Didcot Diary Spring 2021 Edition

Didcot Diary
SPRING 2021 EDITION

In this edition:

• Interview with Andrew Baker MBE BCAv
• Interview with NHS Vaccination Staff
• Didcot Town Council Updates
• Didcot Town Award Winners Photos

And much more!

ContentsISSUE#1 P9
P4
1 Join our Sunflower Challenge
2 Didcot Updates
5 Councillor Information
6 Mayoral Updates
9 Didcot Library Recommendations
10 NHS Staff Interview

P7
P10

p14

12 Didcot Town Awards Update
14 Interview with Andrew Baker MBE
18 Grant Aid Updates

If you have any Didcot based stories or updates you would Didcot Town Council
like us to feature in the Didcot Diary, then please contact Britwell Road

us at [email protected] Didcot, OX11 7JN

Sunflower Challenge Page 1

UpdatesISSUE #1 Page 2

Didcot Town Council offices has some new members of the team:

Robert Harris – In January we welcomed Robert to the team as the new Outdoor
Outdoor Services Services Manager. This role is responsible for overseeing the
management of the Town Council’s outdoor spaces such as
Manager parks, gardens, and allotments.

We asked Robert some ‘getting to know you’ questions:

Favourite Film: Field of Dreams
Favourite Actor: Morgan Freeman
Favourite Music: I enjoy most types of music but mainly Soul
and R&B.
Hobbies: I enjoy bee keeping, rock climbing and
mountaineering.

Robert was the Estate manager for a private landowner in South
Oxfordshire. The Estate was run down and had not really been lived
in for ten years he was contracted to assist in the renovations of an
8-year project to bring the accommodation up to scratch and revamp
all buildings and all outdoor spaces and assist the project Manager.
Robert was responsible for recruiting all the Estate staff and redesign
and create outdoor spaces, formal gardens and Kitchen gardens,
vineyard, stables, greenhouses, and surrounding woodland.

Nick White – Property In May we welcomed Nick to the team as the new Property and
and Facilities Manager Facilities Manager. This role is responsible for overseeing the
management of the Town Council’s Properties and Facilities
such as Didcot Civic Hall and Willowbrook Leisure Centre.

We asked Nick some ‘getting to know you’ questions:

Favourite Film Genre: Comedy and action
Favourite Holidays: Skiing and beach holidays
Favourite Music: I enjoy most types of music
Hobbies: I enjoy Running, I am a coach for a running group. I
enjoy mountain biking and socializing with family (when
possible/COVID allowing).

Nick joins us from a Facilities Management role within
education having previously worked at ski resorts and for
supermarket chains.

Updates Page 3

Staff Update Grant Aid Report – Christmas Dinners

On Friday 29th January 2021, our Outdoor Although Christmas was a while ago, the lovely
Services Manager Tony Rudge retired. He Anna Gatrell held her annual Christmas Dinner for
was with the council for three years and we people who were at home over Christmas on their

wish him a long and happy retirement. own. Due to socialising restrictions, she was
unable to hold her annual meal at the Meadows
care home, however with a team of volunteers

she managed to get 45 dinners delivered to
people in their homes, along with some yummy

hampers.

‘Thank you to Didcot Town Council for helping to
fund the dinners again, hopefully this year we will
be able to have the dinners altogether so we can

play games.’

Allotments

Allotments are still very popular with waiting
lists for all our allotment sites.

All allotment holders should have received
their invoices for the 2021/2022 year. If you
have not had your letter or if we do not have
your up-to-date details then please let us know
either by phone, writing or using the electronic

form on our website.

Easter Decorations

Before Easter, some beautiful pictures
were sent into the Council from

Ladygrove Park Primary School. Lots
of people who attended the Civic Hall
for their Covid-19 vaccinations said
how much they cheered them up whilst
they were waiting for their injection.

Thank you to the children for their
brilliant artwork.

Updates Page 4

Prestige Awards Grant Aid Report – Didcot Library

The Civic Hall has won ‘Event Venue of the Didcot Town Council gave Didcot Library a grant
Year 2021 / 22’ for the second year running. to help fund some ‘I’m a Star’ reading goody
This is for the hard work for the COVID-19 bags.

vaccination programme we are currently Each bag contains:
hosting for the three local GP practices.
- World Book Day book - enjoy reading and give
yourself an ‘I’m a reading star’ sticker at the end
- Scratch your own bookmark - remember a book
always waits for you
- Mindful colouring and puzzles – relax and lose
yourself in colours and puzzles
- Form to get your own library card – it is
completely free to join
- ‘I’m a reading star’ sticker for every book you
read from the library
- Cuddly toy - for you to read to and mini torch -
so you can read in bed!

‘Thank you to Didcot Town Council for your
support.’

