No. 3 Norham Gardens, Oxford AN INFORMATION PACK FOR RESIDENTS
Welcome to Kopanong | Atlantic Fellows Residence, a home away from home while you are in Oxford. We are delighted you are staying with us. We have prepared this booklet to help you to make the most of the house. Most of the information you might need at Kopanong should be in this guide, but please let us know in your feedback at the end of your visit if there is anything else you think we should include.
This house has been created for you and by you. Thank you to the Fellows and program staff, the Rhodes Trust team, and Chris Oechsli and Chuck Feeney for making it all happen.
We want you to leave Kopanong feeling connected and inspired by the special times you have had with the other residents here. A lot of love has gone into making it a home and all we ask is that you treat it as you would your own home. Many of the artworks and the instruments have been donated, so please enjoy them and also look after them well.
Have a great time and we hope you leave with a renewed sense of how this community is working together for a better, more equitable world for this generation and generations to come.
The Atlantic Institute team
“It truly felt like the house embraced us and immediately made us feel at home. I particularly loved the kitchen. It became like the heart and soul of our gathering and was the perfect spot to engage and connect. I also really appreciated the names of each of the rooms and the artwork throughout Kopanong. Through each carefully selected name and curated piece of art from all over the world, we could see each of our programs represented, symbolizing the global tapestry of the Atlantic Fellows’ journeys. The house is truly a gift.”
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Your Arrival
The Keybox: Checking In and Out
As a general rule, you can check in from 3p.m. on the day of arrival and must check out by 10a.m. on the day of departure. Please email us at: norham.gardens@atlanticfellows.org if you would like to arrange an earlier check-in or later check-out.
Ahead of your arrival, we will send you the pin code for the lockbox containing your front door key to Kopanong. To find the lockbox, go down a short flight of steps on the left side of the house and you will see a large box outside the door to the basement. Use the pin code to open the lockbox and then hold onto the key for the duration of your stay. Remember to return the key to the lockbox when you leave the house before going home. During your stay, please ensure that you lock the front door every time you leave.
In time, an electronic swipe system connected to the Rhodes House Porters’ Office, with an intercom and CCTV, will be installed. This will mean that the porters will be able to let you into the house remotely. Your swipe key will be in the basket in the kitchen.
Parking
There is off-road free parking for two vehicles at the house, but you will need to book these spaces ahead of time by emailing: norham. gardens@atlanticfellows.org. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that a space will always be available.
Alternatively, there is on-street parking where parking charges apply. Please be aware that the local traffic wardens regularly patrol the area and any parking fines incurred are likely to be expensive and will be at your own cost.
WiFi
You can use the data points throughout the house for connecting your laptop or other technology.
The WiFi name: Three-NG
The WiFi name: Three-NG
Password: What do I type here?
Password: What do I type here?
Please note that the password contains spaces and is case-specific.
Please note that the password contains spaces and is case-specific.
Most of the power plugs in the house have charging points for USB-C and USB-A devices.
Contact Information
Oxford is generally a safe city, so for the most part you should feel relaxed here. However, you should be careful about which areas you go into and watch your belongings. If you have any concerns, contact the Atlantic Institute team, who will try to assist you in the best way possible.
In Emergency Situations
The direct number for emergency services in the UK is 999.
Thames Valley Police Station St. Aldates, Oxford OX1 1SZ
Tel: +44 1865 841148
John Radcliffe Hospital Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU
Tel: +44 300 304 7777
You can contact the National Health Service on 111 for guidance about what to do next if the emergency isn’t life-threatening but nonetheless urgent. Alternatively, you can go to the accident and emergency department of a local hospital, the nearest in Oxford being the John Radcliffe Hospital (details above).
