Author Archives: Backstreeter

Abingdon Oxfam Shop Wins National Award

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The Abingdon Oxfam shop volunteers have been named Shop Team of the Year in the 2025 Oxfam Volunteer Awards — a national honour that recognises outstanding dedication and teamwork. The team achieved this without currently having a shop manager in place.

When asked about the award, a volunteer at the till said they were “very proud to have won.” The framed certificate now takes pride of place in the shop.

The shop itself is well-organised and a mix of fairtrade goods, second hand books and music, toys, homeware and ornaments, and clothing.

The window display has a mix of fashion, art, and vintage items.

Pride Month in Abingdon: June 1st–30th

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Throughout June, Abingdon councils and businesses are showing support for Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities and culture and promoting inclusivity.

The Helen & Douglas House shop has a window display with colourful dresses on mannequins arranged in rainbow order, with a rainbow stripe along the bottom.

The Pride flag flies from the Abingdon County Hall, reflecting the Town Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ residents. A Pride picnic is planned later in the month.

Mostly Books is joining in with a rainbow flag in the window and a display of books — exploring LGBTQ+ lives and themes.

These local displays are part of a wider movement. Pride Month is observed in June to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in the US. It has since grown from the US into a global movement.

Community Use of Unit 25 in Bury Street

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Unit 25 in Bury Street is currently being made available to community groups, thanks to the landlords Gentian Sunnyday and The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society. This follows works taking place in Unit 24, used previously.

Last week, the Oxford and District Woodcarvers used the space throughout the week, showcasing their work, including this clock case.

This morning, the Sewing Repair Shop held a session in the unit, offering help with mending and extending the life of clothes.

In the afternoon, it was the turn of the Ock Poets, a group that seems to be going from strength to strength in 2025 — drawing in an ever-growing number of local poetry enthusiasts.

If you’d like to find out more about using the space for your own community group, visit:Unit 25 – Community Space.

Bunting in Bury Street

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Paws & Play at Willows have decorated part of Bury Street, including the area outside their own shop, and the next door Pharmacy, and the large tree nearby, with bunting made from fabric strips. They are helping to organise the Against Breast Cancer event that takes place on July 12th.

The Pharmacy next door was closed today. They are without a dispensing pharmacist and will hopefully reopen.