Oblong

About

Established in 1996 Oblong is a community resource centre that provides advice, support and facilities for local people who want to make a difference through volunteering and community projects.

Story

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Oblongleeds

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oblongleeds

Our aim is to provide:

• Volunteer opportunities – for graphic design, web design and video working with local community projects to meet their needs.

• Administration & reception opportunities • Resources – meeting rooms, IT suite, art space and office space for hire.

• Healthy living activities – these include mental well-being sessions, yoga and a gardening project.

• English lessons for speakers of other languages

• Training, advice and support – to individuals and small groups of people who want to establish locally based not-for-profit community activities.

Oblong is user-led and strongly embedded in the local community. We have a flat management structure, which we believe is key in ensuring our organisation does not reflect the inequalities that can exist in wider society.

We are committed to working collectively, which means that where possible volunteers and staff operate on an equal footing when informing decisions about Oblong’s focus and strategic development. As a collective we are committed to enabling and empowering individuals to make informed choices, to take responsibility for their actions and to develop their skills and knowledge.

We believe that if individuals are given the responsibility to make decisions within the safe and dynamic environment of Oblong then they may feel empowered to do so amongst the wider community.

Mission

Oblong aims to develop the capacity and skills of people living in socially and economically disadvantaged areas in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to create active flourishing communities , and to run a community centre, primarily for the benefit of the Woodhouse , Little London and Hyde Park areas