Abingdon Carousel have been at the Abingdon Free Space in Bury Street this week. They are the new charity that will be putting on services at the Carousel Family Centre in South Abingdon, taking over part of the former Children’s Centre. So this week they had play things for children in the Free Space and information for adults.

Gemma has been appointed Service Co-Ordinator and will be leading the establishment of family services in the former Abingdon Children’s Centre building. Lesley Legge is one of the trustees of the new charity. They need volunteers to help with all kinds of tasks, from fundraising to painting, from administration to reception duties. You can express an interest at www.abingdoncarousel.org.uk. They have financial support from Oxfordshire County Council, Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council, and Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon.

The Abingdon Army Cadets have been on the Market Place all day with four rowing machines. The event was organised by the cadets rather than their adult instructors.

They were rowing a distance of 200KM for three charities.

One of their adult instructors, a veteran paratrooper, who lost a leg in Afghanistan in 2012, recently broke the world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in a pair. That challenge raised money for three charities: for Blesma (who assist limbless veterans to live normal lives), Dreamflight (who give a holiday in a lifetime to deserving children), and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Inspired by their instructor the cadets hoped to raise a few hundred pounds for those same three charities. Their Just Giving Page is Abingdon ACF Rowing

The Town Crier not only did some cries to encourage people to donate, he also joined in with a bit of rowing.

Thanks to Jo Adams (Oxfam Volunteer) for this report

Passing by, you might wonder why the shop window of Oxfam on Stert Street, Abingdon has turned into a farmyard, featuring a small calf and a large chicken ? It’s there to say a big Thank You to all the Oxfam customers over the Christmas and New Year Period who donated money to the appeal to buy Farmyards for families living in poverty. From seeds and tools for growing crops, to animals that produce manure, this gift helps farmers get what they need to earn a living as well as training them in sustainable techniques.

In fact, the people of Abingdon were so generous that we raised money for four farmyards, not just one which was the original aim. So thank you – not just from everyone at the Oxfam Shop, but also from all those farmers who will benefit.