Community Link Nov 2023 Cherwell District Council

Community Link Network newsletter November 2023

For voluntary and community sector partners in Cherwell District

In this issue - bitesize: New Bicester East community centre, Community events, Voluntary Forum, New North Banbury Project, Cost of living and food grants, Community pop-up, Volunteer Awards and more...

A long on but please take a look - lots going and gone on!

Bicester East - NEW community centre

Ground has been broken on the new Bicester East Community Centre. Set to replace the current dated cabin structure, the present centre remains open until the new building is ready when it will take in the current hirers and new.

“I am so thrilled that this area of Bicester is getting a decent facility. As a hirer of the old hall, it has served its purpose, but the enhanced space and high ceiling of this one, plus the separate meeting room will make this an invaluable asset

for affordable and various community events for local people” Beatrice Foster for Bicester East

We thank the volunteers for their continued work at this centre during the works and look forward to the grand opening in 2024!

Bicester East - What's on

Ride the waves

Can you reach more residents who need support from your services? Why not contact Puritans Radio to say a little or lot about your great work. You don't need to do a live interview or leave the home or office! All can be done prerecorded or over the phone - but if you like a mic then go live of course!

Pictured above at Grimsbury Play Day on 25th October is Ian Fleming interviewing Lorraine Squire, Manager at The Hill in Banbury on the support offered and the partnership work that goes into creating a great day out for residents.

Grimsbury Play Day was hosted at Bridge Street Community Garden and

organised by partners to Grimsbury network and Brighter Futures in Banbury..

Look out for Ian and his colleagues including Stewart Green at Banbury Christmas Festival on November Sunday 26th November 2023 from 11am to 6pm (Lights on at 16.55). Organised by Banbury Town Council.

Puritans Radio: 01295 255129 studio@puritansradio.com

Banbury Christmas Festival - Sunday 26th November

Bicester Christmas Festival - Saturday 25th November

Community Food Grant

We are offering grants of up to £3000 for capital/revenue to support organisations that are providing/assisting in the provision of food or developing community food activities involving cooking, growing or nutrition/food education.

The funding for these grants is to support communities in the Cherwell District.

Community Food Grant

Communities of Practice - 22nd November 10am - 12pm

Venue: Online

Clare Woodcock, Partnerships and Projects Officer with OCVA will lead this session and the speaker for the meeting will be Emma Teasdale, Community Officer with Reducing the Risk (RtR). Come along to find out more about what is happening locally.

Schedule of Communities of Practice (CoPs)

Getting out into the community

Making what can seem a simple event day possible takes a lot of work and partner collaboration and understanding of the local need. A recent offer of 3 events in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington to support seniors in Cherwell with

health, activity and electric blanket safety saw partners including Oxfordshire Fire Service, Oxfordshire County Council, Volunteer Drivers Service, Cherwell Collective, The Mill Arts Centre, Age UK (Oxfordshire), West Bicester Community Centre and MIND come together for the benefit of residents.

Pictured above are images from the day in Bicester showing how the blankets are tested for electrical safety, local residents, and bottom right includes 2 volunteers that support testing and volunteer driving to collect blankets from those unable to leave their house.

"Amazing day and good to see Cherwell offering this" - resident coming in to get their blanket safety checked

For information about this events and Electric Blanket testing contact Laura.thomas@cherwell-dc.gov.uk. Laura is our Community Development Partner for Seniors.

Fighting scams, funding, volunteer and group support

Working with Age UK (Oxfordshire) and partners Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action (OCVA) and Volunteer Connect the Cherwell Seniors and Voluntary Forum 2023 saw over 100 attendees attend, learn and share their knowledge and best practice.

A highlight of the day was that everyone present was trained as a 'Friend Against Scams' by Cheryl Harrison, Community Liaison Officer for Trading Standards, OCC. Adding to the numbers locally that can recognise scams.

Keith Davies, Manager for Volunteer Connect, Jenny Bowley and John Haynes Funding and Volunteer Development Officers with Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action offered all important advice on volunteer support, policy, training and funding avenues.

All attendees received a follow up FAQ and answer pack to support ongoing work and collaboration.

Pictured (L) are the speakers including Julia Blackwell (MIND), Cllr Phillip Chapman (CDC), Jason O'Callaghan (Age UK), Jenny Bowley (OCVA)

For information contact laura.thomas@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or paul.tysoe@cherwelldc.gov.uk

All below logos are linked.

North Banbury Project

A new project starts this month centred on Hanwell Fields Community centre but focussed on supporting communities across the north of Banbury. The new estates of Banbury Chase and Hanwell View together with properties to the north of Dukes Meadow Drive and the existing Hanwell Fields community will benefit from collaboration between partners to offer local initiatives, events and activities that showcase the area and community centre, introducing new residents to local services.

