Residents are being encouraged to get their blood pressure checked in a new initiative at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries.

As part of Blood Pressure UK’s annual Know Your Numbers Week, held this year from 7 to 13 September, people can check their blood pressure at a dedicated ‘pressure station’ in any of the county’s 44 libraries.

People with undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure are more at risk from serious health issues such as stroke and heart attack.

Pressure stations will be available to anybody to use, whether they have been asked to do so by a doctor, or simply curious.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: “High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so the only way to know if your reading is high is to have it checked to lower your risk of serious health issues.

“Our libraries are trusted, welcoming spaces at the heart of communities across Oxfordshire, so they are a natural place to host these free pressure stations. This is a completely free and easy way to check your blood pressure, just drop into one of our libraries during the week where teams will be on hand to help. It takes just a couple of minutes but could change your life.”

The initiative was coordinated by Alet Ransom, Primary Care Network Pharmacy Technician and Cardiovascular Disease Champion, who worked alongside Oxfordshire County Council’s public health team and library service to develop the pressure stations and make it easier for people to check their blood pressure in familiar community settings.

She said: “I’m immensely proud to have helped bring this project from an idea into reality.

“The aim was always to make it easier for people, whether library users or visitors to the area, to ‘know their numbers’ and, where needed, take the next step towards looking after their cardiovascular health. 

“Knowing that the project is now being taken forward and rolled out across the county’s libraries is hugely rewarding, and I’m excited that it will give many more people the opportunity to access this simple but potentially life-changing service.”

Anyone found to have a high reading will be offered advice on simple steps they can take and encouraged to seek further support from their GP or local pharmacy if needed.

Residents can find their nearest library and check opening times on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Find out more about the Know Your Numbers Week campaign by visiting Blood Pressure UK’s website.

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Children in Oxfordshire are being invited to turn up the volume on reading this summer by taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Read to the Beat!

Free to join at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries, this year’s challenge celebrates the joy of reading over the summer holidays with a music-inspired theme.

From 4 July to 5 September, children taking part can collect stickers along the way. Those who complete the challenge will receive a medal, a certificate and entry into a prize draw. Children under four can also join in with a mini challenge, with their own collector’s folder and stickers.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We hope this year’s theme inspires children across Oxfordshire to discover the joy of reading in a fun and creative way, with music helping bring the challenge to life.

“National statistics show that just one in three children regularly enjoy reading, so initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge are more important than ever.

“The summer holidays are an exciting time for children, but they can also mean less time spent reading outside school. This challenge is a great way to bring families into the library, help children discover new books and keep reading over the break.”

The Summer Reading Challenge has been running nationally since 1999. In 2026, The Reading Agency has partnered with Universal Music Group UK to bring the theme, Read to the Beat! to life.

To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge .

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries host activities throughout the county for people of all ages. Find out what’s on by going to www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries.

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They have each been announced as the three winning entries in the Oxfordshire County Council Library Service’s 2026 Short Story Competition.

The annual contest invites people of all ages to share their creativity, with this year’s entries showcasing exceptional storytelling talent from across the county.

The winning stories are now available to read on the Oxfordshire Libraries OverDrive page and through the Libby app.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Our short story competition is always popular, and generates such amazing levels of creativity and engagement. We very much appreciate all the efforts that our local authors go to, and choosing a winner is always a very tough task. Thank you and well done to all our talented writers.”

Meet the winners

Adult category winner: Kita Mitchell - What We Cover Up

Kita Mitchell’s absorbing story follows lifelong friends Tanya and Sandra, whose familiar bickering hides a deep loyalty - one that quickly becomes essential when they discover a body in Sandra’s garage.

Kita said: “I was delighted to hear that ‘What We Cover Up’ had won the competition. I’ve not written anything for adults before, so it meant a lot, and it’s especially nice that the recognition comes from libraries, which are such important places for so many people. I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”

Young adult winner: Pepper Thomasina - The Willow by the Lake

This poetic tale centres on a naiad and a dryad whose love flourishes in their natural world - until the arrival of humans threatens everything they know.

