Children of all ages and their families will have plenty of activities to keep them busy this half term across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set up a range of free and low-cost activities for residents to take part in.

Xplorer

There are Xplorer events across South Oxfordshire and the Vale over half term. Xplorer is a family friendly fun orienteering challenge that is suitable for all ages. Using a simple map, the aim is to find a number of markers that are located around the park. All our events take place from 10am-midday and families can turn up on the day, book via this link or email: active.communities@southandvale.gov.uk.

The Halloween themed Xplorer events are taking place on:

Monday 24 October:

Long Furlong Play Park, Abingdon, OX14 1XP

Wheatley Playing Fields (North), OX33 1QL

Tuesday 25 October:

Faringdon Folly Sports Park, SN7 7AQ

Watlington Recreation Ground, OX49 5BZ

Wednesday 26 October:

Berinsfield Recreation Ground, OX10 7NX

YouMove

YouMove is a scheme for families with children on benefits related free school meals, children in need of support, including refugees, young carers, or children in or on the edge of care. YouMove gives those who sign up to the scheme access to low-cost or free fun activities.

This half term in South Oxfordshire among other activities there will be multi-sport mornings in Wheatley (24 October) and Watlington (25 October) an indoor sports party in Thame (24 October) and family walks at Harcourt Arboretum.

In the Vale children and families can get involved with the Xplorer events and family fun days on 24 October in Abingdon and 25 October in Faringdon.

There are also free family walks through the woods at Harcourt Arboretum with stories, activities and fun facts along the way.

There’s more information about YouMove and how to sign up on the councils’ websites www.southoxon.gov.uk/youmove and www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/youmove

Fun at The Beacon

At The Beacon in Wantage, Monkey Mayhem is a low-cost stay and play session on Mondays including half term, from 9.30–11.30am. Each session costs £4 for one child and £7.50 for two children.

On Wednesday 26 October, there’s also Comedy Club 4 Kids at 2pm, with tickets at £9.50 each or £35 family of four.

For more information, go to the website www.beaconwantage.co.uk or call box office on 01235 763456.

Bhangra Dance at Cornerstone

Join us for free in Didcot on Saturday 22 October at 11am and 1pm for energetic and vibrant Bhangra performances by Jugnu Bhangra Group, put on by Cornerstone Arts Centre.

There’s also a Bhangra Dance Class for children of all abilities in school years 4-9, at 3pm at Cornerstone on Saturday 22 October, tickets are £10.

For more information go to the website www.cornerstone-arts.org or call box office on 01235 515144.

The Appleton with Eaton History Group’s historical map was displayed in the village hall at last June’s Jubilee celebrations. The next step is to raise the funds to mount the map beside the War Memorial on a durable lectern. To stand the test of time it must be printed on a metallic surface, mounted in a strong steel frame, and set in a concrete base. The overall cost, from design to completion of the associated website, will be approximately £5000. Half this sum has already been raised thanks to the generosity of a small number of individuals.

With the support of the Parish Council, the History Group would like the map to serve as Appleton’s tribute to seventy years of service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with a fund-raising campaign from within the community. We need to raise a further £2,500, which will cover the balance to mount the lectern, and eventually construct a website describing walks around the community. Any surplus when the campaign is finished will be made over to causes identified by the Parish Council as worthy community projects.

It is usual for gifts to vary in size and we hope everyone will feel able to join in at an appropriate level. There will be an acknowledgement board in the Hall, and a note on the map itself marking the community’s contribution. Beyond Appleton’s gift to the Queen’s memory, the map will help everyone, and perhaps most notably young people, to develop an awareness of the roots of the very local parts of their community, why it is where it is, how it has grown up, and what it offers them.

To contribute by
(1) bank transfer please pay “Appleton with Eaton History Group”,
Barclays Bank (Sort code: 20-97-48; Acc no: 83760227);
(2) for our GoFundMe webpage visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/appleton-information-board (under Helen Stedman’s name); or
(3) cheques made payable to “Appleton with Eaton History Group”, can be sent to
Angela Arnold (Treasurer) 13 Conifer Close, Botley, Oxford OX2 9HP.

The HMS Appleton is complete and can be found in the Committee Room at the Village Hall.

Many thanks Andy Salmon for all of his hard work on this!

Appleton School is currently advertising for an Office Manager. If you are aware of anyone who may be interested and who has the appropriate qualification, please see the job vacancy on the school website at: Job Vacancies – APPLETON CE PRIMARY SCHOOL