Category: Vale of White Horse District Council News

Better Homes Better Health poster

Free service supports thousands of residents in Oxfordshire with their home energy

28th February 2023

Residents in Oxfordshire can benefit from the advice and support of Better Housing Better Health , a service that helps those worrying about their home energy to create warmer, healthier and happier homes.  Last year, through the service’s free helpline and their free home visit service (BHBH+) – their team of trained advisors helped over 2500 residents with the aim this year to help even more.

The service can help:

Residents who are finding it hard to understand energy bills, pay for fuel or read meters
– Access funding to replace old and broken heating systems
– Access funding for insulation measures 
– Reduce damp, condensation and mould by better ways of managing a home
– Understand and programme heating controls
– Making onward referrals to additional support services, such as Benefits advice and debt support

For some residents they may be eligible for additional heating support depending on their situation

Ms. W contacted BHBH as her property was cold and it was having an impact on her disabled sons health. Ms. W thought her windows were draughty so a home visit was booked in to investigate further. Our home advisor, Beata, found that the property was lacking wall insulation which was the main reason why her property felt cold. BHBH helped Ms. W access grants to replace her old, inefficient boiler and install cavity wall insulation and both measures were fully funded. Ms W. was signed up to the Priority Services Register for extra support with her energy supplier and referred for a Fire Safety visit to check if her smoke alarms were in good working order.

To speak to the friendly team, call 0800 107 0044 or visit www.bhbh.org.uk and complete the online referral form or find our e-mail address.

Better Homes Better Health family poster

Vale of White Horse District Council logo

Fun, free and low-cost activities for families this February half term 

2nd February 2023

There’s an array of free or low-cost activities this February half-term to keep the kids entertained across South Oxfordshire and the Vale. 

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils arts centres and Active Communities team have planned a week of theatre, workshops and physical activities for children and their families to engage with. 

Active Totz 

Active Totz is a fun play session that is full of energy and excitement, with interactive games aimed at children from 18 months to 5 years old with siblings up to 7 years welcome to join in. There are 3 Active Totz sessions taking place across the two districts and all the activities will have a Winter Olympics theme.  

Each session will be from 10-10.45am on: 

  • Monday 13 – Steventon Village Hall  
  • Tuesday 14 – Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre  
  • Wednesday 15 – District Community Centre, Great Western Park, Didcot  

Sessions are free for YouMove members or £8 per child and an additional £5 per sibling. To book please call Sophie Butler on 7709168740 or email sbutler@activetotz.co.uk. 

The Beacon Wantage 

Come along to The Beacon for an unforgettable Jurassic experience for all the family to enjoy. 

At Dinosaur Adventure Live, you’ll be able to find out some amazing dino-facts, meet beautiful baby dinosaurs and even feed them as they introduce you to some of the most incredible species ever to have lived on Earth. This awe-inspiring interactive show captivates and immerses audiences in the enthralling and realistic world of dinosaurs. 

Tickets are now on sale at The Beacon for performances on Tuesday 14 February, with tickets at £14, shows are at 2pm and 4.30pm.  For more information and to book your tickets visit The Beacon website. 

Cornerstone Arts Centre Didcot 

For those with children interested in getting crafty, Decorate Your Own Bird House on Wednesday 15 February at 11am will have children designing an exciting new home for local wildlife just in time for spring to arrive. This one-off workshop and is aimed at children in key stage 1, it costs £10 with all materials provided to get creative. 

Or book tickets to see the crowd pleaser Quentin Blake’s Mister Magnolia on Sunday 19 February at 2pm. This show is full of colourful characters, live music, puppetry and audience interaction inspired by the incredible work of illustrator Quentin Blake. This is family-friendly theatre at its best. 

Head to the Cornerstone website to find out more. 

Xplorer 

Our Active Communities team will be keeping children busy with their free Xplorer events. Xplorer is a family friendly fun navigation challenge that is suitable for all ages.  

Using a simple map, the aim is to find several markers that are located around the park. Places are available for: 

  • Monday 13 – Edmonds Park, Didcot  
  • Monday 13 – Southern Town Park, Abingdon 
  • Tuesday 14 – Benson Recreation Ground  
  • Wednesday 15 – Wantage Memorial Park 

Sessions run from 10am-midday and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Families can book online via this link or turn up anytime from 10am on the day with the last registration for all events at 11.30am.  

Family walks and talks at Harcourt Arboretum 

On Thursday 16 February, families can go along to Harcourt Arboretum near Oxford for free family walks from 1-2pm and 2.30-3.30pm.  

There will be lots to see and do from exploring the ground to attending some special talks from the staff on site. 

For more details, please contact active.communities@southandvale.gov.uk  

There’s more information about the Active Communities team and YouMove on the council’s website whitehorsedc.gov.uk/activecommunities. 

South and Vale logo

Cost of Living

5th October 2022

The District and County Councils have provided information and advice during the current Cost of Living crisis.

South and Vale logo

Vale of White Horse District Council services on Monday 19 September

17th September 2022

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils will be closed on Monday 19 September – the public holiday to mark the occasion of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

As the councils’ offices at Milton Park will be closed, the books of condolence will not be available to sign on the day of the funeral but will be open again on Tuesday 20 September. 

Waste collections in the two districts will not be taking place on 19 September. Collections next week will therefore take place a day later than scheduled, with an extra collection on the Saturday to catch up – this is the usual process the councils follow after a bank holiday. See the table below for more details. 

Leisure centres and facilities owned by the councils will also be closed on 19 September, as will Cornerstone in Didcot and The Beacon in Wantage, the arts centres owned by the councils. 

Waste collection dates: 

Usual collection day Revised collection day 
  
Monday 19 September Tuesday 20 September 
Tuesday 20 September Wednesday 21 September
Wednesday 21 September Thursday 22 September 
Thursday 22 September Friday 23 September 
Friday 23 September Saturday 24 September