The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley has today launched “Victims First” as a new service for victims in the Thames Valley who are struggling to cope with the impact of a crime.

Victims First is available across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and provides free tailored emotional and therapeutic support to all victims and witnesses of crime, as well as family members of victims (if they require it). 

The service allows for one front door for all victims in the Thames Valley who require support and is available regardless of:

•    Crime type
•    Whether or not the crime has been reported to the police 
•    Whether they were a victim of a recent or historic crime
•    Wherever the crime happened.

Anybody who needs support can access it through:
Tel: 0300 1234 148
Website: www.victims-first.org.uk 

You can follow us on Facebook where we have lots of information on crime types, crime prevention and support available:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victimsfirstTV/ 

More information on the launch of Victims First can be found on the Police and Crime Commissioners website or follow this link: https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/news-and-events/thamesvalley-pcc-news/2018/06/new-service-launches-to-support-victims-of-crime-in-the-thames-valley/

Could you be our dog sitter?

We are looking to find a home willing to be an occasional dog sitter for our very small and friendly family dog.

Due to work commitments, we occasionally need to be away overnight and it isn't always possible for our dog to travel with us.

We'd like to build a relationship with a home that could give her all the time, walks and cuddles she would normally get at home while we are away and avoid using kennels as we hate having to leave her there. 

Ideally, this would suit a home without any pets or preschool children and with a secure garden in or around the Great Coxwell/Faringdon area. 

She is non-shredding so no issues with dog hair or for anyone with allergies.

We always know the dates well in advance so can agree if convenient for you and will provide all bedding and food as well as pay an agreed 'sitter' rate.

Please give me a call for a chat or email and I'll call you back when convenient. mobile 07771 939 886 or  via email jo@greatbritishrevivals.co.uk

Thank-you 
Jo
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Thursday 12th July   Diz White will talk about Downton Abbey film locations in the Cotswolds, including a dip into the history of these sites, encountered during her search to buy a 17th century cottage in this beautiful area.  Refreshments will be available after the meeting.  All members are welcome to attend but visitors are required to pay £1.50.
Further information is available from the website on https://faringdondistrictu3a.com  or from the chairman Margaret Brown on 01367 615 385.

Advance notice – the U3A Summer Lunch will be held on Thursday 16th August.  Further details will be available in July.

Lost Arrow

Would whoever shot an arrow into the garden of Green’s Farm House like it back? 

​You can collect it from the porch!
 

Citizen’s Advice - Criminals setting up fake Wi-Fi hot spots - Citizens Advice warning

It ought to be a time of the pleasantest relaxation, that moment when you slump down comfortably into a cosy chair in your favourite coffee bar, get out your cell phone and connect to the free Wi-Fi. But Citizens Advice has warned that just this simple leisurely action can be targeted by criminals, who are setting up their own Wi-Fi hot spots to try to get you to connect to them.

Typically, the fraudsters broadcast a Wi-Fi connection with a vague name like "free_wifi" or "coffee_shop_wifi". If you connect your phone to this, any data you are sending can be captured. 
Even if you log into emails using an "app", without typing in the password, the phone will still send your password over the Wi-Fi and it could be intercepted. If you use automated passwords and do not enter your user name and password manually, these details can still be intercepted.To avoid being becoming a victim of this scam, do one of the following: 

• Make sure you are connecting to a trusted Wi-Fi hot spot, operated by the venue you are in - ask staff if you are in doubt.
• Do not use public Wi-Fi for online banking or anything else sensitive, but use your 3G, 4G or 5G connection instead (data sent over these connections is always encrypted). 
• Use a VPN (virtual private network) when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

The updated Little Book of Big Scams at http://bit.ly/2018-the-little-book-of-big-scams has more details about this and other prevalent frauds. And if you suspect that you've been scammed, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Internet at www.actionfraud.police.uk. Alternatively, get in touch with Citizens Advice on Adviceline 03 444 111444, or drop in to your nearest Citizens Advice. For locations and opening hours see www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/oxfordshire-south-vale

Join us for an evening of Shakespeare and a three-course meal at Coleshill Organics Walled Garden…

The Theatre Supper is being run in conjunction with the National Trust’s Coleshill Big Picnic & Food Festival, a weekend festival of food, fun and family entertainment 30 June - 1 July from 11am.