17 year old Pepper said: “I was in total shock and I still am to be honest!. Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of being told that you're good at what you love. Stories have always been such a comfort to me, and it makes me so indescribably happy that my story has brought joy to others."

Children’s winner: Ella Uglow – I Only Wanted Ice Cream

A simple shopping trip takes an enchanting and unexpected turn in this imaginative wintery adventure.

Ella, 11, said: “I felt very excited to find out I'd won the competition - it was quite surreal! It feels nice that my story will be shared with other children in Oxfordshire. Thank you!”

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Her comments came at the budget-setting meeting of the council on Tuesday, 10 February. The council has been able to deal with a budget shortfall of £5.4m while still investing extra in adult social care (£14m), children’s services (£19m), highways, libraries and other services.

However, the authority already knows that it will need to find further savings of at least £15.5m from 2027/28.

The government will cut grant funding by £27.2m by 2028/29 and assumed the council will make up most of the difference with maximum council tax rises. The effect of this is that the county council will have to put up council tax by 4.99% each year only to see a lot of this money immediately being subtracted by the government and sent elsewhere.

Cllr Leffman said in her speech at the meeting: “We recognise that there are areas of the country with higher levels of deprivation than our own, and it is right that the people in those places receive the support that they need, but this government has failed to recognise the pressures and challenges that we and other county councils face in delivering critical services across a wide rural area.

“In spite of the constraints, and because we have managed our finances very carefully over the past few years, we have not only been able to balance the budget for 2026/2027 but have included investments that will make a difference to the things which are of greatest importance to our residents.

“I am confident that with the investment that we are making in our highways network, with our surface dressing programme for example, along with the new Highways Asset Response Teams that have been out and about in Oxfordshire since the autumn, we will see a significant improvement in the forthcoming weeks and beyond.

“Flooding has become a regular event in many parts of the county thanks to climate change, and we have recognised the importance of tackling this. 

“The decision last year to clear all our gullies on an annual schedule has revealed that much of our drainage system is in urgent need of repair, following years of neglect.

“We therefore propose to allocate £2 million in our capital budget to repairing our drainage system, bringing the total to be spent on our drains and gullies in 2026/2027 to £3.2 million.

“Our library refurbishment programme will continue, with an investment of £550,000 in Didcot coming next, following successful refurbishments in Chinnor, Henley and most recently Witney, where 200 new registrations for library tickets were received in the week following its reopening.”

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We face great pressure because of funding cuts and demand pressures, and there is still lots of uncertainty in areas like SEND provision. Money is being redistributed away from Oxfordshire and other areas on a large scale by the government.

“However, we are confident not only that we are setting an ambitious balanced budget for next year, delivering services to residents, but also that we are ready to face the more difficult years ahead.”

Note to editors

By 2028/29 there is a reduction of £24.1m in funding from central government compared to 2025/26. Within that there is an increase of £3.1m in funding for the Families First Partnership that the government will expect the council to use to fund new investment and activity in preventative services for children’s social care. Excluding that, the underlying reduction in grant funding is £27.2m

The new site will allow for a larger, more accessible, and modern library in a central location that better meets the needs of the community and the growing local population.

Following works to the site, the new library is expected to welcome the public in its new home at Castle Quay, by the end of 2027.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Libraries are more than just a place to borrow books. They are community spaces that play a vital role in helping people in everyday life from getting information and support to a place to socialise.

“The relocation will transform our library provision in Banbury with massively improved facilities, including better digital resources, flexible study areas, and dedicated spaces for community events. The new library, which will be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, will also be designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that all residents can benefit from its services.”

Councillor David Hingley, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “As a big supporter of libraries and their vital role in our communities, I’m delighted to be welcoming Banbury library into Castle Quay. This will provide a larger, more modern space that places the library in the heart of Banbury, which will be a significant cultural investment in our town centre and for our residents to be able to enjoy all the benefits a contemporary library provides.