For Issues Relating to the Property
For issues requiring urgent attention (e.g. a plumbing leak), please ring the Rhodes House Porters' Lodge: +44 (0)1865 276884
For non-urgent issues, such as breakages, please email: norham.gardens@atlanticfellows.org
For any other urgent queries, please contact Katherine Bond, Atlantic Institute, at: katherine.bond@atlanticfellows.org (mobile) +44 (0) 7825 110404
Guidance on Your Use of the House
Communal Living
The Institute is committed to providing inclusive environments free from bullying and harassment, in accordance with our aims, ethos and principles. In line with our values of care, radical inclusion, solidarity and openness, we seek to ensure that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Whilst staying at Kopanong, you are living as part of a community so your behavior here will affect other residents at the house. As you have the right to be treated respectfully, so we ask you to treat others with consideration and respect. Everyone staying at Kopanong is jointly responsible for the care of the house. Please report any damage promptly. Please lock doors and shut windows if you are going out, and never pass on the pin code to anyone who is not staying in Kopanong.
Fire Safety
Please take care when using candles in the house and ensure they are never left unattended. Note that smoking and the use of e-cigarettes are not permitted anywhere within Kopanong.
The house is fully alarmed in case of a fire and has smoke detectors. There are fire escape stairs on levels 2 and 3 and fire safety equipment is provided at Kopanong. If people staying in the basement are wheelchair users, please ensure they manage to get upstairs in the event of a fire.
Guests
Aside from dependent children and approved caregivers, other guests and/or relatives of residents at Kopanong are not permitted to stay at the house unless this has been authorized by the Institute beforehand. Please do not allow anyone access to Kopanong or hand over keys to the property without prior authorization.
Noise
Kopanong is located in a residential area, so please be mindful of noise levels at all times as we want to be good neighbors. Keep noise to a minimum, particularly between 10p.m. - 7a.m.
Artwork and Furniture
Kopanong has been filled with one-off, special pieces of furniture, soft furnishings, books, instruments and artwork from around the world. Some of the artwork was purchased on the recommendation of Atlantic Fellows or was generously donated to the house. Please take special care when handling these items. Under no circumstances should any item be removed from the property.
In addition, please do not decorate any of the rooms in the house or make any alterations to them.
The global community of Atlantic Fellows and staff is a purposeful, values-driven endeavor, which is about making an impact for the benefit of others. It is also a gift exchange, with benefits as well as obligations. As part of these obligations, we ask that members of this community (all of us) give expression to our values. Be kind and gracious in the receipt of resources. It is a community of love, but the Atlantic Institute staff are not your personal travel agents or assistants!
Cleaning
Please play your part in keeping the house clean. Whilst the Institute provides housekeeping services, you should treat Kopanong like your home – it is not a hotel.
In particular, please carry out the following:
● Keep all communal and shared areas clean.
● Separate all waste and dispose of it in the appropriate bins.
● Every day, wash all utensils, plates, bowls, pans etc. used for meals and return them to the same place where you found them.
● Make sure you wipe down all surfaces and keep them clear.
Cleaning products can be found under the sink in the kitchen and in the laundry room in the basement of the house.
For safety reasons, you should not keep or use cooking appliances (e.g., kettles, microwaves, portable hobs, toasters, fridges or freezers) in your bedroom. The kitchen space has been thoughtfully kitted out with all the appliances you should need. If you have any further requests, please email us at: norham.gardens@ atlanticfellows.org.
We encourage you as residents here to cook together. In the pantry, you will find we have supplied breakfast items, dried goods, oils, spices, coffee and tea. Please feel free to help yourself! However, if you notice that stocks are running low, we would appreciate you buying additional items to give as a gift back to the house.
Recycling and Food Waste
As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, there is a Lomi home food composter in the kitchen. When loaded with food waste, the composter uses heat and abrasion to reduce waste down into highquality, usable compost in just a few hours. Please ensure that food waste is tipped into the composter from the food waste bin, and follow the instructions provided to turn it into compost.
There are two bins in the house: the blue bin is for recycling and the green bin is for landfill. Weekly bin collections alternate between green and blue, but are always on a Friday. Please ensure you dispose of your waste using the bins provided.
The Institute is committed to monitoring the environmental impact of Kopanong, and to reducing its carbon footprint as much as possible. To this end, wherever possible, we use environmentally friendly products. For example, the carpet is made from recycled plastic bottles, there is a food composter in the kitchen and we use eco-friendly toiletries. However, we have had to balance this commitment with honoring the heritage and the features of this Victorian house.