For more info see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-trust-coleshill-big-picnic-food-festival-tickets
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On 14th June Jenny Mallin will be the speaker in Faringdon Corn Exchange.  Jenny has recently spoken on Woman’s Hour,  Her topic is  “A Grandmother’s Legacy” about five generations of her family who lived In India during the British Raj.  The talk will be a visual and engaging presentation with family stories, history and recipes included.  Refreshments are available after the talk,  All members are welcome but visitors will be required to pay £1.50.  Further details are available on www.faringdondistrictu3a.wordpress.com or from the chairman, Margaret Brown on 01367 615 385.

We're planning some building work at Stonevale and we are interested in experiences  (good and bad) ref local building companies.  We want to use local builders if possible.  All replies will be treated in confidence and not shared with anyone else, so if you put a note through our letterbox, it will go no further.
​Thanks!

“Lovely weather…………….for Burglars!”
 
We’ve all been enjoying the sunshine recently, but with the nice weather comes opportunities for thieves.
 
Did you know that a large number of burglaries reported to us have no signs of a forced entry?
 
Many burglars target homes with open doors and windows during the summer months, they rely on people forgetting to lock doors or windows that have been left open during the day for ventilation.
 
Here’s some straightforward advice to help you, help us to reduce burglary.
 

1. Before you go to bed at night, just take a couple of minutes to check around your home and make sure doors and windows, especially on the ground floor, are secure.
2. If you can afford them CCTV systems and alarms are great deterrents to thieves, but you can prevent crime by using less expensive means too.
3. Security lighting at the rear of your home or a courtesy light at the front door illuminates any activity and removes the cover of darkness for criminals.
4. If you have a side gate, fit a bolt and padlock to prevent easy access to your garden. Did you know that you can buy combination lock bolts to fit on the front face of the gate to allow access to authorised people?
5. Keep car keys out of sight and out of reach of your letter box- some burglars are adept at using implements to reach through letter boxes and hook keys from hall tables and shelves.
6. Some thieves will knock on the door of an address to see if its occupied before trying to break in. If you see or experience something suspicious or that you’re unsure of please call us, we’ll always do our best to get to calls of suspicious activity quickly if we think a burglary may be taking place.
7. Don’t purchase goods from sources that you aren’t happy with, your bargain buy may be the proceeds of a heart breaking crime for a victim of burglary and the next victim may be you or someone close to you. We know that some thieves will use Facebook selling sites to dispose of stolen property- we will always seek to prosecute those we suspect of handling stolen goods. If it seems too good to be true- it is, be careful.

 
The Op Monitor team is working hard to reduce burglary and to target and convict the callous criminals who commit this type of crime. We need your help, remember that you can contact us with information regarding burglary in confidence via 101, or via Crime Stoppers on 0800555111.
 

Peter (Lee) and I (Pat Cook) will be working in the Remembrance Garden on Sunday from 9.30am onwards for a couple of hours.  Where Peter strimmed before he went on his visit to Australia the wild flowers are gaining ground.  We want to extend this and clear another area. Peter has already mown the paths so our main targets will be the brambles and nettles that threaten to choke the flowers out.  
We want to make this garden a real pleasure for everyone to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet and the view.  Ian Burn generously donated the money to get the project started and we don't want this to be lost. People have donated bulbs and shrubs and we are adding other plantings and trying to create the conditions for the wild flowers already in the churchyard or in the field boundaries to migrate into the garden.  It takes a considerable amount of work and we don't have funds to spend on paying people to do this so we need volunteers to help us.
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If anyone has a little time to spare on Sunday and would be willing to join us, we would be very grateful.  Help either with another strimmer or just to rake up and remove the debris would be great.  We have formed a group of volunteers who are willing to come and help whenever they can, and these have been emailed about Sunday's work.  If you would like to be added to that list, please just come on Sunday morning or email Pat Cook on patricia.cook@talktalk.net.

Thank you.