NHS Tesco Community Champions

As you are probably aware the Didcot Civic Hall Tesco have continually provided food, snacks
has been used over the last couple of months and drink to the NHS Vaccination staff and
for the vaccinations for Covid-19. This is an volunteers since the vaccination programme
started which is much appreciated by the NHS
ongoing situation which potentially might and volunteers.
continue for a few more months. We ask that
all our customers bear with us as we are sure Tesco Community
Champions, Elaine
everybody agrees this is a very important Griffiths (Right)
programme to protect the public from this and Becci Brinton
(Left), regularly
deadly disease. deliver fruit, crisps,
squash and much
more to Didcot Civic
Hall ready for
the NHS staff and
volunteers.

Councillors Page 5

Didcot Town Council consists of 21 voluntary councillors who will serve a 4-
year term ending in 2023.

Each councillor is elected to represent their ward (the administrative
division/area of Didcot Town Council). A councillor’s primary role is to
represent their ward and the people who live in it.

Councillors do not receive any payment. They give their time voluntarily to the
benefit of the community and residents.

Councillors by ward: Ladygrove Ward:

All Saints Ward: Cllr Phil Davies
Cllr Paul Giesberg
Cllr Anthony Dearlove Cllr Victoria Haval
Cllr Denise Macdonald Cllr Bill Service
Cllr Amanda Sandiford Cllr Mark McNeill
Cllr David Rouane
Cllr Pam Siggers Cllr David Chandran
Cllr Alan Thompson
Northbourne Ward:
Millbrook Ward:
Cllr Eleanor Hards
Cllr James Durman Cllr Mocky Khan
Cllr Axel Macdonald
Park Ward: Cllr Marie Walsh

Cllr Anthony Hudson Orchard Ward:
Cllr Melissa Mallows
Cllr Celia Wilson
Cllr John Moody

Didcot Mayor Page 6

Annual Meeting

Each year at the Annual Meeting the Council elects a new Mayor and
Deputy Mayor to serve for the coming year.
On Tuesday 4th May 2021, Councillor Mocky Khan was elected the
Mayor for 2021/2022 and the elected Deputy Mayor was Councillor
Pam Siggers.

Message from the outgoing Mayor of Didcot, Cllr Eleanor Hards

As I write this, my year as Mayor has just come to an end. It didn’t turn out as I
expected when I became Deputy Mayor two years ago but then that’s life. I’m
very aware that my family and I have been very fortunate.

I would like to thank all the organisations in Didcot
and beyond who invited me to their meetings and
occasional real-life events when regulations
permitted. It was good to see all the work that was
still carrying on to help people despite difficult
circumstances.

Over the year we have got used to doing things
differently. Last month the then Deputy Mayor and
I had a remote meeting with the new Mayor of our
French twin town Meylan. We were able to tell him
about Didcot and discuss ways of strengthening our
links even though an actual twinning visit can’t yet
be planned.

Life is starting to open up again but there is still a
lot of uncertainty about how things will go so I hope people will be cautious even if
we are allowed to hug!

I wish my successor Cllr Mocky Khan a very successful and enjoyable year.

Cllr Eleanor Hards

Page 7

Message from Mayor Mocky Khan

Firstly, I would like to start by thanking Cllr Hards for her hard work, dedication,
and leadership during her Mayoral year.

It was a difficult and strange year, but Cllr Hards as Mayor adapted to the new
norm and attended as many events as possible in person when allowed and
virtually. Cllr Hards represented Didcot with great dignity. I know that during
my year, I shall be calling on the former Mayors for advice and guidance!

Being Mayor of Didcot is a great honour and I
am very privileged to have this role. I moved to
Didcot 7 years ago and I would have never
thought I would become a councillor or be
Leader, let alone the Mayor. Congratulations to
Cllr Denise Macdonald on being elected as
Leader of the Council. Being Leader of the
Council is challenging role, but I know that
Cllr Macdonald will do a great job.

Didcot is changing and I am pleased to be the
first Asian to be elected Mayor. This shows the
growing diversity in Didcot and that all
communities are welcome.

I have chosen two charities that I would like to
raise money for during my Mayoral year. The two I have chosen are Play2Give
and Coeliac UK.

Play2Give is a superb local charity and Andy Baker, and his team are doing great
work which I would like to help and support.

Second is a personal one, my youngest daughter who is 9 years old, has coeliac
disease. Coeliac disease sufferers must avoid gluten and be gluten free. I want to
raise money to support their research into a possible cure and communicate key
messages, so people know what to do or where to go for help if they believe they
have this condition.

Lisa Khan my partner will be Mayoress and will accompany me to any events that
we can attend in person. I shall plan and publicise my Mayoral events for the year
and I hope you will be able to join me at these events.

Cllr Mocky Khan
Mayor of Didcot

Get Involved Page 8

You can feature in the Didcot Diary!

If you have a story or a photograph you would like us to share in the Didcot Diary,
then please let us know at [email protected].

This could be a story about yourself, a friend, or a charity in the Didcot area or
maybe you would like to share some photographs you took of the area or maybe
a nice walk route around Didcot you have discovered.