“Through previous engagement residents have shown support for improving and regenerating Banbury town centre, and the library relocation forms an exciting part of our upcoming plans.

“In its new, central location, the library will add to the cultural vibrancy of the town as a hub for education, leisure and social connection. This move reflects our commitment to Castle Quay as a multi-use, community destination and to ensuring Banbury thrives as a place where people want to live, work and visit.”

The news forms part of an ongoing project to update Oxfordshire’s libraries, with a number of other local communities already benefitting from upgrades to modernise and improve accessibility.

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People can expect to receive a ‘warm welcome’ at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries this winter, with the network offering a warm space and a hot drink for those who need it.

For the fourth year running, Oxfordshire libraries are partnering with the Warm Welcome Campaign, which supports a network of over 4,000 warm spaces across the UK.

The campaign seeks to open up more community spaces for free for those who may be feeling isolated, or whom need a warm place to stay during the colder months.

Oxfordshire’s libraries are also delivering a range of other support for residents including free cultural activities, advice sessions and signposting on helpful topics.

Simon Lay, Libraries Branch Network Operations Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We will be particularly focused on providing warmth, company and support to those affected by poverty and social isolation over the winter months.

“We’re continuing to see a rise in the number of people taking up the offer of a warm space and a hot drink. In Abingdon Library, for example, we are delighted to welcome back our regular visitors and welcome new faces.

“It’s a pleasure to see so many people enjoying the space we provide, reading newspapers, doing a jigsaw and connecting with others. Take up of the warm space offer has increased by 50 per cent, and the team are grateful that we are able to provide this hospitality.”

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Warm spaces such as our libraries provide a lifeline for many in our communities during the winter months. By offering a welcoming environment, a hot drink, and opportunities for connection, we’re not only helping people stay warm, but we’re also helping to tackle social isolation and support those facing hardship.

“This initiative is a clear reflection of our strategic priorities: we are committed to reducing inequalities, improving health and wellbeing, and building resilient, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. Our libraries are at the heart of this effort, ensuring that every resident has access to the support and warmth they need this winter.”

As well as libraries, many other community buildings across the county also provide a warm space for those who need them. Find out more by visiting Warm Welcome’s website.

Find out about other ways to keep warm during the winter months, including financial help and more, by visiting the council’s dedicated webpage.

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Householders can pick up a free roll of food waste caddy liners to help deal with the extra food waste expected to be generated over the festive period.

The free liners are available from the county’s libraries during December, while stocks last.

All households receive food waste recycling collections from their district council. Oxfordshire County Council arranges for the collected food waste to be recycled.

Although most households already recycle their food waste – the council recycled over 25,000 tonnes of food waste last year – it estimates that a similar amount is thrown away with non-recyclable waste.

If all the food waste that is thrown away was recycled, it would save Oxfordshire County Council an estimated £3 million a year.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “No one wants to waste food. But where that’s not possible and for inedible food waste, such as potato peelings and turkey bones, home composting or recycling it using the kerbside collection really help to reduce the impact of waste disposal on the climate.

“That’s why we are giving Oxfordshire residents caddy liners again to make it easier for them at a time when food waste is likely to increase significantly. Reducing the amount of food waste that ends up in general rubbish could save the council millions of pounds – money that would be better spent on other projects to improve people’s lives.”

Non-recyclable waste in Oxfordshire is burnt to generate energy, which already reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfill, but recycling food waste doubles the climate change benefit.

The recycling process generates green electricity and a fertiliser that is used on farmland across the county.

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The Ukrainian Education Centre has officially opened its doors at the Oxford Westgate Library, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of educational and cultural support for Ukrainians in the UK.

Supported by Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, the event brought together over 120 attendees, including representatives from academia, local government, business and Ukrainians.

