The Grim Dark Gaming Society has been going since January 2024 and provides facilities and equipment for Science Fiction and table-top gaming. They can be found above the Willow Shakes in Bury Street. ‘Grim Dark’ refers to the Warhammer fantasy world of the year 40,000 AD, where there is no end of war.

Do you want to know how to survive after an urban disaster, or how to live in the wild? The Bushkraft Team lead hiking trips, bushcraft adventures, and teach survival skills, for children, families, or other teams.

The Didcot Hashers are a social running and walking group based in Didcot who explore the countryside of South Oxfordshire. They meet at different pubs, follow a 3-5 mile flour-marked trail through meadows and woodlands, and end back at the pub for drinks and nibbles. The first hash is free, then it’s £1 per hash.

Since 1968, the Abingdon Area Archaeological & Historical Society (AAAHS) has carried out over a hundred different archaeological projects in and around Abingdon. Beyond their archaeological efforts, AAAHS host regular talks and walks, with insights into the past. In March 2025, don’t miss Dr. Hubert Zawadski’s talk, ‘My Polish Father’s Experiences in WW2: From the Gulag to Normandy and Scotland,’

The Abingdon Clubs and Societies Day took place today from 10 am to 2 pm at the Guildhall and Unit 24, Bury Street. I spoke with several stallholders and will feature some of them in the coming week.

On Sunday mornings at Lambrick Way, the Abingdon RFC Junior section takes to the field for rugby training. David Holt, chairman of the junior section, welcomes boys and girls aged 5 to under 18, saying, “The more, the merrier! It’s a warm and inspiring place where young players not only learn rugby but grow in confidence and make friends.”

Find out more at Abingdon RFC Junior Rugby.

For over twenty years, Abingdon Green Gym has brought volunteers together to improve the local environment while keeping fit and making friends. They meet on Saturday mornings, tackling a wide variety of tasks with a well-earned coffee break in between. Their work covers nature sites across Abingdon and beyond, and they welcome volunteers of all ages — no experience needed.

Their blog has been active since 2012, sharing examples of their work, and their latest programme can be found on their website.

Abingdon is home to a number of Girl Guide groups, offering girls the chance to make new friends, explore the outdoors, develop skills, and grow in confidence. Some groups have spaces available and welcome new members.

Guiding is also a great way for adults to get involved, whether by volunteering as a leader or helping occasionally as a parent. Any support makes a real difference to the lives of local girls and young women.

Find at more at oxfordshiregirlguiding.org.uk

AbiBinit! was formed to help keep Abingdon a litter-free town and promote pride in the local community. Litter picking is a simple way to make a difference — it’s exercise in the outdoors, connects people with nature, and encourages others to think twice before dropping rubbish.

The AbiBinit! 2025 programme includes three litter picks starting at Abingdon Lock, two of which will be supported by canoes. There are also two events planned in South Abingdon. The next group pick is on Saturday, 22nd March, starting at the MG Park on Marcham Road.

To reserve a place, email events@abibinit.org.

Following on from the Monday and Tuesday blog reports, Wednesday to Friday introduced more groups to tell us about their work in Abingdon.

Wednesday: Revd David Masters from Peachcroft Christian Centre introduced Tanya from Homes for Good. Tanya’s talk focused on the importance of fostering and adoption with the goal of reducing the number of children in care. She shared her personal experiences as a foster parent and provided information about the charity’s work.

(By the way, Saturday 25th January is Burns Night and Peachcroft Christian Centre have a Burns Night Supper and Quiz.)

Thursday: Ellie Ball, a pastor at the Abingdon Vineyard Church (who meet at Preston Road Community Centre), introduced Victoria from The Archway Foundation. The Archway Foundation host social groups for people experiencing isolation and loneliness in Abingdon (at 35 Ock Street) and Oxford. They also provide telephone befriending and other services. Founded in the 1980s, the foundation relies on volunteers who donate their time to listen and offer companionship.

Friday: Revd Dr AKM Adam introduced speakers from two Abingdon organisations that give sanctuary. Berny represented Open Doors, an initiative that developed out of the government’s warm spaces program in January 2023. Open Doors provides a safe and welcoming space for people to meet at Our Lady and St Edmunds Parish Hall.

Fiona represented the Abingdon Compassionate Cafe, a new initiative at St Ethelwold’s House that offers a safe space for people to meet who are bereaved or have a difficult diagnosis or are caring for a loved one near the end of life.

And finally for this week, there was an inter-church quiz at Abingdon Baptist Church on Friday night which Abingdon Baptist Church won.

A midday talk at St. Nicolas Church highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Abingdon churches and community to provide support for refugees. Rev. Keith Dunnett of Christ Church introduced the session. About 40 people attended.

Sue explained how the Host Abingdon initiative began nine years ago in response to a call from St. Ethelwold’s House (pictured above) to assist families fleeing war and persecution. The initial focus was on resettling Syrian families, with eight families arriving in Oxfordshire, as part of a government scheme. Host Abingdon provided support with language classes and advice on navigating unfamiliar systems, bureaucracy, and housing. They recognised the challenges of learning a new language after experiencing the trauma of war. These families have now integrated well into the community, many are now British citizens and 2 children attend university.

When the war in Ukraine began, Host Abingdon initially felt overwhelmed. Christ Church stepped forward to provide assistance and volunteers.

Host Abingdon also supports refugees residing in a Home Office hostel in the area and has built relationships with the women and children there, who have fled war zones in Eritrea, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria. One of the women shared her experiences and the help she has received both emotional and practical.

Janice, Chair of Host Abingdon, and from the International Welcome Café at Christ Church described their work. The café provides a welcoming space where people can improve their English and meet others. Typically, 20–30 people attend each week, including visitors and children, volunteers, and representatives from agencies. The café, which began in 2022 in response to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, is open to people of all nationalities and operates free of charge.

Keith highlighted the global scale of the refugee crisis, noting that 103 million people were forcibly displaced in 2023, a number likely to increase in 2024 due to the conflict in Gaza. A relatively small number of these individuals come to Abingdon.

The churches and community in Abingdon have a commitment to supporting those in need, whether at home through the food bank or those fleeing conflict zones though Host Abingdon, and the International Welcome Café.

Tomorrows midday talk and prayers at St Nicolas are about supporting looked-after children.