The cover image for this edition of the Didcot Diary was taken by a resident
walking through Smallbone Recreation Ground.

Didcot Library Page 9
Recommendations

Recommended Reads:

Ten Little While We Can’t Little Monsters Oi Aardvark
Superheroes Hug By Kes Gray
By David
By Mike Brownlow By Eoin Walliams
& Simon Rickerty McLaughlin

Recommended e-books:

Dork Diaries Together We Izzy The Sam Wu Is Not Isaiah Dunn is Cyborg Cat
Can Invisible Afraid of The my Hero and the
By Rachel Masked
Renee Russell By Caryl Hart By Louise Dark By Kelly J
Gray Baptist Marauder
By Kevin
Tsang & Katie By Ade
Adepitan
Tsang

Didcot Library

Tel: 01235 813103
[email protected]

NHS Staff Interview Page 10

As many of you will already know, Didcot Civic Hall has been hosting the NHS
COVID-19 Vaccination in our Main Hall. We spoke to Volunteer Lead, Andrea

Warren for an update on the programme.

What does your role to closely monitor those Lead Volunteer Andrea
entail? who may be vulnerable Warren at Didcot Civic
or have specific needs.
I have been involved in We adapt quickly and Hall during an NHS
co-ordinating the move on. Vaccination session.
volunteers and working
within the Primary Care Who has been involved clinic’, it depends on the
Network of our 3 Didcot in Volunteering at the volume of vaccine on
Partnerships right from Civic Hall? site and it depends on
the beginning. From the what type of vaccine we
moment I was asked to So far, from January get, as we have both
be the Lead, I have 2021 we have used AstraZeneca and
organised daily rotas, approximately 130 Pfizer. Some days we
roles, lateral flow tests, volunteers. Some are have recorded 1200
updates for my volunteer from local high schools, vaccinations!
team and supported the interested in medicine as
clinic where I can. From a career, undergoing How many
arranging the weekly fruit work experience, some vaccinations have
drop, bringing it in, are retired GP’s/nurses. been given at the Civic
adding biscuits if There are volunteers Hall?
necessary, to buying from all walks of life, and Since we began
paper cups and sorting of varying ages. Most vaccinating in early
the spoons. I usually volunteers have January 2021, we have
have 9/10 staff on in the responded to GP/Social vaccinated over 20,000
morning and the same in Media websites and people (from the three
the afternoon. At some posts. I respond to all
point, I may have only messages, texts, and
one week’s notice to emails, and explain how
arranged 60 shifts, but we work.
we need to be flexible
and change our How many
guidelines at a moment’s vaccinations are given
notice. per day?

Flexibility, teamwork, It varies how many
and assessments are the people we can vaccinate
key. We offer first and each day. It depends on
second doses at the staff availability and
same time, and we have whether it is a ‘small

Didcot Medical and then stay on shift approximately 50 Easter
Surgeries, Woodlands until 6pm. Eggs as gifts for us, and
Medical Centre, Didcot Currently, our we have had a few
Health Centre, and programme runs from boxes of chocolates,
Oaktree Health Centre). two to three days each biscuits and home-made
These surgeries cover week, depending on cakes!
just under 50,000 from vaccine.
Didcot and its A local businessman
surrounding villages. What has the offers a special evening
community response meal at his restaurant for
Have you been to each been? those working on the
vaccination session at programme. I think at the
the hall and how often The Didcot and local beginning, the
are they? community have been vaccinations gave
really supportive and people hope, that we
Yes, I have been to inspired by the could eventually lower
every vaccination programme. Particularly the R rate, meet our
session. However, I now in the early stages of loved ones and friends,
arrive first thing to set up January. and come out of
and give my marshals Lockdown.
name tags, masks and We have regular
high vis vests and wait refreshments, fruit and Now we are seeing the
for approximately 45 treats from the local benefits of the testing,
minutes to make sure Tesco Champions, we and vaccinations – the
everything is in order, have had the ice cream country is slowly coming
before I leave. I always van visiting and offering back to some normalcy.
return, at around 1pm to free ice creams, one Most people are very
set up the afternoon staff man purchased pleased and relieved to
receive their vaccine.

Lead Volunteer
Andrea Warren

(Pictured left)
accepting food and
drink donations from
Tesco for the NHS
staff. The donation

was brought to
Didcot Civic Hall by

Elaine Griffiths,
Tesco Community
Champion (Pictured

Right).

Didcot Town Awards Page 12

The Didcot Town Council Awards are annual awards given to Didcot residents to
celebrate and honour their efforts within the community.
The awards usually take place at Didcot Civic Hall where all nominees enjoy an evening of
drinks, entertainment, and celebration. Unfortunately, in 2020, due to the outbreak of
Coronavirus the awards had to be held virtually however, in April the Mayor at the time,
Councillor Eleanor Hards, was able to individually present the winners with their awards.
Below are a few photographs from the day. To read a short interview from each winner visit
didcot.gov or Didcot Town Council Facebook page.