The ceremony was opened by Yevgenia Zhyryakova, Head of the Ukrainian Education Centre in the UK, and Alla Skrynnikova, Head of the Oxford Centre.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The opening of the Ukrainian Education Centre in Oxford is testament to the strength and spirit of our Ukrainian communities in the county and the power of education to bring people together.

“It’s inspiring to see such a vibrant initiative take root in our city. We’re proud to support a space that fosters learning, cultural exchange and resilience.”

Distinguished guests included Professor Lord Tarasenko (University of Oxford), Dr Nadiya Ivanenko, Dr Serhiy Savytskyi and Paddy Harris, who shared uplifting words of support and encouragement. The event concluded with a moving performance by Ukrainian musicians.

The Oxford centre is the third Ukrainian educational hub to open in the UK, following successful launches in London and Chichester. It forms part of a global network of 84 hubs supporting Ukrainian communities across Europe, North America and Asia.

Further events and activities are planned for later in the year, continuing the centre’s mission to empower and connect Ukrainians in Oxfordshire and beyond.

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A new and improved Witney Library is set to reopen to residents later this year, 6 December, following a comprehensive programme of modernisation.

Improvements to the Oxfordshire County Council library include new windows, more efficient heating, and a complete refurbishment, making it brighter, warmer, and more energy efficient.

The interior has been redesigned to create a flexible space that features new shelving, public computers, and areas with electric sockets for customers who wish to work.

A new community meeting room has also been created, alongside a vibrant and expanded children’s area.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “We are delighted to reopen Witney library after extensive repair and a fantastic refurbishment.

"The work, which coincides with the 60th birthday of the library, will make an even more welcoming and accessible space that will serve the local community for many years to come.

"The work will also make the library more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.”

A large number of new books have also been bought for the library.

The upgrades form part of an ongoing project to modernise Oxfordshire’s libraries, and improve accessibility, reflecting the changing needs of local communities.

The project has been made possible through a combination of central government decarbonisation funds, and developer funding also known as Section 106 Funding.

The work is being delivered by the county council’s libraries and minor works teams.

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Hook Norton residents are being encouraged to get behind a new crowdfunding campaign that aims to raise money for the local library, with Oxfordshire County Council set to add £3 for every £1 raised.

Friends of Hook Norton Community Library and the council are working in partnership with the goal of raising £10,000, which, if successful, will turn into £40,000 to fund the work, by the end of October.

The proposal will see an expansion into the Norman Matthews Hall next door, reconfiguring the existing library to maximise space, and provide a flexible area for more activities.

A new proposed larger space for children’s books will also delight the many young readers who make up 40 per cent of existing users.

Mark McCree, Head of Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The project to expand Hook Norton Library is an exciting opportunity for us to develop and enhance this well used and much loved community asset, responding to changing customer demands and needs.

“It is also a chance for us to pilot a collaborative approach to project delivery, planning and funding by working with the Friends of Hook Norton Community Library.”

Jane Orchard, Chair of the Friends of Hook Norton Community Library, said: “Libraries have never been more vital. We’re launching this crowdfunder campaign to raise the all-important funds so the work can begin early in 2026, ready to celebrate the National Year of Reading.

“While other, libraries around the UK have closed, Oxfordshire County Council is offering us this exciting opportunity to reunite the whole building into a fun social space for reading, learning and community activities."

The library is currently in a small Grade II listed building dating from 1855, which has served the village well as a school, youth club and social space before becoming the library in 1973.

Now it will be re-configured to create a space that inspires the joy of reading for all, with dedicated reading areas for children and adults, and the flexibility to support more fun, social activities.

There will be more room for the many library facilities from books to PCs and a warm, welcoming place for all in the heart of the village.

To support Hook Norton Library with its fundraising, visit its crowdfunder page.

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Now in its eleventh year, the annual competition, hosted by Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries service is a chance to discover new writers, original stories and unique voices from around Oxfordshire.

The winners will have their story published as an ebook and eaudiobook on Oxfordshire libraries’ OverDrive platform, where they can be borrowed, read and listened to from anywhere.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The annual competition is a wonderful opportunity to inspire people of all ages to make their unique writing voice heard. 

