Bicester Job Club | Charter Housing Tenants Association | Citizens Advice Bureau | Clean Slate Community Connect | County Council | Deddington Health Centre | District Council | Hospitals | Free Hospital Transport | Job Centre search | Independent Living Centre | Marlborough School | MP | North Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust | Oxfordshire Comet | Oxfordshire NHS | Postal Services | Refuse and Recycling | Small Repairs | Transport | Village Networks | Volunteer Driver Service
Bicester Job Club
The Bicester Job Club offers expert employment help and advice on jobs, self-employment, training and skills and benefits. It is held at the Methodist Church Hall, on the corner of Sheep Street and Bell Lane, every other Friday between 11am and 1.00pm
Contact
Tel: 01295 221863
www.cherwell.gov.uk/jobclubs.
Charter Housing
Contact
Jaz Kundy
Charter Community Housing Ltd
Old Bodicote House
White Post Road
Bodicote
OX15 4FH
Tel: 0845 009 2404
Email: jaz.kundy@cc.housing.co.uk
Website: www.cchousing.co.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
The Citizens Advice Bureau provides independent, confidential free advice.
Contacts
Bicester CAB
Tel: 01235 524857
Banbury CAB
Tel: 0844 848 7922
Caseworker for disabled and vulnerable: Lynn Tel: 01608 646990
Website:www.banburycab.org
Clean Slate
Clean Slate is a charity aiming to provide support to men and women with the suffering from the effects of childhood and domestic abuse, and assists in dealing with the issues around mental ill health. There are 4 different services catering to different age and gender groups.
What is offered in each of the services:
- One to one support
- Counselling
- Social events and outings
- Exercise and healthy living support
- Advocacy and practical support
- Outreach Services
- Crisis Management
- Free Courses
Want to help out?
We’re always looking for new volunteers and everyone has something to offer. If you feel you want to help out, apply on our website.
Contact
The Chapel, Brice Road
Heyford Park
Bicester
Oxon
OX25 5TE
Tel: 01869 232461
Mobile: 07825 630203
Email: office@cleanslate.org.uk
Website: www.cleanslate.org.uk
Community Connect
Community Connect is a free friendly service, helping older people in Oxfordshire to improve their quality of life.
They can help you find out about local services and support, such as:
- Activities in your locality
- Organising a lift if you need it
- Help caring for a loved one
- Feeling safer at home
You can talk to them by phone, email or invite them to visit you. They work in strict confidence.
Can you spare a few hours a week?
The service which is managed by West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice Bureau and funded by Oxfordshire County Council, is also looking for volunteers. They are looking for volunteers to visit older people, to help them find out about services and activities they require. As a volunteer you will receive full training, support and expenses.
For more information on becoming a volunteer, or if you would like to arrange a home visit please contact Community Connect by phone or email. Details are below.
Contact
Community Connect
Tel: 01608 648099
Email: communityconnect@wocab.org.uk
Website: www.communityconnectoxon.org
County Council
Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for education, social services, transport, roads (except trunk roads and motorways), public rights of way, and libraries.
Contact
Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND
Tel: 01865 792422
Website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
The local County Councillor is Mr Ian Corkin, a Conservative representing the Ploughley division. His contact details are below.
Mr Ian Corkin
Slievenamon
Fritwell Road
Fewcott
Bicester
OX27 7NZ
Tel: 01869 345308
Mob: 07841 041 419
Email: ian.corkin@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Deddington Health Centre
Residents of Upper Heyford fall within the catchment area of Deddington Health Centre. The centre has five resident doctors and offers a wide range of services and clinics, including its own dispensary. See its comprehensive website(address below) for details of the staff and services provided.
Medication is regularly delivered to the village. For further information, contact the dispensary.
Opening hours are as follows:
Surgery hours: Monday to Friday 8.00am – 6.30pm by appointment only
Dispensary hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6.30pm, Saturday 9.00am – 12 midday
Contact
Deddington Health Centre
Earls Lane
Deddington
Oxon
OX15 0TQ
Tel: Appointments and queries: 01869 338611
Repeat prescriptions: 01869 338847 (10.00am – 3.30pm)
Fax: 01869 337009
Nurse & Health visitor: 01869 338895
Out of hours: 0845 3458995
Website: www.deddingtonsurgery.co.uk
District Council
Cherwell District Council collects our council tax, and provides many services such as refuse collection, street cleansing, homelessness, planning, sports and recreation.
Councillors Patrick Clarke, Ian Corkin and Barry Wood, all conservative represent The Astons & Heyfords ward.
Contact
Cherwell District Council
Bodicote House
Bodicote
Banbury
OX15 4AA
Tel: 01295 252535
Website: http://www.cherwell.gov.uk
Cllr Patrick Clarke
Email: patrick.clarke@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Cllr Ian Corkin
Tel: 01869 346151
Mob: 07841 041 419
Email: ian.corkin@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Cllr Barry Wood
Mob:07546 073678
Email: barry.wood@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Hospitals
The region’s main local hospitals are the John Radcliffe in Oxford and the Horton in Banbury, both part of the Oxford Radcliffe Trust. The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Oxford is a separate trust.
