Volunteers and staff from Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale were joined by representatives from the town and district councils at the Guildhall in Abingdon on 15 October to celebrate 80 years of service to the local community. 

Citizens Advice was founded on 4 September 1939, the day after World War II was declared, to help people deal with the impact of war. Volunteers gave advice on evacuation, ration books, new housing for those whose homes had been bombed, and even provided recipes using the limited ingredients available on rationing.

Eighty years on, the issues may have changed, but the core values of Citizens Advice remain the same: to provide free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone everywhere. 

Last year, Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale, an independent charity, helped 11,999 people resolve 20,200 problems including debt, housing, Universal Credit, benefits, family problems and consumer issues. For many people this service is a lifeline.

Jon Bright, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale, said: “This service is only possible thanks to the dedication and commitment of our 160 highly trained volunteers who give up their time to help people in our community find a solution to their problems.” 
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The number of people seeking advice has increased by 30 per cent over the last three years and the local offices need more volunteers to keep the service running. Volunteer posts include: advisers, receptionists, administrators, IT support and fundraisers. If you are interested, contact Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale for more information on 01235 550553 or email recruitment@osavcab.org.uk
 
Jane Richardson, Chair of Trustees, and Liz Johnson, Manager, ,shown above, celebrate 80 years of Citizens Advice
 
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Whitmarsh, Fundraising and Events Coordinator
Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale 
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JD
 
Email: catherine.whitmarsh@osavcab.org.uk
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We will be carrying out high-visibility patrols over Halloween to deal with any incidents of anti –social behaviour.

Here’s some simple advice to help you have a fun and safe Halloween:

• Young children should never go out trick or treating without being accompanied by an adult.
• Don’t knock on the doors of strangers; only go to the houses of people you know.
• Never go into a stranger’s house.
• Keep to well-lit areas, wear bright colouring and carry a torch.
• Remember road safety advice.
• Take care not to frighten elderly or vulnerable people.
• If a house is displaying a “no trick or treat” sign please don’t knock on the door.
• Children don’t be offended if your local shop does not serve you with eggs or flour. We have been working with local stores to discourage their sale to young people.

If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe:

• Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spy-hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you decide to open your door.
• Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
• If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, let your co-ordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween.  If you are a co-ordinator, please identify people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.
• Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.

To report anti-social behaviour please call the 24 hour non-emergency number on 101. If it is a crime in progress, call 999 immediately.

If you do not want to be disturbed this Halloween, please visitwww.thamesvalley.police.uk and type Halloween in the search which will bring up the poster to download and print.
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Are you interested in growing your own veg but don't have enough space in your garden? I'm currently in the process of creating a veg patch that will produce too much for our needs. If you'd like to take a few beds and plant whatever you wish, as well as share some of the workload, please let me know. There'd be no cost involved, other than providing your own seeds, tools etc. Contact Nigel on 244318 or nigel.tipple@btinternet.com
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We have recently received reports of burglaries in your area. Most of the burglars have managed to get into the property via the rear, through a back garden and then patio doors. Please review your garden security.

Is it easy to gain access to your garden? Have you got secure gates that can only be unlocked from inside the garden?

Have you got CCTV that covers access points to your property?

Are your sheds secure or can offenders easily remove tools that can be used to break into your property?

Please also look out for your neighbours. If you hear strange noises investigate them and if you see any suspicious vehicles or people you believe are scouting premises or looking to commit crime please report it to us by calling 999 - we need the best chance to catch these criminals.

Please download the Home Security Guide from our Website here which gives you advice on looking at your home through the eyes of a burglar and making sure doors and windows are secure. There is also advice on CCTV, property marking, distraction burglaries and digital security (social media etc).

If you would like any further advice please contact the Faringdon Neighbourhood Policing team by emailing FaringdonNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

TVP have reported recent local burglaries in Watchfield and Shrivenham involving physical break-ins and thefts of portable valuables. It is your Neighbourhood Watch Officer's impression that this type of burglary is making a come-back near us, after several years of less orchestrated crime from cars and garden sheds. 

For those wishing to comment on this planning application:

Farm The Holloway Road Great Coxwell Faringdon SN7 7NG
Erection of two portal framed buildings - one for straw and one for machinery storage

You can comment in 3 ways:

1. Here - on the planning portal​
2. By email to registration@southandvale.gov.uk, or
3. In writing to Vale of White Horse District Council, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton, OX14 4SB

Any comments must be received by the deadline of MONDAY 14th OCTOBER.
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Your local Citizens Advice is launching its annual initiative to help people in financial need who find it hard to pay their energy bills.
 
The project, called the Energy Advice Programme (EAP), is going live throughout Oxfordshire South and Vale from October to March 2020. It includes comprehensive steps to help people who have to spend a significant proportion of their income on fuel bills.
 
At an EAP appointment our advisers, depending on your particular problem, can do one or more of the following:
 

• Help you understand energy companies' tariffs and bills. 
• Provide information and support on switching tariff or supplier, identifying any savings you might make. 
• Give advice on energy efficiency measures and list any grants available to pay for these. 
• Carry out benefit entitlement checks and help you claim any benefits to which you might be entitled. We can help you apply for the Warm Home Discount and the Priority Services Register, if applicable. 
• Assist with any customer service complaints you might have against your energy company. 

 
The Citizens Advice website www.citizensadvice.org.uk will give you more information. You can also telephone our Adviceline on 03 444 111 444 or visit a local branch of Citizens Advice during opening hours. Details of office locations are on www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/oxfordshire-south-vale
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Don't forget to come along for Great Coxwell Village Teas on October 13th, 2.30 to 5pm. There will be a Harvest theme (beetroot chocolate cake, apple drizzle cake, blackberries and sloes etc) in addition to our favourites - cheesecake, bakewell tart and roulade.