“Past winners have proven to be the most popular downloads of the year, so this is the perfect way for new writers to get their story published and enjoyed by others.”

The competition is split into three age categories free to enter. The short story competition categories are:

• Children: seven to 11 years
• Young adults: 12 to 17 years
• Adults: 18 and above

Children’s stories can be up to 1000 words. Stories by young adults and adults can be up to 3000 words. 

Entries can be submitted from Monday 8 September until Sunday 9 November.

Full terms and conditions as well as instructions on how to submit entries can be found on Oxfordshire libraries’ webpages.

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The Oxfordshire County Council run library will remain open until 3:30pm, instead of the usual 12:30pm, so that the community can visit, browse and become new members.

Children will be able to sign up for the “Story Garden” Reading Agency Summer Challenge which launches on the same day across Oxfordshire and the rest of the country.

The library will also be hosting a scene from the festival theatre production “Finding the Spindleberry” at various times throughout the event.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council said: “This is an important event in the calendar in east Oxford and our library will be playing its part. Pay us a visit and learn more about what’s on offer as part of your enjoyment of the day.”

Available for free in public libraries and online, the challenge helps children stay engaged with reading during the summer holidays. Participants can discover new books, earn rewards and enjoy nature inspired events and activities

From 5 July to 6 September children across Oxfordshire will be able to collect stickers and those who finish the challenge at an Oxfordshire County Council library will get a medal and certificate, and entry into a prize draw. Under 4s can take part in a mini challenge with their own special collector’s folder and stickers.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge is a celebration of adventure, fantasy and the great outdoors. We hope to inspire children throughout Oxfordshire to tap into a world of imagination through reading and exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature.

“National statistics show that only one in three children report enjoying reading, so this annual event is more important than ever before. The summer holidays are an exciting time for children but also a time when they are less exposed to books as a result of not being in the classroom. We welcome and encourage children across the county to visit the library and enjoy some great books over the summer.”

The Summer Reading Challenge has been running nationally since 1999. In 2024, nearly 600,000 children and families across the UK engaged with the event.

To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge .

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries host activities throughout the county for people of all ages. Find out what’s on by going to www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries .

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Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is a programme that has seen library staff seek to improve the health and wellbeing of local people by signposting them to important services as a result of chats that happen in libraries.

The recognition for MECC is part of the Libraries Connected National Awards 2025. Jake Tilling (Witney Library Manager) recently received the award at a special ceremony in Warwickshire. He shares the accolade with his colleague Karen Seymour, Hook Norton Library manager.

The duo have led on MECC in Oxfordshire for the last five to six years, taking the library service from having very little engagement with library users around health issues, to having trained 44 MECC champions (one in every library) and over 10,000 interactions in the last year.

On top of busy jobs delivering and managing frontline services, they have both enthusiastically taken on this additional role, expertly training and motivating other managers/staff to ensure that MECC conversations are of high quality and effective.

Councillr Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, said: "It’s wonderful that the libraries team, and Jake and Karen specifically, have been recognised for their significant efforts to help improve the health and wellbeing of Oxfordshire residents.

“Libraries are ‘health centres’, in many ways, and are trusted, welcoming community hubs where all the community can connect and access information, support, and reading to help them feel better."

Goring resident Jacqui Gray, right, has spent over ten years now volunteering with at her local library through various roles.

Now this National Volunteers week, she is sharing her story to inspire others to take up voluntary work.

Jacqui, 57, began her journey with a simple love for books. She initially started as a library volunteer, shelving books and assisting visitors. Over time, her passion and commitment led to her becoming more and more involved.

“I just love books – I absolutely adore reading, and I couldn’t think of anything better than to be in an environment where I was surrounded by them and talking to people about them!

“So, I became a volunteer, helping with shelving books and answering questions.

“After a while, I then got onto the committee of the Friends of Goring Library, and when our then chair became the library manager I stepped up to become the chair, which is also a voluntary role.”

