About OCA
OCA is at the heart of the community, helping people across Shropshire and the Borderlands live healthier, better-connected lives.
Everyone deserves access to the right support. That’s why our services respond directly to local priorities, including rural poverty, social isolation, education gaps, and transport challenges.
History of OCA
1989
Oswestry and District Helpmates begins as a project from the rural county council.
1990's
1992 The first Dial-a-Ride service in Shropshire is set up in Oswestry by the Oswestry Community Transport Initiative.
The Volunteer Bureau launches, providing information on volunteering opportunities in the area, and support to voluntary organisations.
1995 PaintAble is established as a pilot scheme.
Helpmates move into the Queen’s Buildings, Oswald Road.
1996 The Oswestry Community Directory (Oswestry Care Information) is set up as part of a countywide project.
2000's
2000 Shopmobility starts.
Art Cart takes painting to elderly people in care. Three volunteer artists regularly ran workshops in residential homes across Oswestry, Market Drayton and Glyn Ceiriog.
In partnership with Powys Community Transport, Helpmates obtain funding to establish Community Transport services in the Tanat and Cain valleys.
2002 We change our name from ‘Oswestry Community Action’ to ‘Qube’ to mark moving into the refurbished section of the old Queens Hotel.
Helpmates changes its name to ‘Oswestry Community Action’, as a way of reflecting a more modern image.
2008 We obtain the Volunteering England Volunteer Centre Accreditation Award.
2010's
2011 We rebrand, changing our logo and outlining our key values.
We secure funding from Big Local in an effort to support local communities.
2013 We join forces with PCAS to begin our partnership on the CHUMs project, which aims to bring care and support to the community through shopping and befriending services.
2016 Funded by the Heritage Lottery, the Men on the Gates project launches.
We are awarded the Quality Mark Standard award by the Community Transport Association (CTA).
2017 We become part of the Shropshire Social Prescribing programme, working in partnership across health, care and voluntary and community sectors as part of the NHS long term plan.
2018 Wzrds of Os, a seven-month project, funded by Arts Council England, Oswestry Cambrian Rotary Club and the National Lottery through Youth Music, launches designed to help young musicians learn the tricks of the trade and form new connections.
2019 We win a major grant from the Masons Foundation to help tackle loneliness and isolation, which help support their social groups.
2020's
2022 We team up with Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin to launch the Cancer Champions Programme.
2023 We are awarded funds by The National Lottery Community Fund, to provide additional services to our social and befriending groups.
2025 We rename from Qube to ‘Oswestry Community Action’ to make our offering in the community clearer and rebrand to reflect this.
2026 We are awarded further funds by The National Lottery Community Fund, to add more diversity to our social and befriending project.
Our new and improved website is launched!
We relocate to our new head office in Market Gate, Oswestry.
Get involved
Be part of something that truly matters and help make a lasting difference in our community. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to change lives.
Whether you choose to volunteer your time, share your skills, or make a donation, your support helps us continue providing vital services, opportunities, and hope to those who need it most.