The age of the house undoubtedly impacts its environmental efficiency. For example, it is a listed heritage building with protected glass and has an old plumbing system! We will continue to monitor the environmental impact of the house as we welcome more people as residents staying here.
Housekeeping Service and Laundry
Housekeeping services include the cleaning of communal areas once a week. Anyone staying longer than three nights at Kopanong will receive a fresh set of bed linens and towels on the fourth day.
If you want to wash or iron anything while you are at Kopanong, there is a washing machine, dryer and a drying rack in the laundry room in the basement. There are also two irons and an ironing board stored in a large cupboard on the first floor (the second cupboard on the left just after you have come up the stairs).
Heating and Hot Water
You can adjust the heating to a comfortable level by turning the thermostatic valve on the radiators in each room. If you find a radiator is switched on in the summer, please turn it off. Hot water should be available throughout the day for showers and washing.
Appliances
Full instructions on how to use appliances (oven, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, composter, etc.) can be found in the top drawer under the cooking hob in the kitchen.
Hair Dryers and hair straighteners
There is a hairdryer in the cupboard of every room. There are also two sets of hair straighteners in the second cupboard on the left on the first floor. Please ensure you unplug hair straighteners immediately after you have used them and never leave them unattended. Remember also to put them back in the cupboard where you found them.
Personal Safe Boxes
The Institute is not responsible for the theft or loss of any personal property. Please use the personal safe boxes installed in the cupboard in each of the bedrooms to store any valuable items. You can follow the instructions on the safe. Please note that in line with the planning permissions for the house, bedrooms are not lockable from the outside.
Emergency Supplies
If you run out of bathroom tissue, we have got you covered! There is an emergency supply in the laundry room in the basement. Lightbulbs, spare batteries, a toolbox and a torch are kept on the left-hand side of the pantry in the kitchen.
Equipment for Babies and Children
For little ones staying here, we have travel-sized cots and bedding in the second cupboard on the left on the first floor after the stairs. We hope you will sleep like a baby at Kopanong! There is also a child’s car seat (donated by one of the first Fellows to stay at the house). Please respect the equipment by handling it carefully and give it back to us before you head home!
The Gardens
There is currently no access to the back garden as landscaping and new planting are currently underway.
Phase two of the renovations will include a complete rebuild of the heritage-listed conservatory, as well as a new accessible basement suite that will include a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Please avoid going anywhere near the conservatory in the meantime.
You will see that we are growing herbs and vegetables in the front garden of Kopanong. Please feel free to help yourself to anything that might prove useful for mealtimes and cooking. We would appreciate it hugely if any of you could help weed the front garden if you have a spare half an hour. Please water the plants too! There is a waterhose and watering can at the front of the house.
Although our back garden cannot be accessed currently, you can visit the beautiful green spaces in Oxford, in particular, the University Parks which has an entrance gate at the top of Norham Gardens. The park is open daily at 7.45 a.m. and is a great place to go for a walk or a run!
A Map of the House
GROUND FLOOR
ACCESSIBLE
FIRST FLOOR
BEDROOM LEKGOTLA
BEDROOM DANKWAMULLAN
BEDROOM AMANSSI
STORE STORE
GUESTS ARE INVITED TO USE ITEMS STORED IN THIS CUPBOARD.
SECOND FLOOR
BATHROOM BEDROOM BEDROOM SyNAPse
BEDROOM SAMATA STORE HALLWAY
LOBBY STAIRS
LOBBY
BATHROOM
Transport Links
Bicycles, e-bikes and scooters
For getting around, there are bicycles, e-bikes and scooters for hire around Oxford. For a larger number of bicycles, you can rent from Bainton Bikes at 78 Walton St., Oxford OX2 6EA.
Taxis
Two of the main companies are: 001 Taxis: +44 1865 240000
Royal Cars: +44 1865 777333
Please note: services such as Uber and Bolt are not available in Oxford. In order to use your mobile phone to find a taxi, please download the Royal Cars app or the Free Now app. There may be a long wait during busy times, such as lunch and evening meal times (particularly at the weekend).
Buses
The central bus and coach station in Oxford is called Gloucester Green. It is a 25-minute walk south of Kopanong. For more information, go to www.oxfordbus.co.uk/gg-travel-shop.
