Below you will find useful links to the the facilities, amenities and services within and local to our Parish:
Queens Platinum Jubilee Trees
The trees were planted on 27 February 2023 at Sandleigh Rd Recreation Ground, Long, Tow, Stowford Care Home, Dry Sandford Primary School and St Mary Magdalene Church.
CONNECT Help for Digital and Information Technologies
Connect! is a free service organised by Citizens Advice where Digital Volunteers visit people in their homes to offer 1:1 IT support.
Connect! started in Cherwell in April 2021 and we are now rolling it out throughout Oxfordshire. We are recruiting for Volunteers in your area at the moment and already have some interest so that we can offer our service in your area.
Our contact details are as follows:
Email:connect.info@cano.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 004 0401
Website: https://www.canosn.org.uk/connect
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BridgingtheDigitalDivideOxon
Police, Security and Neighbourhood Watch
Our local Police Community Support Officer is:
PCSO Rich Osborn C9323, Abingdon Outers, Abingdon Police Station Abingdon On Thames
Richard.osborn@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Mobile number 07980 924693 or 101. Please text or email first rather than call as he may be occupied.
There are regular updates on Neighbourhood Policing from the Abingdon Team in the WADS Newsletter WADS Newsletters
SCAMS
We all know that scams are everywhere and we must be on our guard! If you have any concerns about being scammed then please contact our PCSO. The golden rule is never click on a link even when it appears to come from an organisation you know. Always check with them and look at the senders email address as this will often reveal that it is not from a genuine source.
Thames Valley Police have guidance https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/internet-email-mobile-fraud/
You can download these helpful booklets:
NEVER GIVE OUT BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL DETAILS TO ANYONE CALLING AT YOUR DOOR!
Oxfordshire young people’s website
A new information hub was launched on Wednesday 24 March –oxme.info – Oxfordshire County Council’s young people website. This hub has been created to help support 16-18 year olds in Oxfordshire that might be struggling with anxiety, loneliness, or are unsure about what their next steps could be. The aim is to boost their emotional and mental wellbeing.
Abingdon Food Bank – Referral required https://abingdon.foodbank.org.uk/
Abingdon Community Fridge – No referral necessary https://fisd.oxfordshire.gov.uk/kb5/oxfordshire/directory/service.page?id=ZZVsCqFgec4
Wootton & Dry Sandford Community Centre
Sandleigh Recreation Ground
The playground and outdoor gym are open. We have introduced the following rules for the COVID safe use of the playground and gym:
The Parish Council has adopted a new Drones Policy which prohibits the flying of drone over the Recreation Ground.
Dalton Barracks Community Centre
Friends of Shippon
The Friends of Shippon is a local community group of residents founded in 2007. They meet on the second Friday of the month at 7.30pm, in Shippon Church Hall, with the aim of getting residents together for interesting talks and social events. As a recognised group within the area they are regularly used to provide a community view on a range of issues.Membership is open to all residents and friends of Shippon. The cost of annual membership is £15 with visitors welcome for a small charge of £4 for individual talks or events,There are two affiliated groups;
The Book Club – this meets once a month at individual members’ houses.
The Bridge Club – this meets weekly at Shippon Church Hall on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays.
New members are always welcome.
For further information contact Val Dawson on 01235 529596
THAMES WATER BIN IT DON’T BLOCK IT
We clear around 75,000 blockages from our sewers each year. Many of these are caused by items like wet wipes, sanitary items and cotton pads that can’t break down. When they’re flushed down the loo, they combine with cooking fats and oils, eventually blocking pipes. This can force raw sewage back up drains, plugholes, and toilets and into homes.
https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/responsibility/bin-it
Schools
State schools
Dry Sandford Primary School https://www.dry-sandford.oxon.sch.uk/
Carswell School, Abingdon (Shippon is within Catchment) https://carswell.oxon.sch.uk/
Larkmead School, Abingdon (Shippon is within Catchment) https://www.larkmead-school.com/
“Larkmead is a happy and vibrant secondary school packed full of energy and opportunity. Each student gets the very best experience to enable them to achieve their ambitions. Our pastoral care provides compassion, security and confidence, nurturing students to be happy, to develop and to thrive. Our vision is that our school reflects a culture of ambition and aspiration for all, where confidence is created through celebration and challenge, where students acquire knowledge in a way which develops skills and helps them to achieve their hopes and dreams. The Larkmead School motto is ‘one community, individual minds, creating futures’, and we encourage our students to take an active and responsible interest in the wider world. This starts with their local community at home and at school in the parish of St Helen Without.” Jonathan Dennett, Headteacher, Larkmead School
Fitzharries School, Abingdon (Cothill / Dry Sandford / Shippon are within catchment)
John Mason School, Abingdon https://www.johnmason.oxon.sch.uk/
Mathew Arnold School, Kennington https://www.maschool.org.uk/
Didcot Girls’ School, Didcot https://www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk/
Independent schools
Cothill House School, Cothill https://www.cothill.net/
Manor School, Shippon
“Founded in 1907 and situated on the outskirts of Abingdon, The Manor Preparatory School is an outstanding independent co-educational day school that welcomes boys and girls aged 2-11. The Manor has a wonderfully happy, creative atmosphere where each individual is challenged, cherished and inspired to reach their full potential. Every child is encouraged to push themselves to new heights, ensuring that outstanding results are achieved academically, on the sports field, and in creative and performing arts.”
Website: www.mamorprep.org
Email: schoolsecretary@manorprep.org
Telephone: 01235 858458
Churches
St Mary Magdalene, Shippon
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/247/
Christmas service:
St Helen’s Church, Dry Sandford
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/97/
The church has reopened.
Pubs
Prince of Wales, Barrow Rd, Shippon
We are offering takeaways please contact us on 07548 165695 or e-mail nicmwilkins@aol.com
What’s On is on the Facebook page “The Feathers, Shippon”.
The landlady, Nicola Wilkins, can be messaged from the Facebook page or telephoned on 01235 538546 or emailed on nicmwilkins@aol.com .
Merry Miller, Cothill
https://www.merrymiller.co.uk/
Care Homes
Stowford House, Faringdon Rd, Shippon
https://www.stowfordhousecarehome.co.uk/
Shops
Costcutters, Shippon
Food Outlets / Caterers
Bus Services:
No 33 bus timetable: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/services/THTR/33
Taxi Services
Train services: https://trainsplit.com/
Trainsplit can save significantly on the cost of rail journeys by splitting tickets. It is also an app for smartphones.
Footpaths and Trails – Heritage / Nature
Countryside Access map https://publicrightsofway.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Web/standardmap.aspx
Nature reserves – link to BBOWT website
Cothill Fen is an internationally important wetland site supporting many sensitive freshwater plants and animals and is the largest remaining alkaline fen in Central England.
Circular Walk: Cothill Fen, Parsonage Moor and Lashford Lane Fen https://www.bbowt.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-01/Cothill%20Wild%20Walk.pdf
Parsonage Moor https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/parsonage-moor
Dry Sandford Pit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/dry-sandford-pit
Local Trades / Services
Nextdoor is a neighbourhood hub for connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services. The website: https://nextdoor.co.uk/