Children’s Centres in Abingdon could close

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Children's Centres in Abingdon
Nicola Blackwood, local MP, is pictured here at South Abingdon Children’s Centre, in happier times.
Children's Centres in Abingdon
Oxfordshire County Council are soon to consult on the closure of most of the 44 Children’s Centres in Oxfordshire to save £8 million annually, cutting by half the amount they spend on children and family services. They will probably look to move all Abingdon area services to the early intervention hub on Stratton Way, and relabel it as a Family and Children Centre.

Children’s Centres have made a difference to parents as well as children, with parenting courses, and local support for families.

They are highly regarded for aiding child development pre-school.

They are a safe place to get help from the excellent staff who are known locally.

The consultation on these proposals will be in early October. The County Council say “Lack of resources coupled with the dramatic increase in workloads arising from Child Protection and Children In Care means that the current operation of discretionary support and help based on universal provision is no longer tenable.”


I would have thought that given there has been a dramatic increase in Child Protection issues in Oxfordshire, now is not the time to cut the budget by half.

From Rugby Sevens to Rugby World Cup

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Rugby
A few weeks ago Abingdon Rugby Union FC held their annual Sevens Tournament. I went along and took some pictures, but did not have time to post them here.
Rugby
Rugby Sevens is the equivalent of five a side soccer.
Rugby
The game is far more open and far more tries are scored.
Rugby
It was the 60th time the Rugby 7s tournament had been held by Abingdon RUFC. It is a pre-season event before the full teams take to the field.
Rugby
Now the Rugby World Cup has come to these shores and there are are 2 or 3 exciting games, with 15 players on each side, to watch every day at the Kings Head and Bell, and other local pubs.

Bells for 18th Birthday and Golden Anniversary of Abingdon Town Band at St Helen’s Church

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18th birthday
This afternoon, David Thomas, was ringing with 5 other Abingdon bellringers to celebrate David’s birthday. They rang a peal lasting 3 hours and 5 minutes with 5040 changes (pulls of the rope). The peal ended at about 5:10pm. David was born at 5:08pm 18 years earlier.
Golden Anniversary
At 5:30pm there was a Songs of Praise to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Abingdon Town Band, of which Steve Rich has been the musical director for the last 30 years.

There was a mix of hymns accompanied by Abingdon Town Band, and Brass Band music. Short youtube of one Brass Band piece above.

A misty start to Saturday Morning

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This morning in town
The view of Abingdon Lock, from Abingdon Bridge, was hidden by a slight mist this Saturday Morning..
This morning in town
Posters have been put up around town announcing a circus, down Wootton Road, at the end of this month, and the annual Michaelmas Fair at the start of October.
This morning in town
Friends of Radley Lakes were on the Market Place, with a well stocked Tombola, with tickets at 50p. Tickets ending in ‘0’ win a prize.
This morning in town
The Cottage Imperial is currently closed, but there is now a notice saying that the premises will soon re-open as The Imperial Express.The lease was up, and the previous people decided, even though they loved Abingdon, to open a restaurant in the rapidly expanding town of Bicester instead.

Les, the remaining residents traffic warden, was doing his rounds in the town centre. He was about to retire this weekend, after 20 years in the job, but has been asked to continue until the new system is put in place. All will soon become clear.