07 september 2017 oxfordshire guardian witney

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Out& About

pers.co.uk www.taylornewspa r 13, 2017 r 7 - Wednesday, Septembe Thursday, Septembe

Your guide for your leisure time in & around Oxfordshire

Working from nine to wine? No better plac e to enjoy a glass or two than the Oxford Wine Festival

Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton GROUP Thursday, September 7 - Wednesday, September 13, 2017

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‘Rural areas struggle to KICK-START accept peopleYOUR being gay’ CAREER Group set up to help LGBTQ By George Welch A NEW group aimed at helping members of the gay community in rural west Oxfordshire is needed ‘more now than ever’, according to one of its co-founders. West Oxfordshire LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning), believed to be the first group of its kind in the district, was co-founded over the summer by a 19-year-old man from Leafield and a district councillor. Teenager Jake Acock believes gay people are tolerated in modern Britain but that it would be a ‘long time’ before the community is accepted. He said: “We need it [the group] more now than ever. Since Brexit, hate crime has risen and homophobic issues have come back. “More and more people are feeling they’re not welcome here. We have got to counter that one way or another and this is one way of doing it.” Figures released by Thames Valley Police in July showed that reports of racist and homophobic incidents increased in Oxford by more than 40 per cent last year. The group was formed just over a month ago after discussions between Mr Acock and Liberal Democrat district

councillor Andy Graham. Mr Acock, who acted as Cllr Graham’s election agent and manager for the county council elections in May, recently came out to his parents. He said they were very supportive and that he wanted to use the experience to help others struggling with their sexuality. He said: “We are there to support people. We’ve have had some really positive responses so far. It’s really important to help people come out and be proud of who they are – once you can do that you can achieve greatness.” Mr Acock’s motivation to set up the group came after a previous boyfriend in the area came out to his parents only to be rejected by them and offered psychotherapy. This led Mr Acock, who is off to study history at King’s College London, to believe there is something different about LGBTQ experiences in rural locations. He said: “Rural areas are very different because farming communities are very straight communities. You are not seen as gay and it’s something you should never talk about.” The first group’s first meeting was in Chipping Norton on Monday and will travel around the district each month. Visit tinyurl.com/y9dwz7n9 for more information or to get in touch.

For everything from Christmas jobs to management roles Are you a talented person with a passion for luxury retail? Bring your enthusiasm to a role at Bicester Village. Come to the Talent Day on Sunday 10 September to discover your perfect role and meet with more than 20 brands offering managerial and non-managerial positions. Join us at the John Paul II Centre in Bicester, a ten-minute walk from Bicester Village, to find out more: From 11 am to 1 pm, discover more about roles such as seasonal Christmas positions mayor Cllr Brenda Churchill, a A flag was hoisted above Witney former Wren and Cllr Howard From 2 pm to 4 Town Hall to honourto Second Senior Sales or Stock Assistant. Chirgwin, a former member of the World War navy casualties on pm, find out Merchant about Navy, roleswhere ranging from Supervisor the Red Friday. Ensign was raised by cadets from Merchant Navy Day marks to Store Manager. TS Euryalus to honour the victims. September 3, 1939 when vessel

Flying the flag in honour

Since 2000, the day has SS Arthenia was torpedoed, honoured those who kept the leading to the loss of 128 lives. For more information and toduring register ‘island nation’ afloat both for Mayor Chris Woodward world wars. attended a ceremony with deputy visit Careers.BicesterVillage.com

the event,

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