Hasnath Miah – COVID Hero (Left) and
Ady Crook – Unsung Hero (Below).

Rachel and Steve Hunter – Lifetime
Achievement (Left).

Angels APA – Artistic Award (Left) and
Daniel Lloyd – Young Volunteer (Below).

SMAF Oxford – Sporting Achievement (Left)
and Robin McStay – John Eldridge Award
(Below).

Daniel Merritt –
Service with a Smile

Page 14

Andrew Baker MBE Interview

We caught up with local fundraising star Andrew Baker after it was announced that he will receive an
honour from the Queen after decades of charity work in Oxfordshire. We talked about lockdown, his

charity Play2Give and of course, how it feels to be honoured by the Queen with an MBE.

Hi Andy. First off, can you continued way for me to say children's hospital become Andy in a
tell us a bit about your "thank you" for all the a reality. Play2Give
charity work? support and rehabilitation t shirt
they provide to me for using This what propelled me into
I began my charity work their services as someone fundraising and the wheels put the bricks and mortar
over 19 years ago. I initially with a brain injury. have never come off since. into the building of the
started raising money whilst Play2Give has made many So, I got my school on hospital that stands today.
at school, and it was there long-lasting impacts to the board and there my How were you told that
that my fundraising drive lives of many in this time, fundraising crusade began. you were getting an
began. for example "The Play2Give I carried on into sixth form MBE? (Member of the
Room" on the teenage ward whilst studying business Most Excellent Order of
As a schoolboy I in the Children's Hospital studies and got the nearby the British Empire)
coordinated the fundraising formally opened in March girls school involved. The news of the MBE late
efforts while at St Birinus 2017 after raising £40,000 last year came out of the
which was raising funds for to name and fund the room. For me, wanting to give blue and totally
the building of the Oxford £7,000 funded six specialist back was because of my unexpected. I found out
Children's Hospital, which neurological exercise hospital care and treatment about the honour in an
opened in 2007. Play2Give machines at the Headway received from birth, and email from the Cabinet
is my very own fundraising Centre, in 2017 as part of latterly the brain surgery Office. Usually the 'fancy'
organisation I proudly the gym there, and more aged 12 was my spur to letter comes in a golden
founded in September recently over £10,000 raise the money. In envelope in the post but
2007, aged 19. Play2Give sponsored the Play2Give coordinating with the because of the pandemic
organises a wide range of family room which was fundraising at St Birinus, I all letters for this year's
events and helps people in unveiled earlier this year in was responsible for the New Year Honours were
our community all year the New Ronald McDonald school's efforts in raising sent out by email to all
round. This now includes House, which is the free over £11,000 which helped recipients. To be honest, it
clothing packages to the "home away from home" took a while once I fully
financially struggling and accommodation to families read the letter to sink in,
families in crisis in and of sick children in hospital at
around the Didcot. Last the John Radcliffe.
year we still managed to
raise over £17,000 despite Wow so you started
the impact of Covid-19 young. Do you remember
severely affecting all the first fundraising you
fundraising plans and the did?
cancellation of most events.
14th February 2003 was the
Play2Give is all about very first grand I raised.
"changing transforming and
saving lives across I was in year 10 and a few
Oxfordshire" and helps a months earlier, in
wide number of people and September I was involved in
a wide range of local the launch of the original
charities, from the children's campaign, to raise
hospital to Headway £15million for the building of
Oxfordshire, Be Free Young the specialist children's
Carers and many more. In hospital which stands today.
total over 30 good causes Being a young patient and
have benefited. Causes that receiving treatment at the
benefit from the funds time after major surgery
raised are usually those endured two years
closest to my heart for previously, instantly I
personal reasons, for wanted to raise money to
example Headway as a help see the dream of the