For details, maps etc, visit their websites below.
Both the JR and the Horton have Emergency Departments, open 24 hours a day. The JR also has a dedicated Children’s Emergency Department.
Contact
Tel: Horton Hospital: 01295 275500
John Radcliffe Hospital: 01865 741166
Websites:
www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk
www.noc.nhs.uk
– Free Hospital Transport
Free transport to the Horton, John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals is available for some patients who don’t have access to their own transport, and where there is no available public transport.
The scheme is administered by the Patient Contact Centre for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust. Booking must be made 48 hours in advance.
Contact
Tel: 0845 330 8888
orh.appointments@orh.nhs.uk.
Independent Living Centre
The Guideposts Trust Independent Living Centre, in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, provides information on products and organisations to assist people with disabilities and older people to increase and maintain their independence.
The Centre, based in Abingdon, provides this service to any adult living in Oxfordshire. The Centre has equipment for the kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom. Two occupational therapists are available for personal and confidential consultations, by appointment. There is also an Information Line.
Contact
Guideposts Trust Independent Living Centre
Abingdon Resource and Wellbeing Centre
Audlett Drive
Abingdon
OX14 3GD
Tel: 01235 524857
Email: ilc@guidepoststrust.org.uk
Website: www.guidepostsilc.org.uk
Job Centre search
Website: Oxfordshire Job Centres search
Marlborough School Community Education
The Marlborough School in Woodstock offers classes weekly, evening classes for adults, and workshops on five Saturdays throughout the year.
Contact
Jenny Bodinham
Community Education and Woodstock Partnership
The Marlborough Church of England School
Shipton Road
Woodstock
OX20 1LP
Tel: 01993 813592
Email: comed.4560@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk
Website: www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk/community/courses-for-adults.html
MP
The local MP for The Heyfords is Victoria Prentis.
Contact
Victoria Prentis MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8756
Email: victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk
Website: www.victoriaprentis.com
Constituency office:
Orchard House
Hopcraft Lane
Deddington
Oxfordshire
OX15 0TD
Tel: 01869 233 685
North Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust Partnership PALS
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for North East Oxfordshire and Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trusts provides a confidential service for patients in the area who need information and advice about NHS services, or have concerns about their treatment.
Contact
PALS
North Oxfordshire PCT Partnership
Indigo House
Banbury Business Park
Adderbury
Banbury
OX17 3NS
Tel: 0800 052 6088 (A 24 hour message service is available on this free phone line)
Email: pals@noxon-pct.nhs.uk
Website: http://www.oxfordshire.nhs.uk/pals-contact.asp
Oxfordshire Comet
The new bookable transport service from Oxfordshire County Council, available for people in Upper Heyford Parish who do not have access to suitable public transport.
- Wherever you need to be in Oxfordshire, the Comet can get you there.
- The Comet can do one-off journeys, regular and group trips. We can also offer regular routes for local communities, similar to a bus route.
The service is available 10.15am – 2.30pm Monday to Friday
Costs will vary based on your journey and travel type
To book a journey call: 01865 323201
For full terms and conditions visit: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/oxfordshire-comet
Oxfordshire NHS
The Oxfordshire NHS Portal can help with a variety of information. If you need help with any of the following, visit their website. See details below.
- finding a GP
- finding a dentist
- finding a pharmacy out of hours
- booking an eye sight test
- changing your doctor
- making a complaint
- finding out about healthcare costs
- finding out about Social and Community Services.
Websites: www.oxfordshire.nhs.uk
Postal Services
There are 2 post boxes in the village, halfway down High Street and at the top. There are further post boxes at Heyford Park. The last collection times and locations can be found HERE
To find your nearest/most convenient PO, go to https://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder
Refuse and Recycling
Regular collections normally take place on Wednesday mornings. Green bins, and Blue & Brown bins are collected on alternate weeks.
Green bins: household and non-recyclable waste.
Blue bins: recyclable waste except glass.
Brown bins: garden waste.
Small brown kitchen caddies are provided for food waste. The contents should be transferred to your brown bin for collection.
For more information, to download a collection timetable, or to order a new bin, visit www.cherwell.gov.uk/recycling or telephone: 01295 221940.
Recycling banks
The two closest locations to the village are glass recycling at Aston View, Somerton, glass and clothes recycling at Caulcott, glass recycling at the Community Centre Heyford Park and The Red Lion car park in Steeple Aston. Steeple Aston Village Hall also has containers for cans, dead batteries , small electrical items and bagged clothes and shoes.
Bulky domestic waste
There is a charge for collection of beds, cookers, furniture, fridges and freezers etc. For more information, or to make a booking, click here or telephone: 01295 221940.
Commercial waste
For information on dealing with commercial waste, click here or telephone: 01295 221940.
Freegle
The Cherwell Valley Freegle Network is open to all who want to “recycle” items rather than throw them away. The group covers Somerton, Fritwell, North Aston, Middle Aston, Steeple Aston, Upper Heyford, Lower Heyford, Rousham, Caulcott, Steeple Barton, Middle Barton, Duns Tew, Deddington and surrounding areas.
