Get Your Local News.co.uk

We hope you’re enjoying the crafting sessions made by our volunteer crafting team and making craft along with them!
We’ll be happy to see your creations!
Why not share your photos of the craft you’ve made, you can attach them in the comments section of the craft videos on Facebook or post them using the hashtag #AbingdonMuseumCrew on Instagram.
The Museum Crafting team has also an account on Twitter where you can tag @MuseumCrew along with your photo.
Don’t forget to mention which of the craft sessions inspired your creation.

We all have a story to tell about our town, and Abingdon Civic Society and Mostly Books want to hear yours!

To mark National Civic Day on 20 June 2020 and to bring a little diversion to life in lockdown, Abingdon Civic Society and Mostly Books are launching a micro-fiction writing competition: Abingdon-on-Thames in 100 words.

The Challenge

Please see the below from South Central Ambulance Service: 

During these challenging times, South Central Ambulance Service would like to offer our support by sharing resources your communities may find useful. We have also launched two competitions for children and young people, further details can be found below:

South Central Ambulance Service website: https://www.scas.nhs.uk/

SCAS Kids website: https://scaskids.co.uk/

Following the sad death of Councillor Jeanette Halliday, please see below a notice of casual vacancy which has been published.

The fishing season starts again on 16th June and usually this is the time to renew your fishing permits through to March 2021. However this is a reminder that in line with the government regulations and guidance regarding Covid-19 and social distancing you do not need to come to the Information Office to renew your permit; last year's permit is still valid and you should take it with you at all times when fishing.

Today (5 June) is World Environment Day and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have announced that following lockdown there has been a marked reduction in air pollution in our districts – down by nearly 60 per cent in one location. The lack of traffic and the increase in walking and cycling has helped improve the local air quality across southern Oxfordshire.

We hope you are all well and keeping safe under our current Coronavirus, COVID – 19 pandemic.
After the success of last year’s event Abingdon County Hall Museum are again launching the Bob Frampton Prize.
Due to Coronavirus we have extended the entry date and this year have had to make the competition fully digital.
Have a look at the poster for all of the details and reply to Abingdon.Museum@abingdon.gov.uk with BF prize in the subject line.

Released on 1 June 2020

Parking charges will be re-introduced in district council car parks across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse from Monday 8 June.  

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have allowed people to park for free since 26 March, to support key workers and those who need to shop for essential food or medical supplies during the Coronavirus pandemic after travel restrictions were put in place. 

Since the national lockdown on 23rd March 2020 the Monday Charter Market has been a food market only with strict social distancing in place. The regulations in relation to Covid-19 have now changed to enable open air markets to operate with their usual range of stalls but this is subject to the operation of the market being “Covid-19 safe.”  At present we are unable to accommodate all the stalls which we could previously whilst operating the market within the guidelines in relation to social distancing, but we are working to try and accommodate more traders in due course.

Maintenance work is being carried out on Wednesday 27th May between 10:00am and 2:00pm which may affect the Town Council phone lines.

If you need to contact the office during this time please use the email address enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk.

Many Thanks for your understanding.

Please see the below from Citizens Advice:

How to get support and advice

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, we are taking all actions necessary to continue to provide our services, as best we can, while protecting the safety of our users, staff and volunteers.

For now, we are unable to offer our face-to-face service, at Abingdon, Didcot, Henley, Thame, Faringdon and Wallingford Outreaches. We continue to provide our services over the phone or via email.

To speak to one of our advisers:

call: 0300 3309042, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00

Released on 19 May 2020 from South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse district council

The latest government business grants scheme will not provide anywhere near enough cash to support the vast majority of businesses in southern Oxfordshire affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s the message from the area’s two district councils. 

Please see the below from Citizens Advice: 

We can all face problems that are too stressful or complicated to sort out alone.

Last year, our 150 volunteers advised over 11,000 people. We helped three quarters resolve their debt, benefits, employment and housing problems.

We now need more advisers to help us during and after the Covid-19 crisis.

Normally, our main offices are in Abingdon, Didcot, Henley and Thame. Ninety volunteers and staff are now advising the public from home on our AdviceLine service.

Please see the below from Thames Valley Police: 

During lockdown, many of us have turned to the internet to stay in touch, which goes for children as well as adults. Sadly, some criminals are using these extraordinary circumstances as a way to exploit and target young people when they are online.

Please see the below from Abingdon Coronavirus Community Response group:

Abingdon Coronavirus Community Response was established to help the residents of Abingdon support each other through the Coronavirus  (COVID-19) pandemic and ensuing lockdown.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the museum's Blog!
The first blog post will be published on 8th May 2020, as a contribution of the museum to mark VEDay75. 
The new blog section will be updated often and available on the menu bar located on the left side of the Museum Homepage.
 

Please see the below from Oxfordshire County Council: 

NHS healthcare over the May bank holiday weekend:

During the bank holiday, Oxfordshire’s healthcare partners would like to remind our residents and patients about the minor changes, to the following services:

Please see the below from Oxfordshire County Council: 

Caring in a Crisis: day centres launch new YouTube channel

Adult Social Care currently supports over 6,000 people every day. The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable people in Oxfordshire continues to be a priority during these unprecedented times.

Social distancing rules may change the way care is delivered but social care workers are going above and beyond to support people on the front-line, while observing social distancing rules and using the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Citizens Advice needs IT volunteers

Last year, our 160 volunteers in Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale helped 11,209 people to resolve their problems.  

Effective IT is absolutely essential to our service.

We need more volunteers to help with IT support in Abingdon and Didcot (and remotely during lockdown).

What you will do

You will help staff and volunteers to sort out their IT problems.

Please see the below from Oxfordshire County Council:

Oxfordshire County Council is continuing to support Carers during the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by offering a Carers ID.

The Carer ID scheme is for paid and independent Carers who are providing care and support to youngsters and adults known to OCC Social Care.

The Carer ID is a simple letter of authority which can be presented whilst out and about, should the Carer be challenged.