Getting to London
You may want to travel to London by train. You can book a train ticket online at www.gwr. com. It takes roughly an hour to get to London from Oxford and the Oxford train station will is 30-minute walk from Kopanong.
A Guide to Oxford Some of our favorite places
SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS
Westgate Mall, Queen St., Oxford OX1 1TR
Westgate is home to global brands, eclectic restaurants and cafes, leisure, and sophisticated rooftop bars and dining.
MARKETS
The Covered Market Market St., Oxford OX1 3DZ
The Covered Market is a historic market with permanent stalls and shops in a large covered structure in central Oxford.
Gloucester Green Outdoor Street Market
Gloucester St., Oxford OX1 2BU
Stalls with street food from around the world, crafts and pre-loved clothing, among other things. Open from Wednesday to Saturday.
RESTAURANTS
There are plenty of amazing restaurants in Oxford city center. Make reservations online or by calling ahead as restaurants in Oxford can get fully booked in peak seasons. In the U.K., most people dine at restaurants between 7-10 p.m.
A little gem serving authentic Japanese food (rice bowls, ramen, and other dishes) in a casual and friendly setting right outside of New College. Queues for the food can be long, so consider calling for collection. Keep your eyes peeled for their Thursday Sushi Nights! www.edamame.co.uk/home
Delicious Manakeesh (baked flatbread), Maqloubah, Arabic Quiche, Fatayer, Tagine, Baklava and more in a vibrant, colorful setting. Za’atar Bake is often busy, so book ahead.
BARS AND PUBS
Oxford has a vibrant nightlife. Here are some options:
The Tap Social Movement
Tap Social is a craft brewery and hospitality social enterprise that provides training and employment for people in prisons. They have two locations:
The White House 38 Abingdon Rd., Oxford OX1 4PD
A short walking distance from Kopanong. It is usually open until 11 p.m. daily but closed on Mondays.
The Taproom
Curtis Industrial Estate
27, North Hinksey Ln., Oxford OX2 0LX
You will need a taxi ride to this location. Open from Thursday to Sunday.
Junkyard Golf Club
Westgate Mall, Castle St., Oxford OX1 1NU
For crazy golf and cocktails.
The Kings Arms
40 Holywell St., Oxford OX1 3SP +44 1865 242369
One of the oldest pubs in Oxford, built in 1607 and still standing in its original position.
The Turf Tavern
4-5 Bath Place, Oxford OX1 3SU +44 1865 243235
Another historic pub in central Oxford, with its foundations dating back to the 14th century.
ARTS AND CULTURE
The Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont St., Oxford OX1 2PH
The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology and was founded in 1683. Free admission.
Modern Art Oxford
30 Pembroke St., Oxford OX1 1BP
Cutting-edge exhibitions of international modern and contemporary visual art, plus an upbeat cafe. Free admissions.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3PW
Housed in a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture, the museum’s most famous features are the Oxfordshire dinosaurs and the remains of a dodo. Very family-friendly.
Pitt Rivers Museum
South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3PW
A collection of anthropology and world archaeology. Free admission.
The Story Museum
42 Pembroke St., Oxford OX1 1BP
A unique museum celebrating the human need for stories and narratives and the benefits they can bring. Very family-friendly.
THEATERS
New Theatre Oxford 24-26 George St., Oxford OX1 2AG
Riverside walks are a great way to see Oxford during the day, but the paths are not lit at night so nighttime riverside walks are not recommended.
Port Meadow in north Oxford is one of the largest open spaces in the city. With the River Thames flowing through it, it is home to cattle, horses and wildfowl. It is a 20-minute walk from Kopanong and a great place to view the University’s “dreaming spires.”
Oxford is best explored on foot with plenty of walks through the ancient and historical city. We suggest an early morning stroll around the city when it is quiet and you can truly enjoy its beauty.
So, how was your
Your feedback on your stay at Kopanong is so valuable to us. Please write your comments on what you thought of your time here in The Guest Book, which you will find in the hallway. You can also contact us at norham.gardens@atlanticfellows.org
