Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Future
The Oasis Partnership, in collaboration with Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), is proud to be part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) supported by Innovate UK.
This initiative, running since 2023, allows us to leverage academic expertise to create innovative business models that will drive our charity’s mission and enhance sustainability. With this partnership, we are positioned to secure long-term financial independence and expand our impact in the community.
Innovative Income Generation: The aim of our KTP project is to enhance Oasis’ business capabilities: Helping us access cutting-edge knowledge and skills that we don’t have in house, but do need in order to develop sustainable income generation models that reduce reliance on short-term contracts and fundraising enabling a more sustainable future.
Business Development and Collaboration: Through collaboration with BNU, we are exploring new business models that engage local businesses and the wider community. The work includes competitor analysis, pricing strategies, and creating business models aimed at raising funds.
Academic and Professional Collaboration: The KTP has enabled us to participate in joint projects, including a successful Drug and Alcohol Conference at BNU, with over 120 attendees in May 2024. This event was entirely funded by BNU and marked the beginning of a series of future collaborations aimed at tackling critical issues like addiction and neurodiversity.
Business Engagement Models: We are on track to roll out phase one of our business engagement model, utilising the national Dry January campaign as a launch platform.
This initiative offers businesses an opportunity to raise awareness of alcohol issues in the workplace and the community, through an ongoing awareness raising campaign, including podcasts and newsletters.
Our skills based model provides a great opportunity for Oasis to initiate pathways into employment for our Routes to Work clients and also fundraise to support our skills hub.
- Events: The KTP destination cafe model, has been developed, coming alive at Oasis Café in Aylesbury. For example we have been running events promoting sober living and fostering community engagement through unique events such as our monthly open mic nights – Sober Sounds. We have many more events happening.
Our Investor:
We are extremely fortunate to have the support of The Clare Foundation with this KTP project. Martin Gallagher and his team agreed to support this innovative project over a two year period after being convinced by Oasis CEO that the ROI was significant for Oasis and the communities we work in.
I had not anticipated how much difference the KTP would make to Oasis, we have developed an effective partnership enabling Oasis to take a business approach to managing Oasis ensuring a successful and sustainable future. As we move into the action phase i look forward to sharing updates showing that your decision to invest in us was the right one. Thank You Colin McGregor-Paterson
Achievements So Far:
- Agile Management Training: Our team has completed Agile Management training and is now applying these principles to strengthen our organizational processes and adapt to changing needs.
- New Partnerships: The KTP has opened doors to long-term collaborations with key university departments, providing ongoing opportunities for research, policy influence, and shared resources.
Looking Ahead:
As we celebrate our 40th Anniversary and continue to develop innovative solutions for addiction and mental health, the KTP will be instrumental in guiding our strategic direction. We are working closely with BNU on future research projects and are planning another major conference in 2025.
Our KTP associate, Veronica Hassan, has been a driving force behind these efforts, working tirelessly with our leadership team and external partners to bring these ambitious projects to life.
Get Involved:
We invite local businesses and community partners to join us in this journey. By engaging with our initiatives, you can help create a healthier, more resilient workforce and community.