Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre

Ffion Tisnell

Ffion Tisnell is a Christian Chaplain at Oasis and also works as the Student Worker at Preston Minster, a lively Anglican church in the city. Ffion aims to offer love and support to all students with no judgement and genuine desire to encourage and support people in their faith journey. She is available in Oasis most Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, or by appointment.

Alison Hindley

Alison Hindley is an accredited Christian Chaplain with Churches in Communities. Alison has a professional nursing background and is passionate about supporting wellbeing and emotional health. Alison aims to be a listening ear, a compassionate friend, and a spiritual support to students and staff of all faiths and none.

Imam Vasiyyullah

Our Muslim Chaplain, Imam Vasiyyullah, hold drop-in sessions for all members of the University. Vasi has successfully gained a qualification in the field of Islamic Counselling from Markfield Institute in Leicester and can confidently advise students and staff on a range of contemporary Islamic issues such as spirituality, marriage, drugs & alcohol addictions and other social and domestic issues. He can be contacted anytime between 11am and 3pm, Monday to Thursday.

Email: VBhayat@uclan.ac.uk

Anne Walmsley

Anne has  background in teaching and joined Cham Tse Ling Buddhist group at UCLan in 2001. On her retirement from teaching, she joined the team at Oasis in 2018 to be of some service to the University and to continue the tradition of having a Buddhist representative on the chaplaincy team. Anne is available at Oasis on a Thursday, when there is a meditation session at 12.00pm, and a meeting of Cham Tse Ling at 7.30pm.

Email: AWalmsley6@uclan.ac.uk

Keith Pennington

Keith Pennington is the Humanist representative on the Chaplaincy team. Keith represents people who have no religious beliefs. Humanism is about bringing non-religious people together. Here they can develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.

Humanists are people who shape their own lives in the here and now because it's the only life we have. We make sense of the world through logic, reason, and evidence. Always seek to treat those around us with warmth, understanding, and respect.

Keith offers friendly, unconditional support for all students and staff. Speak to Keith if you want to know more about Humanism, or if you’re curious about living life without religion.

Email: kpennington3@uclan.ac.uk

Rabbi Danny Bergson

Rabbi Danny Bergson is the Orthodox Rabbi at St Annes Hebrew Congregation, the closest Synagogue to the University of Central Lancashire (approx. 14 miles away).

Rabbi Danny was formally the Jewish Chaplain to Jewish students at the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford University. He has a certificate in Counselling from Salford University.

If you have a question about Judaism or require support, please contact Rabbi Danny via email rabbi@shulbythesea.co.uk.

Matty Fisher

Matty, Student Engagement Sabbatical Officer at the Union Of Jewish Students, is also available to answer any questions and offer support in relation to Jewish life on campus. Please contact Matty via email matty.f@ujs.org.uk

Joe White

Joe is a founder and director of Metanoia Project, a Catholic charity for the New Evangelisation, ministering to people of all ages, proclaiming the Good News and serving the poor in the Preston area. Joe has been working in Catholic ministry for over 25 years. With his team, he wishes to offer the opportunity for all students and staff to encounter the love of Christ and His Church through activities and events for Catholics and anyone who is interested.

Joe is available at the Oasis Centre with a listening ear on Wednesdays for students and staff to drop in and for prayer, help and advice.

Email: jwhite27@uclan.ac.uk

Geoffrey Baines

The Methodist Church began in the eighteenth century as a revival movement within the Church of England, becoming independent in 1784. Members embraced a derogatory term used by critics to note the various methods practised for worship, fellowship and care for others. Since then, it’s become the fourth largest Christian denomination and has churches and members all over the world.

It's very much a lay-led denomination, encouraging a response to God's love in Christ through worship, learning and caring, service, and good-news sharing. Methodists belong to a local church but are also part of a the Connexion, the name given to the interconnected nature of Methodist Church in Britain.

Email: gbaines3@uclan.ac.uk