The doors of Oxfam in Abingdon were open for the first time since everything closed for the March lockdown.

A lot of work had happened to make it Covid-19 safe. Shelves and stock have been moved into new positions to make social distancing easier. The door is left open to keep fresh air flowing.

Some of the older volunteers are performing other duties while they are at higher risk.

I was told by one of the helpers that Oxfam in Abingdon won’t be taking new donations until at least the new year.

Most of us have lost track of developing countries given that even developed countries have been suffering a pandemic. Money raised goes to support people in developing countries and emergencies.

In a normal year I would see the Abingdon Lions at a number of community events. But not this year.

The money they raise from such events goes towards community projects. A lot of the defibrillators in town are funded by them and installed with their expertise.

Abingdon Lions have got more requests for help this year than usual but have had less chance to raise funds. People who would like to support the Abingdon Lions can do so through a justgiving page.

Yesterday was the annual Ride and Stride. This is where people do a sponsored cycle, walk or ride round the many Oxfordshire Churches listed by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust for the event.  The sponsorship money is split between the Trust and the person’s church.

The Covid-19 restrictions meant the event looked a little different this year. Not as many churches had people at the door welcoming.

In Abingdon, three churches still had welcomers (St Helen’s, Abingdon Baptist, and St Michael’s).

The other churches left a form to be signed to show who had visited. In Abingdon,  this included: Trinity, Peachcroft Christian Centre, All Saints, and St Nicolas

Here are two Ride and Striders signing in at St Nicholas on the Market Place.

I took part and cycled around all the Abingdon churches and churches in some nearby villages: Shippon, Sunningwell, Bayworth, Boars Hill, Kennington, Radley, Culham, Sutton, Milton, Steventon, Drayton.

Both the Drayton Churches were open, and allowed you to look round.

St Peter’s Church looked very smart from outside

and from inside. They had the usual sanitiser and sign in sheet.

Drayton Baptist Church also had a sign in sheet.

I cycle by this chapel going to work and have wondered what it looks like inside.  So thank you to them for opening the door and letting me inside. It is a lovely building.

Abingdon’s Breakaway Club is a social club for the elderly and those who live alone. In normal times, it meets regularly for quizzes, bingo and tea and cakes, and has an old minibus which is used for excursions. The minibus is reliable and safe, but its insurance and maintenance costs are high, so they are raising money to help to keep it on the road. If you would like to support this Club, run entirely by volunteers, then you can donate at Just Giving.

The Breakaway Club was Abingdon Mayor’s Charity of the Year five years ago, and has about 40 members.