and I thought they must bumped into them or saw doing something I love in Covid just as much as
have had the wrong person them when I have revisited doing, that comes for me Play2Give does in a
and the initials of the the school over the years naturally in helping others general pre-covid year.
honour the wrong way always said they would for my own experiences of
round. believe I would get a gong adversity and for P2G There were times when
from Her Majesty, but I continuing to go from motivation was hard to
To say both me and my always used to brush it off, strength to strength with find because I missed
Mum were emotional is an and although you dream more and more people bringing people events
understatement. It also about it you never actually getting on board really fills that brings the community
came at a hard time when think it would happen. For me with pride. together but the ongoing
we had suffered a me I see the MBE as a nice support and generosity
bereavement earlier that tribute to all my team and Even when I find things from people kept me
month. The mother of two supporters, as without their tough, and my brain injury going - even when I was
of my team members, Matt help and support, I could presents everyday finding things tough and
and Luke, Angela, who was not do what I do and it’s a challenges and struggling nearly threw in the towel,
remarkably close to both really lovely thing for with chronic fatigue as part but as the saying goes
me and my mum, and a Play2Give. of it seeing others’ lives you can't keep a good
made just that bit better and man down for long. By the
dedicated supporter, had Since Play2Give has that what I do is end of last year, I couldn't
received quite a lot of appreciated really does believe just how much
sadly passed away in the admiration from other make the hard tireless work Play2Give had still
same month from a counties in the county - and worth it. managed to do and
terminal cancer diagnosis, it still doesn't feel real. I am achieve in funds raised let
and so to come during such really looking forward to How do you stay alone the sixth
a difficult and emotional being able to eventually, motivated to continue Sleigh2Give gift appeal
time, really was the perfect once restrictions allow, go with your charity work? being one to go down in
lift. to receive my medal at an Especially through the history books as a
investiture at the big Palace lockdown. new record.
The news was announced at a later date.
officially on the night of Lockdown was really hard What are your plans for
December 30th, in the Did you receive a lot of particularly the first stage. It the upcoming year?
press and online including congratulations from the affected me a great deal
The Gazette which was a community when you both mentally and There are many events
relief as it was super hard announced the news? emotionally, and with being planned, some new ones
for me to keep the news a carer to my mum. My alongside some popular
secret from everyone for I did - the amount of lovely fitness also dipped as I was returning events. For
four weeks. The reaction of messages I received both unable to maintain my example, this year there
the announcement from on Facebook, Twitter, sessions at the gym, and will in August (22nd) be the
friends, family and people Instagram and on my the Headway centre in Superheroes Colour Fun
who know me was truly LinkedIn as well as in Kennington was closed for Run organised in
touching, it warmed my person was really touching the first five months which partnership with Style
heart. and heartfelt. really impacted me, but Acre held at Boundary
regardless I kept busy and Park, and in early July
That must have been a The messages and still kept on raising funds (July 4th) a community
great feeling to receive congratulations received albeit virtually - which was danceathon held with
that email. How did you was lovely and all full of at first strange, but it was Angels Performing Arts.
celebrate? praise, many even saying amazing just how
my MBE had been a long supportive people There will also be the
To find out that I was being time coming and well continued to be. For popular boogie bingo
given the biggest honour of overdue. Each and every example, last year nights - one in October
them all, and to know that it one showed the amount of Play2Give ran its first and one in December
was from Her Majesty the love admiration and support Easter egg appeal with upon popular request and
Queen herself really did that there is for all that I do Pure Gym (Didcot), my gym on 5th December the
feel truly special and one with Play2Give and over and I was astonished with festive mini market in
that can be never topped. the many years since I the response - around 300 Didcot organised with the
The British Citizen Award I started giving back to help Easter eggs were received, support of Jeanette
was honoured with in 2017, others at the tender age of and these were donated Howse will return.
comes pretty close, but 14. St Birinus is where my just as the first lockdown
nothing is higher than an fundraising journey began struck to the Didcot Last year Play2Give
honour from the Queen. It so the school will always Foodbank to ensure no organised the very first
is one you never imagine hold a special place in my child of struggling families mini festive market and it
you will ever get; I know I heart, and never did I went without an Easter was such a success with
did not. imagine that nearly two treat. I still managed to over £1,400 raised for
decades on, I would still be raise just as much last year Play2Give (eight of its
A lot of people, including charities) that it was a no
some of my teachers from
St Birinus whenever I

Andy attending NCS 2019 Summer

Celebration and Graduation day in
Sept 2019 at Oxford Brookes as a
guest speaker.

brainer it would return this the Civic Hall. Tickets will activities, continued stalls the children's hospital
year. 2022 will be a go on sale in September. at local events, cake built so never in a million
massive year both for me This glitzy occasion will sales, tombola’s, raffles years did I think that I
and for the organisation. be a chance for and more galore. All the would have raised such
Next year Play2Give will supporters and the plans can be found on an incredible amount
mark 15 years - and it community to come the website at with a dedicated
only seems like yesterday together and celebrate play2give.org.uk where passionate and
when the organisation two incredible people can also make a supportive team of
reached its tenth birthday achievements of two donation online, and we volunteers and of course
in 2017. amazing milestones in have a huge social media loyal supporters, nor that
one night, whilst raising presence – on our both my fundraising and
To mark the 15th funds for three charities, Facebook page alone we Play2Give would still be
anniversary, I have set the previous two have over 2,300 going so strong. I would
out a plan to raise 15 in occasions have always followers! like to extend a huge,
15 for 2022, so £15,000 been well received, big thank you to
for 15 years of P2G, and popular and sell-outs. Do you know how everyone for all their
hopefully with the support much money you have wonderful unwavering
as being one of the two Other plans include the raised in total? and never-ending
charities chosen by the return of the event that support, it means so
Mayor, Mocky Khan, he made Play2Give well I do - over £300,000 in much to help me do all
will help achieve this goal. known, the football total. This is through both that I do, my passion for
tournament, which my catalogue of making a difference in
And secondly, next year kickstarted the life of P2G fundraising events, the continued thanks for my
in January it will be off in 2007, alongside a support of individuals and "gift of life" twice over
exactly 20 years since I fun day, the return of the of course the value of will never diminish. And
first set out fundraising - Didcot Summer Fayre gifts raised by the annual of course, this includes
so 2022 will mark two and the town's third Mini gift giving appeal every Didcot Town Council
decades of my charitable Festive Market and many Christmas. and the Civic Hall who
work. One of the planned other sporting and provide such great
events is the third challenge events, My dream was to just support.
Play2Give Ball, to be held including hopefully a raise £500 in year 10 at
on 12th March 2022 at footgolf day, other school in 2003 to help get