The only rule is that everything must be free. For more information, please click here.
Freecycle
There are local freecycle groups in Cherwell Valley, Kidlington-Woodstock and Oxford. All goods posted must be free and all postings are free. To find out more about these groups, go to: www.freecycle.org.
Recycled Furniture Stores
Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) and Banbury Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) run re-used furniture stores.
For a small charge, both can collect unwanted furniture and household goods.
The better items are made available to people on benefits or income support, at a nominal cost, enabling them to furnish their homes and improve their quality of life.
Goods in stock at their OCVA’s Headington furniture store include a selection of wardrobes, sofas, tables and chairs, cupboards, rugs and carpets, amongst other items.
Contact the Banbury CVS furniture project on 01295 267 741, or the OCVA on 01865 763698 or email furniture@ocva.org.uk.
Small Repairs Service for over-60s and disabled
Cherwell District Council offers a small repairs service for the over-60s, and those who are registered disabled or suffering from long-term ill-health.
They can help with a wide variety of small general repairs, such as fitting:
- shelves
- smoke detectors
- key safes
- grab rails
- security locks
- safety chains
- door viewers
They can also ease doors, carry out minor electrical work such as wiring plugs or replacing fuses, and minor plumbing work such as replacing tap washers.
The cost of the service is £15 for up to one hour’s work plus the cost of any materials. A second hour’s work (or part of) costs a further £15. They are not able to undertake works that will take more than 2 hours.
Please note that the Small Repairs Service is not for emergencies and they cannot undertake the following jobs:
- work involving the gas installation or gas appliances
- electrical work (other than minor works)
- unblocking toilets or drains
- cleaning
- decorating
- gardening or landscaping
- loft insulation
- external work above ground level
Contact
Tel: 0844 833 0310
Email housing@cherwell-dc.gov.uk
Transport
– Buses
Red Rose Travel Operates the 25 Bus service to and from Bicester.
The bus stop is located just beyond the T junction with Camp Road. The timetable is available by clicking either the link below:
25 Bus Timetable from 15th January 2024
Contact
Red Rose TravelThe Blinking Owl Garage,
Oxford Road, Dinton,
Aylesbury,
Bucks,
HP17 8TT
Telephone: 01296 747 926
Email: Office@redrosetravel.com
– Trains
Bicester North and Bicester Village
Trains from here are operated by Chiltern Railways. There are frequent services to London Marylebone via High Wycombe, and to Birmingham via Banbury. Visit the website below for more information on times, fares and real time information.
Contact
Website: www.chilternrailways.co.uk
Tel: 01869 248248
Heyford
Trains from here are operated by First Great Western. This station is unmanned, and an infrequent service runs between Banbury and London Paddington, usually requiring changes at Oxford, Didcot Parkway or Reading. Visit the websites below for times, fares and real time information (to find the station, search for Heyford, not Lower Heyford).
Contact
Website: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
National Rail:
Website: www.nationalrail.co.uk
Tel: 08457 484950
Cherwell Rail Users’ Group (CRUG) represents the views of people travelling on this line. For more information, email crug1@btinternet.com, or phone the chairman Chris Bates on 01295 758325.
Village Networks
Your link to advice and support
Village Networks is now expanding! The success of new funding from The Big Lottery allows us to expand our outreach into Daventry District and Cherwell District, as well as South Northamptonshire, but also to work with more organisations to broaden the range of face-to-face advice and support:
• Come and visit Village Networks at an exhibition event near you or drop into the Village Networks vehicle (the “RIC” – Rural Information Centre) when in your area. See our schedule below.
• Use the project for contact information to get in touch with experts to help you on issues such as welfare benefits and debt advice; health and wellbeing; reducing household bills (i.e. gas, electricity, heating oil); reducing isolation; volunteering, and linking up with basic/beginner computer training.
• Request a one-to-one, confidential meeting by appointment with an advisor in the Village Networks RIC.
• Find out about local opportunities and activities on offer through local voluntary and community groups.
• Take advantage of on-board internet access, printed information and the wealth of knowledge of staff and professional advisors.
For information on the RIC and how it can work with your charity or not-for-profit organisation, contact Nick King on 01327 358264, email: nick@snvb.org.uk or see www.snvb.org.uk
Volunteer Driver Service
Volunteer Connect, which is supported by Cherwell District Council, runs a volunteer transport scheme that helps people with problems accessing public transport and who cannot get to important appointments.
If you need help getting to the doctor, hospitals, dentist, other medical appointments, etc. they will endeavour to find a local, vetted volunteer driver to get you there and back.
The price is 45p per mile to cover the cost of petrol.
Please call 0300 3030 125 if you need help with a journey, or to just register.
https://livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Services/2561/Banbury-Volunteer-Co
We also need more drivers! If you live within the Cherwell area, have a car and some free time; please call 0300 3030125, or pop into Banbury Citizens Advice to discuss this with Volunteer Connect. This is not an onerous volunteering opportunity as we will call you on an as-and-when basis and you can always say no!