Steve Chalke MBE

In 1985 Steve Chalke set up the Oasis Trust in order to open a hostel for homeless young people. Oasis now works to deliver housing, education, training, youth work and health care around the world. It is a significant voluntary sector provider delivering services for local authorities, UK and foreign governments as well as self funded initiatives aimed at providing hope and opportunity to people across the globe. www.oasisuk.org

In 1997 Steve launched Parentalk, an organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping parents. It now works across the UK and produces a range of resources aimed at helping parents make the most of every stage of their child's growing up.  www.parentalk.co.uk

In 2001 Steve laid the foundations for the Faithworks Movement. Faithworks exists to empower, inspire and resource local churches to develop their role at the hub of the community. It also seeks to challenge and change the public perception of the church by engaging with both media and government. The Faithworks Movement goal is to build the most effective social action network in the UK.  www.faithworks.info

In 2003 Steve became the minister of Christ Church & Upton Chapel, now known as Church.co.uk, Waterloo, in central London.  The church, which is now a thriving community, is part of Oasis and aims to become 24/7 - always open, never shut, where no one is ever turned away, whatever the time of night or day. It is also the hub for the beginnings of a fledgling network of similar churches we are working to establish around the UK.  www.church.co.uk

In 2004 Steve was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List for his services to social inclusion, and  also developed the Oasis Community Learning Trust, which was set up to deliver secondary education through the Government’s Academies programme.  Oasis Community Learning is now sponsoring five schools located in Enfield, Immingham, Grimsby, Bristol and Salford and is currently working to develop five more. Oasis Academies exist to provide a rich and balanced educational environment which caters for the whole person. Their task is to serve its students as well as to provide a learning hub for an entire community. Their goal is to raise aspirations, unlock potential and work to achieve educational excellence through encouraging a ‘can do’ culture which nurtures confident and competent people. www.oasiscommunitylearning.org

In 2005 Steve became the official holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest amount of sponsorship money ever raised by an individual through a single sporting event by raising £1.25 million as a runner in the London Marathon. In 2006 Sir Steve Redgrave claimed the record by raising £1.78 million. However, earlier this year (2007), Steve Chalke recaptured his title by raising over £1.855 million and became the fastest money generating sports person in history.

In 2006 Steve became Chair of the Stop The Traffik campaign. People trafficking – the buying and selling of people - is the world’s fastest growing illegal trade. Stop The Traffik is a global coalition, now numbering more than 700 organisations in over 60 countries, working to raise awareness of people trafficking and promote practical action through a global declaration to be presented to the United Nations at the end of 2007. www.stopthetraffik.org

Steve has presented his own television series' for ITV and BBC as well as a regular show on Radio 4. He writes monthly columns for Prima Baby on fatherhood and Christianity magazine on Church leadership. He is also the author of over 40 books. His latest book ‘Change Agents – 25 hard learnt lessons in the art of getting things done’ is published by Zondervan this autumn.

Steve was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1981, having studied at Spurgeon's Theological College in London, and was a local minister for four years before setting up the Oasis Trust. He is 51 years old and is married to Cornelia. They have four grown up children: Emily, Daniel, Abigail and Joshua.