Here is a snapshot of a few of
Andy’s fundraising events:

Page 18

Grant Aid Report - Be Free Young Carers
2020/21 Report to Didcot Town Council - 18 March 2021

Our work with Young Carers in Didcot and Across Southern Oxfordshire
With the onset of the first COVID-19 national lockdown in March 2020 Be Free Young
Carers was quick to respond, cancelling the Easter planned programme of young carer
social activities and moving all support services and volunteer befriending online.

Operating safely online required a review of our safeguarding policy and procedures,
parental consents and volunteer training which was put in place without delay and
remains under constant review.

In normal times many young carers experience unsettling life changes such as seeing the
effects of an illness or addiction on the person they care for. Some also cope with
bereavement, family breakup, losing income or housing. The pressures of school and the
social isolation experienced by many often leads to significant stress, increased mental
anxiety affecting their ability to access vital social support and educational opportunities.

With the first COVID-19 lockdown we quickly realised that young carers, confined to their
homes would be under much greater stress and anxiety and found that many were
taking on more caring responsibilities. The mental health of many was a real concern,
they clearly needed even more support during this time. Accordingly, with our support
services switched online and with revised safeguarding and social media policies and
procedures in place we were able to offer young carers in Didcot and across Southern
Oxfordshire:

• online befriending via Zoom and telephone; telephone contact with all families to
ensure they could access food deliveries and to highlight those who were
struggling mentally.

• food deliveries.
• regular contact with struggling families.
• online activities for young carers to undertake at home (creative arts, exercise, yoga);

increased social media activity to engage families and young carers.
• collaboration with other charities and food banks to get food to shielding families;

engaged local restaurants to share recipes for young carers.
• online drama programme involving young carers through a collaboration with the

Oxford Playhouse.
• a new online Facebook closed group for 13+ young carers

our quarterly newsletter to young carers.

During August we refreshed our website to provide more information on mental health
issues and circulated a toolkit to local schools to help them better identify and support
young carers in school, knowing that schools would see an increase in mental health
issues in September. To bring some joy to young carers and their families, in August we
arranged a picnic on the park event in Abbey Meadows and in Didcot to give young

Page 19

carers and their families an opportunity to talk to each other (whilst obeying social
distancing!).

Later in the Autumn, before the pre-Christmas lockdown, we were able to offer a limited
number of trips at half term for smaller groups of young carers.

The stress and anxiety young carers normally feel has increased significantly during
lockdown … no school, no school lunches during the summer holidays, no socialising, no
respite, confined at home with the person they help care for. Although young carers
were able to attend school during the lockdowns categorised as vulnerable, many chose
not to, afraid of bringing the virus into their homes.

To relieve the stress and anxiety we have been regularly using Soul Shine facility in
Abingdon for groups of up to 6 young carers with complex family situations affecting the
young carers. At Soul Shine they relax in a wonderfully calm atmosphere undertaking
arts activities and yoga away from the stresses of home. Meeting other young carers in
the groups has also had its benefits especially during the lockdowns. We are continuing
to use Soul Shine.

Our usual Christmas social events and young carers party had to be cancelled; however
we were able to put on a very successful virtual Christmas Party attended by
approximately 30 young carers, including some from Didcot. In addition, before
Christmas, knowing the impact of the latest lockdown on the mental wellbeing of young
carers, we delivered 80+ mental health resource packs to young carers identified as most
at risk, including a number in Didcot.

Operating within Government Guidelines our trained volunteer befrienders have
continued to meet with young carers, including four from Didcot. These weekly 1 to 1
meetings have proved to be a real lifeline for young carers, especially at this time,
enabling them to have quality time away from the home to talk through their concerns
whilst having some fun. Feedback has been hugely more positive and uplifting than we
predicted with parents saying they can see the positive change in their children.

Responding to the latest lockdown we have circulated our quarterly newsletter, copy
attached, and details of the range of online activities offered for February half term,
including a creative writing course and continuing with our drama project collaboration
with Oxford Playhouse. We are continuing to contact families with young carers most at
risk to ensure they receive the support they need.

With home schooling in place for the foreseeable future we are contacting local
companies to donate laptops to young carers who are without any source of connecting
to online schooling; some families need more than one laptop with siblings at different
educational stages.

