The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
August 2002 Series 27 No 4

Parish Council and Cherwell news


Parish Council Meetings June and July


New Parish Councillor
We are pleased to welcome our new Parish Councillor – Mrs. Becky Cooke!

 Parish Council Meetings
The next Parish Council Meeting will be Thursday 8th August at 7.30 at the War Memorial Hall

Cemetery Storm Damage
Quotes are now being considered for the reparation work to the graves in the cemetery damaged by fallen trees

YOUTH CLUB BUILDING
At last the Lease has been received from Oxfordshire County Council and matters are able to progress


WAR MEMORIAL HALL
Prices for the hire of the Hall unfortunately have to be increased in line with inflation. The new rates do not cover the costs of running the Hall, which the Parish Council supports by a subsidy of a minimum £2,500 per year. There will be one hire rate of £4.50 per hour for all users in the village – to be introduced for all bookings received on or after 1st August 2002.
Sports & Social Club planning applications
The Council made the plans available on 8 occasions at the Memorial Hall, and held a well-attended public meeting on 8th July. The Council, while supporting the principle of improved facilities has now objected to the current planning applications on the grounds that a new access should be provided to the site to reduce nuisance from increased traffic in The Bourne and that the siting of the new pavilionoutside the village envelope would create a precedent and give rise tonoise and light pollution. Theapplications were due to be considered by Cherwell's North Area Planning




HOOK NORTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTRE
Our brochure of courses for the autumn term is now available. This year we have a joint brochure with BANEC containing the complete range of programmes offered by the two Community Education Committees. You can obtain a copy from your local Post Office, Library or village stores. Alternatively please give us a ring and we will send you a copy. Courses for the Autumn include drawing and painting, watercolours, life drawing and painting, digital cameras and scanners, Chinese brush ink calligraphy, upholstery, computing, jumping beans, kindergym, flower arranging, Xmas flowers and wreaths, gymnastics for children, introduction to Oxford, wine tasting, deaf awareness & introduction to sign language, sugarcraft, glass painting, children's music and dance, canvas work embroidery, fitness classes, children's art classes, junior badminton, bonsai society, yoga day, dry stone walling, hedge laying and much more.
HNCEC, Hook Norton Primary School
Sibford Road, Hook Norton 0X15 5J5 (01608) 730052



THE OXFORDSHIRE BEFRIENDING NETWORK
Volunteers supporting people with life-threatening illness at home. We train, match and support volunteer Befrienders who visit people with life threatening illness in Oxfordshire. Befriending can be demanding but also immensely rewarding. For more information, please telephone Catherine Gundry or Linda Ridgway



VOLUNTEER READING HELP
The charity that helps children to read is growing and needs your help. Our next training course for new volunteers will be held in October, and we are looking for people who have a genuine interest in books and helping children.
VRH has been established in Oxfordshire since 1973 and works in primary schools with children aged 6-11 who are struggling to read.
We have many schools on our waiting list for new volunteers. Volunteers receive training before going into school twice a week to work individually with 3 children, sharing books and friendship, and helping to develop their confidence in reading.
It is a really rewarding way to spend 3-4 hours a week during term-time. If you would like to know more, please contact us. Your involvement could make a real difference to a child's life.
Contact: Virginia Carter or Hilary Burr Volunteer Reading Help 01865 774284



OXFORDSHIRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
Are you a good listener? Can you see both sides of an argument? Do you like a good discussion? Do you like to see fair play?
Then you could dispense justice in your community!
Why not be a magistrate?
Magistrates try to reflect the community they live in. That means we need a mix of people from all walks of life and ethnic groups, with different backgrounds and skills.
The role is a fascinating one. It opens up many new avenues of interest and gives an insight into how we live and behave in the 21st century. Most of all you will be using your skills as a service to your community - 'justice to the people by the people'.
Few of us have any legal background, but training is provided and is continuous. All you need is good character, common sense and the personal skills listed above.
A typical day in court might include motoring offences, theft, supply of drugs, affray, assault, drink-driving and burglary. Sentences for these offences vary from conditional discharge or a fine to six months in prison. Try arranging them in order of seriousness!
Interested? Contact your local Magistrates Court or Advisory Committee for an information pack and details on how to apply:
Oxford: Kate Skeates – 01865 448011 kate.skeates@tv.mcs.gov.uk
Banbury: Ruth Phillips – 01295 452016 ruth.phillips@tv.mcs.gov.uk
or The Advisory Committee for Justices of the Peace in Oxfordshire:
Malcolm Leeding, Committee Secretary – 01865 815327 gail.morris@oxfordshire.gov.uk
DO IT TODAY!



SEESAW – SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED CHILDREN IN OXFORDSHIRE
The death of someone we love is probably the most distressing event that we will ever experience. When children lose someone they love it is painful and traumatic and often they have nowhere to turn for help. The people best placed to support them, their family, are themselves grieving and their friends cannot fully understand their pain.
Every year in Oxfordshire alone, 1500 children suffer the distress and disruption that death brings. SeeSaw is a new charity set up to support Oxfordshire's bereaved children through their grief. It offers rapid and flexible support to children and families as well as a programme of education, training and resources for professionals such as teachers and doctors. However, SeeSaw is totally dependent upon donations. Can you help by fundraising this summer? Here are a few ideas:
SeeSaw's Four Nations Rowing Challenge.
SeeSaw Sausage Sizzle: hold a BBQ and ask guests to make a donation to SeeSaw. Sponsored Slim: ask friends and family to sponsor you to slim down into your swimming costume in time for those summer holidays.
Sponsored Walk: set yourself a distance target, break in your new walking shoes so you don't get blisters and ask family and friends to sponsor you.
For more information on the above events or if you can help in any other way please call SeeSaw on 01865 744768. If you would like to make a donation please make cheques payable to SeeSaw and send them to: Bush House, 2 Merewood Avenue, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8EF.



HOME IMPROVEMENT HELP IN CHERWELL
Have you ever felt concerned about having trustworthy builders in your home or have you ever had problems in finding someone who would do the odd job in your house?
Anchor Staying Put provides a service that helps people in the Cherwell District to remain in their own homes, in comfort and security, by attending to large or small repairs, improvements and adaptations. Staff from the agency can visit people at home to discuss their needs and help them find the right solution. Special focus is on all health and security related work, such as helping to obtain appropriate heating, insulation and making sure windows and doors are sound and safe.
Anchor also offers free, confidential advice and practical help with obtaining local authority grants to pay for the work, finding reliable builders and overseeing any work that is done, as well as providing advice on what social security benefits may be available and helping to apply for them.
In October 2000, Anchor Staying Put launched a Handyperson Scheme. For a minimum cost (£15 for the 1st hour, £7.50 per subsequent hour, plus the cost of materials), this scheme covers minor repairs and adaptations, such as rewiring a plug, hanging a curtain rail, fixing shelves or small plumbing jobs, such as fixing a dripping tap. Anchor's Handyperson also gives advice on Home Security and Fire Prevention. The service is available to anybody who is disabled or over 60 years old. Anchor Staying Put is a non profit-making organisation, established in Cherwell in 1996, supported by Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire Social Services and North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust.
For more information, please ring 01295-221660.