There were about 18 stalls on Abingdon Market Place for the annual Healthfest organised by the charity Healthy Abingdon.

The Reducing the Risk charity was new at the Healthfest. They help people who are experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse. They offer support, advice, and resources. They were the Mayor’s charity last year and are working to make Abingdon a safer place for everyone.

Dance Creative offered a free dance class. They specialise in helping older people and those with health conditions. Dancing can be fun, healthy, and a great way to meet new people.

The South Central Ambulance Charity raises money to help the ambulance service. They also support volunteers called Community First Responders. These volunteers help people in emergencies until the ambulance arrives.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rawda Jehanli, was talking to stall holders and was impressed by the Healthfest.

The Abingdon Good Neighbour Scheme helps people by visiting them, running errands, and listening. They have been operating since 2010 and won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018

The Friends of the Open Air Pool wanted to know what people thought about the pool this year. Most people really liked it. They said the pool is warm and there are lots of activities to do. The only problem is that it’s not open during June and July – often the best part of summer. The Friends want the pool to stay open longer. The last day is Sunday 8th September. The last session is for dogs. It is already fully booked.

It was Monday Market on a frosty, sunny morning.

In Unit 24, Bury Street, the Active Communities team held a Drop-in Coffee and Chat session. There will be a session every Monday until 4th March. Different partners will provide activities. Today was art.

The Active Communities Team at Vale of White Horse District Council runs various weekly activities for all ages and abilities. Also, at Unit 24, On Wednesdays from 1 – 1.45 PM, there will be STRONG AND STABLE, seated exercises. Spaces are limited, and booking is via sarah.fountain@southandvale.gov.uk.

Other activities include:

Community Walks: These friendly short group walks take place in various locations around Abingdon, and are a great way to get some exercise and meet new people.

YouMove: This initiative provides free or low-cost activities for families across Oxfordshire, including swimming, sports, and arts and crafts.

More information on the Active Communities web page

The Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Gwyneth Lewis, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gabby Barody, visited the annual Abingdon Healthfest today. The event, put on by Healthy Abingdon, featured over 20 stalls offering a range of health and wellbeing services and information.

Abingdon Liveable Streets, a group that campaigns for better walking and cycling infrastructure in Abingdon, had copies of the new Abingdon Active Travel Map.

The map shows all the walking, cycling, and wheeling routes in and around Abingdon. Online copies are at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/shop-eat-drink/active-travel-map-of-abingdon-on-thames

Dance Creative, a registered charity based in Oxfordshire, gave a demo. The charity specialises in working with older communities and people affected by physical and mental health conditions.

One Planet Abingdon had a stall that featured games and recipes that promote healthy, low-impact, local, seasonal, and organic diets and reduce food waste.

Active Communities, a service run by Vale of White Horse District Council, can direct people at a variety of weekly activities for all ages and abilities to help people with their health.

Kennington Memory Club and Dementia-Friendly Abingdon are two organizations that offer support to people living with dementia. Kennington Memory Club is a group that provides a safe and supportive environment for people with dementia to socialise and participate in activities. Dementia-Friendly Abingdon is a community initiative that aims to make Abingdon a more dementia-friendly place. You can book a place on a session to help make Abingdon more dementia friendly at: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/websession.

Oxfordshire County Council offer grant funding to enhance health and well-being in the Caldecott area of Abingdon. Grants range from £150 to £3,000, with a total fund of £25,000.

Community groups, charities, and companies can apply, but individuals should be part of an organization or have a partner.

Potential project ideas include mental and physical health support groups, initiatives promoting healthy eating, healthy mind and body activities, projects targeting isolation through befriending, and nature-focused endeavours like community gardens and environmental education.

The deadline for grant applications is June 30, 2023. For further information, visit https://www.communityfirstoxon.org/caldecott-community-grants-apply-now/.