We continue to be committed to offer support to young carers in Didcot and across
Southern Oxfordshire and are very grateful to the Town Council for its support for our
work.

Be Free Young Carers l Harwell Innovation Centre, Curie Avenue, Didcot, OX11 0QG l 01235 838 554 www.befreeyc.org.uk Registered Charity 1042708, Company
Registration 2989722

Page 20

Didcot Town Council Grant Aid Award November 2020

8th March 2021

I am writing as requested with an update for the Town Council
following the grant of £1,000 awarded to Home-Start Southern
Oxfordshire.
Thanks to the funding we have been able to continue supporting families in Didcot who
have young children and are struggling with the challenges of family life. Though our usual
in-home support is not possible due to COVID-19, our team of dedicated staff and trained
volunteers have been supporting families via weekly phone/video calls, text and emails and
providing them with connections to the help they need.
We were also able to purchase a year’s subscription to Zoom, so we could hold our baby
group virtually. Our Time for Tots group for parents and their pre-school children is held
every Monday and includes story time, rhymes and a song. Since then we have also
developed a Zoom support group for our volunteers too, to help them learn how to support
families remotely and the next session will have a guest speaker from the Community
Dental Service, so they can pass on key oral health information to families. We also held our
AGM via Zoom.
Before Christmas we organised door-step drops of Christmas sacks to the children, the
sacks included Toys (donated by Play2Give) as well as activity sets, books and Christmas
treats.
We are very grateful for the Town Council’s continued support, as without help from
councils such as yours we would not be able to continue supporting the families that need it
most. We’re especially grateful for this particular donation during these difficult times.
Thank you once again and please pass on our thanks to all the councillors.
Yours sincerely,

Faye Golding-King
Development Manager
Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire

Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and
Wales Charity no. 1113941. Company no. 05443274.

Page 21

Didcot Garden Town Programme – Updates from 2020-21
Didcot Garden Town’s commitment: 15,000 new homes and 20,000 new jobs by 2031.

Housing
Great progress with 10,000 homes approved or under construction with facilities to support
them.

Active projects: Didcot A (former power station), Former Amey Works, Gateway, Ladygrove
East (250 units), NE Didcot reserved matters, Valley Park. Decision not yet published on
appeal case for Sandringham Way project. Communication on West Valley Park site (“Milton
Fields”) is ongoing.

Jobs
It is currently estimated that there are 38,533 jobs within DGT, with trajectories indicating
that DGT is on track to reach its committed target. 17,000 jobs alone are secure through the
growing opportunities at Milton Park, Harwell Campus and Culham Science Centre.
Investment by businesses is substantial, with an estimated figure in excess of £2bn being
leveraged into DGT since 2015.

Funding and Resources
Our bid for 2019-20 capacity funding from Homes England was successfully announced in
January 2020, where Didcot was awarded £100,000 in revenue funding.

Notification received from Homes England that the proposed allocations for the annual
capacity funding for 2020/21 for all garden communities’ projects will be announced in June
2021 in the minister’s statement.
The team expanded into a Garden Communities service within South Oxfordshire and Vale
of White Horse district councils, managing Berinsfield Garden Village and Dalton Barracks
Garden Village additionally. This encourages greater oversight of the garden communities’
projects and encourages synergies between the areas. Currently, we’re in the process of
appointing a Team Leader for DGT and two Project Support Officers were appointed in
December 2020.

Governance
During 2020, the DGT Advisory Board was opened to the public to participate. Due to
COVID-19 restrictions the accessibility to watch the meeting was efficiently rolled out
virtually. After approvals by both South and Vale in early 2020, a new seat to represent the
five parish councils within the DGT boundary was made available on the board. Cllr Rita
Atkinson from Sutton Courtenay Parish Council was appointed.

We’ve successfully launched three sounding boards which include parish councils, residents
and businesses. There was great participation in all three-sounding boards with 80 residents
and 34 business attending the relevant launches. The boards represent local insight and

knowledge to support delivering projects to meet local need. They also encourage
stewardship within the garden town, and we look forward to the subsequent workstreams
with all stakeholders moving forward.

Project updates for work undertaken in 2020

HIF1 Transport Infrastructure
The March/April 2020 public consultation generally confirmed support of the HIF1 design
proposals. The consultation received double the amount of responses compared to the
2018 consultation. Suggestions being worked through relating to each scheme change.

Stakeholder management and engagement plans are developed to support the ongoing
work relating to the HIF1 projects, which included the statutory engagements with national
organisations regarding planning. Developer discussions and land negotiations are ongoing.

Pedestrian cycle connections to be improved relating to existing public rights of way.
Including access to the centre of Didcot, accessing existing and new residential links to main
employment sites (i.e. Milton Park) and enterprise zones.

Preliminary design – a planning application will be submitted in summer 2021 and OCC will
hold a public consultation event. Construction of all identified transport projects should be
completed in 2023/2024.