Throughout the years Jacqui has discovered volunteering extends to organising community events and providing support to residents.

“Ten years ago, I would have thought volunteering in a library is  all about books.. But, once I started to get involved, I realised it was so much more than that.

“We’ve always got events on, and people coming in for help and advice. Volunteering is also about engaging with people in the community who might not have realised what they can get from a library. It’s a community hub really.

“There’s always the next big thing to look towards too. We’ve recently had a library refurbishment, and now we’re planning a library garden.”

The social element of volunteering is also a great reward for Jacqui as much as helping her local community..

“I've got to meet many local people that I might not have otherwise come across.

“When I go into the village, there's a lot of people of all different age groups that I can talk to and that I know, and it really has helped me feel part of the community myself.”

Whatever the kind of voluntary work it is, Jacqui is now keen to encourage others to get involved too.

“You're helping the community, you're helping other people, and it gives you something as well. If you are just at a bit of a loose end or you're looking to broaden your horizons, then going to volunteer is a fantastic thing to do.

"When I started off with the library, I was only doing a couple of hours every other week, so you can commit as little or as much time as you can – most people are just really pleased you’re able to help.”

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Jacqui’s story is a powerful example of how volunteering can enrich both the volunteer and the community. Her dedication and enthusiasm have made Goring Library a vibrant and welcoming place.

“If you're inspired by her story, do consider volunteering. Whether you have a few hours to spare or can commit more time, your contribution can make a difference. Join the community of volunteers and experience the rewards of giving back.”

Jacqui is Chair of the Friends of Goring Library, which is a registered charity and provides outreach in the community, raises funds to pay for staffing on alternate Saturdays and Thursdays, and also provides extra funds for books and events at the library.

The charity has also supported the library service during its refurbishment last year and is supporting the library garden development.

Find out more about Oxfordshire County Council’s library service by visiting oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

Volunteers’ Week is led by the UK Volunteering Forum, a partnership between Volunteer Scotland, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland. Visit the Volunteers' Week website to find out more.

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For the fourth consecutive year, 60 students from seven schools exhibited their innovative business projects at the annual Young Enterprise event in the BIPC in Oxford’s Westgate Library on 28 April, with project themes ranging from tackling climate change to mental health.

Young Enterprise is a national organisation that aims to give young people the life skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the world of work. It was joined at the event by representatives from the county council as well as the University of Oxford’s Said Business School and Westgate Oxford.

Ryan Johnson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Engagement Manager for the Business & Intellectual Property Centre, said: “We were really pleased to be able to host this event on behalf of Young Enterprise Oxfordshire once again. The day was filled with awards and celebrations, recognising the hard work and dedication of these talented students.

“The teams were very impressive with all that they had achieved, demonstrating their ability to prepare and submit business reports, give presentations and be interviewed. I’m confident many will go on to create thriving businesses and have a real impact in the county.

“The event is a great example of how the centre can support the ambitions of local young people, providing them with the skills and confidence to start and grow their own businesses.”

The BIPC offers many opportunities and activities for young people, where anyone can access one to one support or workshops to support their business start-up ideas.

For more information on the BIPC, visit the centre on the second floor of Oxfordshire County Library or go online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/bipc.

Find out how to get involved with Oxfordshire Young Enterprise by visiting its website. 

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Jake Tilling, Witney Library Manager, and Karen Seymour, Hook Norton Library Manager, have been nominated for their work around the council’s Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative.

MECC is a national programme aimed at improving health outcomes through everyday conversations with residents. It uses the natural interactions that occur in community hubs, such as libraries, to support people with their health and wellbeing.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health and Communities said: “Libraries are community hubs where thousands of conversations take place every day between staff, volunteers and library customers.

“MECC is perfectly placed to fit into these conversations and support people with their health and wellbeing. Often library staff are already having these types of conversations, but training in MECC ensures these conversations are high quality and effective.