For more information contact Lisa: admin@hanwell-fields.co.uk or paul.tysoe@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

An evening Bat Walk in partnership with Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) will run in October as part of the varied program.

Volunteer Awards 2023

The Cherwell and Sanctuary 'Love where you live' Volunteer Awards was held last month and highlighted yet again the impact that volunteering has and the passion that is shown locally to support others. To add more of a spotlight onto the volunteers we are going to have a focus on an organisation or individual with each issue of Community Link!

This month pictured we have Alex Coleman who took home the award for Young Person of the Year. Alex is a prime example of a young man giving back to support the community that once helped him. Alex volunteers at the The Hill to deliver their weekly offer of Men's Breakfast and social as well as other events throughout the year. Brilliant work Alex!. Pictured with Alex is Charlie Heritage, Partnerships Manager with Sanctuary.

Malcolm (not pictured) and Janet Green were recognised for their dedication in the Lifetime Award category. Janet is shown with Lorraine Squire, Manager at The Hill and Nicky Halford, herself a dedicated volunteer with Ruscote Community Centre. Janet and Malcolm have given 43 years to running the Banbury Twirlers that has seen its members flourish as national champions and have the honour of representing England in the national squad. A life's dedication and many lives changed because of this. Our warmest congratulations to Janet and Malcolm. Malcolm and Janet also support looking after and running the Ruscote Community Centre, Banbury.

More warm hands and a warm welcome to help this Winter

The warm welcome network has been expanded to include over 30 partner venues as we go into Winter 2023.

The venues will offer a safe place with hot drinks and in some places a hot meal. Basic advice is on hand with signposting to dedicated local advice organisations including Citizens Advice.

All libraries will carry basic information to support with varied advice.

Contact libby.knox@cherwell-dc.gov.uk for more information.

Did you know the Sanctuary Neighbourhoods team in Cherwell work with organisations to support delivery of projects that benefit Sanctuary customers and the local community?

Registered groups, CIC’s and charities can speak to the Neighbourhoods team about funding opportunities for projects they wish to run within Cherwell.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact the Neighbourhoods Partnership Manager Charlie Heritage email on: Charlie.Heritage@sanctuary.co.uk

Healthy Bicester Stakeholder - Save the Date!

We would like to invite you to save the date for our next Healthy Bicester event taking place on 6th March 2024. The event will take place at the St John Paul II Centre Ltd, Causeway, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 6AW between 10am and 1pm. The day will consist of presentations and discussions in the morning and then a lunch followed by some networking opportunities.

We will be contacting groups over the next few weeks to ensure the conversation topics discussed at the event are relevant to what’s happening on the ground in Bicester and surrounding villages. From there we will then be inviting guest speaks to come and present to us to help add to our conversations and knowledge in the room.

We look forward to seeing you all on the 6th March. More details to follow.

Mondays and Thursdays 10am - 3pm (until end December) NEW - To support the Banbury Vision 2050 engagement project we will have a 'Talk of the Town' exhibition for 6 weeks every Fridays 9am - 12pm Age UK (Oxfordshire) client drop-in Wednesdays 12am - 3pm Ukrainian Support Thursday 30th November 10am - 12pm Advice for those rents from Cherwell District Council Saturday 2nd November 9am - 1pm Oxfordshire MIND Arts & Crafts

Information to support residents, activities and our noticeboard with wider community information is available. Support with the cost of living information is available through our website, partners and 'Who Can help' document.

Look out for our new Christmas display from December!

Community Space - Castle Quay

Find the pumpkins around the Town Centre by following the trail set out by Banbury BID project!

Grab an entry this weekend through to 31st October.

Banbury BID project

Sources of grants and funding support Update on Connect Communities funding

Selected other funds and grants via Oxfordshire County Council

Nature's Calendar

Updated for Autumn so take a look and signpost clients and families to outdoor fun!

Image from Banbury Community Garden.

Connect with nature for Autumn

Updates, changes and reminders

Clients with long term health conditions?

Struggling after COVID?

Find out more and help us to help them. Get involved and get fitter.

Healthy Start

We are asking for support to increase the uptake of 'NHS Healthy Start' in Cherwell. Please have a read to check the eligibility and support your clients to access this resource, particularly at this time.

Cost of living - Who can help?

Keep an eye out for our updated 'Who can help?' booklet. Available to pick up in community centres.

Social Broadband tariffs (External MSE website)

OFCOM social tariff information

We understand that the cost of living crisis is affecting many of us and we want you to know that you are not alone. You may want help accessing grants and debt advice, support getting all the money you're entitled to, or simply want to know more about the government's recent support fund.

Cost of living support