Rebuilding, belonging and thriving: how are Muslim Aid’s partners in Wales helping refugee communities do just that? UK Programmes Officer Fatima Khalid reflects.
Refugee Week offers an important opportunity to celebrate the contributions, resilience and lived experiences of people seeking sanctuary. But its message extends far beyond a single week: building welcoming and inclusive communities is a year-round commitment.
With that in mind, Muslim Aid UK’s Programmes team is proud to spotlight one of our valued partners, Oasis, based in Cardiff.
For nearly two decades, Oasis has been helping refugees and asylum seekers in Wales rebuild their lives, find a sense of belonging and create brighter futures for themselves and their families. Through practical support, community programmes and opportunities for personal growth, Oasis demonstrates how compassion and solidarity can help people not only recover from displacement, but thrive.
At a time when public discourse can too often be shaped by division and hostility towards those seeking sanctuary, Oasis offers a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities come together to support one another.
Founded in 2008, the organisation has become a vital hub for refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff, offering what it describes as a 'warm Welsh welcome' to those arriving in the city.
Every day, Oasis welcomes people from across the world who have been forced to flee conflict, persecution and hardship. It provides a wide range of free services to help people navigate life in the UK and build independent, fulfilling lives. These include one-to-one casework and advocacy, English and Welsh language classes, employability support, wellbeing activities, women's groups, sports programmes and community events.
But these services provide much more than practical assistance. They help people gain confidence, build friendships and develop the skills and connections they need to participate fully in their communities. Through its holistic approach, Oasis supports people not only with their immediate needs, but in building lives for the long term.
The impact of this work is perhaps best seen through the journeys of the people Oasis supports.
Rita, from Nigeria, arrived in the UK seeking safety and found support, purpose and community through Oasis. While awaiting a decision on her asylum claim, she spent two years volunteering in the Oasis kitchen, preparing meals and supporting others who came through the centre's doors.
For Rita, Oasis became more than a place to access support. It became a community. Through volunteering, she shared and developed her skills while forming meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.
After being granted refugee status, Rita joined the Oasis team as a Kitchen Officer. She now prepares meals for refugees and asylum seekers visiting the centre each day, and has become known for both her generous portions and infectious dancing to Afrobeats while running the busy kitchen.
Rita's journey from volunteer to staff member reflects something at the heart of Oasis's work: given the opportunity, refugees and asylum seekers do not simply rebuild their own lives. They contribute their skills and experiences, strengthen their communities and support others going through similar journeys.
Food is another important part of the Oasis approach. Beyond meeting an immediate need, shared meals create opportunities for friendship, conversation and belonging. For people rebuilding their lives in an unfamiliar place, gathering around food can offer comfort, reduce isolation and create a sense of community.
Recognising the increasing pressures faced by vulnerable communities during the winter months, Muslim Aid UK's Programmes team partnered with Oasis in November 2025 to support the provision of hot meals for refugees, asylum seekers and others experiencing hardship.
Since the partnership began, Oasis has provided approximately 5,000 hot meals with Muslim Aid's support.
Behind that figure are people seeking safety, families navigating uncertainty and individuals working to rebuild their lives in a new country. A warm meal can provide more than nourishment: it can offer comfort and dignity, as well as an opportunity to sit with others and connect.
Through this partnership, Muslim Aid is proud to support a space where people are welcomed, valued and given the opportunity to build new lives.
Oasis shows what can happen when practical support is combined with a genuine commitment to inclusion and belonging. Its work helps people rebuild their lives with dignity while creating opportunities for them to contribute to and strengthen the communities around them.
As we reflect on the importance of supporting people seeking sanctuary, Rita's story is an important reminder that refugees and asylum seekers are not simply recipients of support. They are neighbours, colleagues, volunteers, leaders and changemakers.
Given the opportunity, they contribute their skills, experiences and talents in ways that strengthen communities and help others facing similar challenges.
Muslim Aid is proud to support Oasis and its mission to help people rebuild their lives, find a sense of belonging and thrive. At a time when many communities face growing division and uncertainty, partnerships like this demonstrate what compassion, solidarity and collective action can achieve.
We extend our sincere thanks to the staff, volunteers and community members who make Oasis such a special place. Together, we continue to build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone, regardless of where they come from, has the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive. - Susie Ventris-Field, CEO, Oasis
We are a faith-based British international charity that provides help to people who are victims of natural disasters or conflict or suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, injustice, deprivation or lack of skills and economic opportunities.
© Copyright 2026. Muslim Aid - Help Muslims Around the World in Need . All Rights Reserved.
Charity CIO No. 1176462
Serving humanity since 1985.
