures Together
- danield613
- Nov 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 24
Independence Begins with Opportunity
A young person can live in care for a year, and still feel unknown.
Not because people stopped caring, but because trauma, systems, and screens all get in the way.
We live in a world where connection is instant, but rarely real.
Where social media replaces conversation.
Where AI can answer before a human does.
And yet, in care, presence is everything.
Because real care isn’t an algorithm, it’s the work of being there, of noticing, of believing in someone until they believe in themselves.
That’s why at Oasis Care we’ve always believed that supporting young people means more than providing accommodation. It’s about helping them build the confidence, skills, and self-belief to move forward in life. Our Partnership with CEG (Care and Education Group CIC) aims to turn digital noise into real dialogue, and stability into independence.
The Challenge: Why Care Alone Isn’t Enough
Across the UK, many young people enter supported accommodation having faced disrupted education, instability, or trauma. National data shows that over 40% of care-experienced young people aged 18–25 are not in education, employment, or training (DfE, 2024), a stark reminder that housing alone isn’t enough to prepare them for adulthood.
Many of the young people arriving at Oasis have missed years of education or lived through instability that made school feel impossible. For them, confidence must come before curriculum.
At Oasis Care, we provide the foundation: safety, stability, and trusted relationships. But independence grows when young people are given the tools to rebuild, to learn, to create, and to connect.
That’s where CEG CIC comes in.
The Collaboration: Where Care Meets Education
We wanted to bridge the gap between caring for young people and truly connecting with them, giving them real, human experiences that rebuild confidence through creativity and belonging. CEG (Care and Education Group) designs and delivers community-based learning and mentoring for young people facing barriers to education. Supported by a range of funders and local partners, CEG brings creativity, mentorship, and skill development directly into supported living settings.
Oasis provides the stability and trust that makes engagement possible, while CEG brings the educational expertise to turn that stability into progress.
Our teams work side-by-side, on-site and in community learning hubs, integrating each programme into a resident’s care and independence plan.
Together, we deliver outcomes that matter to commissioners:
Emotional wellbeing and placement stability
Education and skills development
Independence readiness through measurable life-skill progress
Outcomes are tracked through personalised support plans, giving commissioners transparent evidence of progress and impact.
Real Impact: The Win Win Mentoring Project
One of our most successful collaborations has been the Win Win Mentoring Project, a structured, short-term mentoring initiative for residents aged 16 and over.
51 young people aged 16+ have taken part in mentoring programmes co-delivered by Oasis and CEG. Each received between 2 and 3 months of targeted, trauma-informed mentoring, focused on emotional regulation, confidence, and independence skills.
What the data tells us
48% engaged in family support alongside mentoring, showing a holistic, relational approach.
61% male / 33% female / 2% other — demonstrating inclusive access.
Referrals came from schools (41%), social workers (25%), and family practitioners (14%), reflecting strong multi-agency collaboration.
Most common presenting issues
Rank | Issue | Relevance to Independence |
1 | Anger | Linked to trauma and placement instability |
2 | Anxiety | Impacts participation in education/training |
3 | Anti-social behaviour | Early prevention focus |
4 | Confidence | Key predictor of engagement and resilience |
5 | Risk of criminal involvement | Supports safeguarding and diversion |
6 | Isolation / Loneliness | Addresses belonging and peer connection |
7 | Depression | Mental-health recovery focus |
8 | Transition challenges | School and placement continuity |
9 | Risk of exploitation | Safeguarding and resilience outcomes |
10 | Autism Spectrum | Inclusive, adaptable mentoring |
By addressing these issues early, the mentoring project helps young people sustain placements, engage in education, and prepare for adulthood with confidence.
Other Community Workshops
More than 20 Oasis residents have taken part in community workshops co-delivered with CEG, each designed to build real-world skills, creativity, and confidence.
🎙️ Sound Production Project
In a world where young people are more likely to express themselves online than in person, the sound production project helped them rediscover what real collaboration feels like, learning to listen, create, and communicate face-to-face. Residents explored audio editing, podcasting, and sound design with professional mentors. They developed teamwork, focus, and communication skills, all key steps toward employability and self-expression.
🎨 Creative Skills Workshops
Animation, photography, and digital design sessions gave residents the chance to experiment, express themselves, and gain transferable skills. For many, it was their first experience of seeing their creativity valued, and a step toward re-engaging in education.
Across all projects, 82% of participants reported higher confidence in their life skills, and 78% engaged in further education, training, or structured activity within six months (measured through post-programme self-assessments).
What Makes This Partnership Different
What sets Oasis apart is our ability to connect care with opportunity. Where many supported accommodation services focus on immediate stability, our partnership with CEG CIC extends the journey, transforming emotional recovery into lasting independence.
Delivering What Commissioners Value
Commissioner KPI | How Our Partnership Delivers |
Education, Employment or Training (EET) | Creative and mentoring programmes reconnect young people to learning and structured activity. |
Independence Readiness | Every resident completes a skills plan within 2 weeks; |
Placement Stability | Engagement in purposeful activity reduces crisis incidents and unplanned move-ons. |
Confidence & Emotional Wellbeing | 82% report improved confidence and social connection within 3 months. |
Value for Money | Preventing crisis placements saves commissioners thousands per young person per quarter. |
This integrated model aligns directly with the Supported Accommodation Regulations (2023) and the Quality Standards for Preparing for Adulthood, offering both statutory compliance and cost-effective outcomes.
Resident Reflections
“Before the workshops, I didn’t think I was good at anything. Now I’m thinking about studying sound production. It’s given me something to aim for.”— Oasis Resident, Sound Production Project
“The mentoring helped me realise I can solve problems instead of giving up. It’s made me feel more independent.”— Oasis Resident, Win Win Programme
Behind every quote is measurable change, in confidence, engagement, and readiness for independence.
Looking Ahead: Building Futures Together
As technology accelerates and the world becomes noisier, one thing remains unchanged: young people still need people. Consistency. Conversation. Adults who stay long enough for trust to take root.
The partnership between Oasis Care and CEG is built on that simple truth. And as funding pressures rise and services stretch further each year, the need for approaches that combine care, education and genuine human connection has never been clearer.
In the months ahead, the work will grow, digital media programmes, employability training, wellbeing workshops, small, practical steps that help young people rebuild the parts of life trauma once interrupted. These aren’t add-ons; they’re the foundations of independence.
CEG’s community-funded model keeps these opportunities open to those who need them most. Oasis ensures they aren’t just offered, but embedded into everyday care, where they can make a measurable difference: more stability, better engagement, and young people who start to imagine a future again.
The invitation now is simple. For commissioners, partners and local authorities to help shape what comes next, a system where education-led care isn’t the exception, but the standard young people deserve.
Learn More
📞 For local authorities and commissioning teams: Book a 15-minute outcomes briefing to explore how the Oasis × CEG model supports independence and cost efficiency.
Comments