Category Archives: charity

Abingdon Oxfam Shop Wins National Award


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.

Christian Aid at 80


On Saturday, a Christian Aid stall was set up in Abingdon’s Market Place, marking the start of Christian Aid Week 2025.

Christian Aid was founded in 1945 as Christian Reconciliation in Europe, in response to the suffering caused by the Second World War. British and Irish churches came together to support refugees in urgent need. In 1957 they launched Christian Aid Week and in 1964 renamed the charity to Christian Aid.

Eighty years on, Christian Aid continues to work alongside communities around the world facing poverty, conflict, and climate crises.

Twenty years ago, most households in Abingdon received a distinctive stick-down Christian Aid envelope, collected door to door by volunteers. That tradition is less common, but fundraising continues in new ways such as online envelopes.

The Abingdon Christian Aid Group’s online envelopes for 2025 is at https://fundraise.christianaid.org.uk/envelope-2025/abingdons-envelope.

Why the Bells Were Ringing Today – Monday 5th May 2025


If you heard the bells ringing at St Nicolas or St Helen’s in Abingdon today, it wasn’t for an early VE Day celebration. It was part of the Oxford Diocesan Bell Fund (ODBF) Ringing Day.

Bell ringers were visiting up to 26 towers across the old North Berks area, trying out the different bells. The teams were put together randomly, so as one experienced ringer told me, “It sounds rubbish!”

Each ringer paid £2 per tower (or £20 for a full day pass), and all the money goes towards maintaining and improving bells in the area.

I took a short video at St Nicolas. You can judge if the ringing is rubbish or not.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qGctQIkahoI

The proper bell ringers will be there on Thursday 8th May from 6:30 pm for the VE Day commemoration.

Monday: Abingdon Food Bank


At a lunchtime gathering at St. Nicholas Church today, Reverend Paul Smith introduced a talk by Philip Bingham, the Abingdon Food Bank manager. (Paul can be seen in front of a monument to the Blacknall Family who bequeathed money for bread to be given for the poor.)

Mr Bingham said the food bank began out of a cupboard at Christ Church 15 years ago. It has grown, and with the support of The Vineyard Church, who set up an outlet at Preston Road Community Centre 6 years ago, serves North and South Abingdon and villages.

The Food Bank operates twice weekly at Christ Church and once weekly at Preston Road. Last year, it provided support to 616 families, representing approximately 4-5% of the local population.

Mr. Bingham spoke of the ongoing need for the Food Bank, which is part of the Trussell Trust, a national network with over 400 food banks. Referrals come from various sources, such as Social Services, Citizens’ Advice, and schools. The Food Bank provides a range of essential items, from tinned and fresh food and toiletries to baby supplies.

Tim, a volunteer, spoke of the Food Bank’s role in supporting refugees and those facing difficult circumstances such as family break ups. Most need it for a short time, perhaps while waiting benefits, but some use it for longer.

The Food Bank also collaborates with other local initiatives, such as the Abingdon Larder at Trinity Church and Abingdon Fridge on Hadland Road Community Centre, to minimise food waste. (The Larder gets food from SOFEA in Didcot and the three organisations transfer surplus fresh food between themselves.)

The Food Bank relies on both direct food donations (over 50%) and food bought from money donations (over 40%). Local businesses also contribute.

A clothing bank operates three Fridays a month.

The talk was followed by a Q&A session, prayers for the foodbank (the talk was part of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) and refreshments. Tomorrow’s talk, the second of five, is on refugees.