Oasis Relief
Registered Charity No:1181996
'Oasis Relief ' is a small UK based charity, founded in 2005 through links between Christian communities in the UK and Zambia. The charity works closely with Pastors Paul Swala and Kwatcha in Lusaka, who co-ordinate the projects on the ground.
115 boreholes have been sunk, providing clean safe water to about 80,000 people! Each borehole costs approximately £1,600. (It varies depending on the exchange rate) Two community schools are supported, ‘Good Shepherd’ and ‘Hope In Christ’ Also two health clinics and a skills centre. The charity's trustees go out to Zambia each year, at their own expense, to supervise the digging of the boreholes and visit the schools and health clinics.
They never use donated monies for administrative costs and pay local people to work with them, encouraging community ownership of all projects.
The charity brings joy to;
* Children; who can access an education they never thought possible,
* Villages; who can access safe water for the first time,
*Those who are sick; who can access healthcare,
*Those with no skills; who can learn skills which enable them to access employment.
For more Information click here to listen to our radio interviews
From The Annexe
'From The Annexe' is a collective of musicians, who over many years, have come together to record mine and other songwriters music. Just before she passed away Maureen asked us to continue the work of raising funds for 'Oasis Relief', and in this respect 'From The Annexe' was born. It is the purpose of this project to bring to you some great music in the hope that, if you enjoy what you hear, you will purchase, download or stream it.
Many songs will be free to stream or download from the site, whilst some songs will be released online through the usual online platforms. This is purely a fundraising venture so please, if you are able, help us by donating even if it is not your wish to purchase.
For regular updates on releases and future plans why not join our mailing list, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Graham Larkin
Founder of From The Annexe
Since retiring, music and art have become my way of life. After more than 50 years of songwriting and recording I have amassed a huge collection of recordings, and since retiring have created a small number of paintings. I have recently enhanced my recording and mixing skills so that many of those old recordings, originally produced on old analogue equipment, can now have a new lease of life due to advances in music recording technology, and many of the musicians who were involved in those recordings, are now bringing some new music to life. If this can raise well needed funds for Oasis Relief then it will all have been worthwhile.
I am still writing, recording and painting.
Maureen Shepherd
In both her professional and private life, Maureen cared about other people, and would go out of her way to help them if she could. This was her nature.
She got involved with the charity 'Oasis Relief' when the founders, John and Kath Yates, went out to Zambia to dig the first borehole by hand. When they were unable to continue running the charity, Maureen took over the reins, and it was her dedication and perseverance that kept it going and expanding it to what it is today.
During the pandemic, in the small village of Hawksworth near Leeds, where she lived, she organised a food drop off point at the end of her garden and visited many of the elderly residents in the village to deliver food or do their shopping for them. The village flagpole was raised to half mast in her honour.
There are so many other stories to tell by all her friends, colleagues and patients who had the privilege of working with her and being cared for by her as a midwife. Too many to tell!
She would no doubt be embarrassed by all the attention she has garnered. She never craved it, she just got on with things.
We will do our best, but I suspect we will never live up to her standards!
We love you Maureen.
Rest in peace
xxx