The Marquis hosts numerous events and functions during the year to raise funds for more pressing causes than our own. We are also inundated with requests to assist with many worthwhile causes. Although we would love to be able to assist in every case, we have made the decision to work with one charity on an annual basis. We are pleased to announce that our chosen charity from October 2011 will be Oasis Womens Refuge.

Oasis Domestic Abuse Services
Oasis aims to enable families to live a life free from violence and abuse within their homes and within a refuge where they have had no choice but to flee. Our services are designed to support this need, which is all too prevalent in the Kent region. Sadly, the need for domestic violence services does not decrease year on year. Reported incidents of abuse increase, whether that is through an increase in confidence to report it, or through a genuine increase in abusive behaviour (or a combination of both) is not known.

Oasis supports clients through the provision of a safe house (refuge) for women who have no option but to flee their homes, and resettlement into the local community after a period of support and readjustment within the refuge.

Oasis also provides a community team of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers for the people who are experiencing domestic abuse. These workers are dedicated to supporting those experiencing domestic abuse to remain in their own homes, by giving support with financial, emotional and legal issues. This work means that more prosecutions are successfully concluded, fewer women and children become homeless and vulnerable people are supported to become active members of their communities - by returning to work, becoming better parents and dealing with their own vulnerability more effectively.

70% of the refuge residents are children � often the 'hidden' victims of domestic abuse. Specialist services are provided for children who have witnessed or been more directly involved in domestic violence. We are committed to working closely with other agencies for the purposes of early intervention to break the cycle of abuse.