Northern Perimeter Road (NPR3)
OCC are working with DGT to move ahead with the Northern Perimeter Road (NPR3) project
and how to forward fund it.

Didcot Central Corridor Study
A brief is being developed that will be used to commission a consultant to work on
developing the vision and carrying out options appraisal for the scheme. The study includes
main movement corridors within the town centre (Cultural Spine and Gateway Spine).

Science Vale Cycle Network
More commuters can leave their cars behind after the opening of a £5.8 million cycling and
footpath network in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, linking three large
employment centres with nearby towns.

Oxfordshire County Council has finished work on five cycling routes which make up the first
phase of the Science Vale Cycling Network project – more than 10km of improved cycle and
pedestrian paths that are now open to the public.

The routes link the science and research centres at Harwell Campus, Milton Park and
Culham Science Centre with Abingdon, Wantage and Didcot, including Didcot Parkway
railway station. The sixth and final route, 5(G), of Phase 1 is being constructed by Taylor
Wimpey as part of s278 agreement and is due to be open in April 2021.

MultiCAV (Autonomous vehicles project)
Autonomous bus trials between Milton Park and Didcot Parkway have been delayed by
COVID. Estimated timing is now fourth quarter of 2021 for pilot testing.

The 600-space cycle parking facility was constructed by GWR at Didcot Parkway. There is
dedicated space for e-bikes and branding for the MiLink app – all part of the MultiCAV
project which DGT sits on the consortium for.

116-120 Broadway
South Oxfordshire District Council own property at the east end of Broadway which include
units 116, 118 and 120. The three properties are vacant and the former shop fronts are
boarded up with Didcot Garden Town display panels in front of them. South Oxfordshire
District Council is working with consultants to develop options to take forward
refurbishment of 120 and to redevelop 116 and 118. 116 and 118 are in a poorer condition
than 120 and due to be demolished once we have appointed a demolition contractor.

We're also exploring meanwhile uses once demolition has taken place, which may include
for example trees and planters in front of the building. These planters can be reused
elsewhere in Didcot, when the sites finally developed. We're also exploring the potential for
community-led art on hoardings around the site during demolition and construction

Community Centres
We're delighted that the councils are now taking over both the District and the Southern
community centres at Great Western Park; excellent community centres but sadly they both
remain closed due to the current national Covid-19 restrictions.

If restrictions lift sufficiently, we hope that we will open to the public after Easter, and
anyone wanting to register to hire any of the substantial halls and facilities should visit the
websites.

Great Western Park Health Centre
Legal processes are underway for Taylor Wimpey to transfer the health facility site which is
near the shops and district centre in Great Western Park, to the Vale of White Horse District
Council.

Meanwhile we're working with the Oxford Clinical Commissioning Group who are
responsible for ensuring the right NHS services are provided in the area, and we're also
engaging with local GP’s at the Woodlands Medical Centre in Didcot. Initial designs
submitted to planning by architects working for OCCG had issues such as overshadowing
nearby properties and not providing sufficient parking. An amended planning application is
being explored to address these issues. It's important that the new designs work well for the
local GP’s and NHS, for local residents and also for the council as landowner. The new
surgery will provide much needed health provision.

Civil Parking Enforcement
Following approval from the respective Cabinets in December 2020, the civil parking
enforcement team is working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council to apply for a

joint Civil Parking Enforcement for South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse
District Council and Cherwell District Council.

The move could see responsibility for parking enforcement transfer from the police to a new
team managed by Oxfordshire County Council by the end of 2021.

Over the next month identification of the on-street locations which may be suitable for
setting up Pay and Display permit parking. This is an essential part of the model. A formal
application to Department for Transport is underway which would allow for consultation
and engagement with town and parish councils mid-year. The project is aiming to be
implemented by the end of 2021. There is a focus on making sure that existing signs and
lines are clear rather than making any changes or putting in new on-street restrictions

A localised parking strategy for DGT can be developed alongside this workstream if the
DGTAB still thinks this would be a priority project.

Community Infrastructure Levy Spending Strategy
The CIL funding spending strategies were recently approved by South Oxfordshire and Vale
of White Horse District Councils
One of the key aspects of the new spending strategy is to really place a big emphasis on the
garden town. Didcot Garden Town straddles the boundary between South and Vale, where
historically we’ve restricted our CIL funds being spent across districts which limits such
things as placemaking and connectivity of the masterplan.
The new strategy allows us to pull our CIL resources across that district boundary, so that we
can really look at the garden town as a whole and start looking at what sort of projects that
can be delivered in that area. Didcot Garden Town is the only exception within the
strategies where this can be applied.

Newsletters
To secure continued engagement and communications with all local stakeholders, 6
newsletters were published throughout 2020. So far, 450 people have registered to keep up
to date with Didcot Garden Town

COVID-19 Community Support
During the first lockdown, the team was temporarily redeployed to support urgent work
within our districts to help vulnerable and shielding residents’ due national restrictions.