“Jake and Karen have led our programme for almost six years on top of their roles as branch managers. In that time, they’ve helped us to train 44 MECC champions - one in every branch, resulting in almost 10,000 interactions per year. Together they have worked very closely to transform what we offer and improve health outcomes of their local communities. It is an excellent example of the benefits of collaborative working between the public health team and the library service.

“The nomination is a much deserved recognition of their brilliant work, and we wish both Jake and Karen every success.”

The Libraries Connected Awards celebrate the achievements of library workers who have had an exceptional impact on their library service, users, or their local communities.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 10 during the Libraries Connected annual seminar in Warwickshire.

The Libraries Connected Awards celebrate the achievements of library workers who have had an exceptional impact on their library service, users, or their local communities.

 he winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 10 during the Libraries Connected annual seminar in Warwickshire.

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The Oxfordshire County Council library, scheduled to reopen at 9am on Tuesday 8 April, has undergone an extensive refurbishment. Changes include new heating systems, lighting, double glazing for improved environmental sustainability, new contemporary furniture, and dedicated work and study spaces with charging points.

The new furniture uses fabric made entirely from recycled plastics, including sea debris and landfill bound bottles.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “We are pleased to reopen Henley’s library after extensive works.

"Our refurbishment makes the library more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, while also being a welcoming and accessible space. We are confident that local people will love the changes; and they now have a library that is modern, warm and better able to meet their needs.”

To facilitate the reopening of the library, the temporary provision at the Old Fire Station Gallery will close on 1 April at 1pm.

The upgrades form part of an ongoing project to modernise Oxfordshire’s libraries, and improve accessibility, reflecting the changing needs of local communities.

The project has been made possible through a combination of central government decarbonisation funds, and developer funding also known as community infrastructure levy (CIL), provided by South Oxfordshire District Council. The work is being delivered by the county council’s libraries and minor works teams.

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Based on feedback from 102 customers, 87.5 per cent rated the service as very good or excellent, and all respondents indicated they would recommend it to a friend.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “The home library service allows people who are unable to get to a library to be able to continue reading the books they love. It is more than just books alone; it’s a vital community asset.

"Many use the service because they can't leave home, sometimes making it one of their few social interactions. Our staff and volunteers also ensure these individuals are safe and their needs are met.

"We're so pleased with the positive feedback and will work on suggested improvements, such as adding more large print books."

Each year, over 800 residents benefit from the home library service, thanks to the dedication of approximately 187 volunteers and library staff.

In 2023 alone, 200 new customers signed up, with a further 143 in 2024.

Kevin Salway, Home Library Service Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “I think we can all agree the home library service is a fantastic service that is hugely appreciated by its customers. We work to a tight three week schedule and the team put in a huge effort to ensure all our customers are happy. I hope this year we can reach out to new potential customers and continue to provide valued support to existing ones.”

With the help of library staff and volunteers, the service looks after and delivers books and audio visual items to those who struggle to visit a library due to their personal circumstances.

It is completely free of charge to customers, many of whom are elderly or housebound, and it can also be used on a short-term basis following illness or hospitalisation. Those with carer responsibilities are also welcome to apply.

To register for the service or for further information, telephone the home library service on 01865 810259, email homelibraryservice@oxfordshire.gov.uk or visit Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Now, with the support of Oxfordshire County Council, Bryan’s company, Repolywise, has just secured funding from Innovate UK to put his ideas for plastic recycling into action.

He is now encouraging others to follow in his footsteps in taking up support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

Bryan, who became a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) at the University of Oxford, said: “I spent eight years at Oxford in the chemistry department as an undergraduate and a postgraduate, eventually obtaining my DPhil in inorganic chemistry in March 2024.

"As part of my DPhil work, I was involved in a project that looked at plastic degradation. That is where the inspiration for Repolywise came from,” explained the Oxford resident.

"The current limited options available for plastic recycling is partly a consequence of the difficulty in finding a solution. Nearly 80 per cent of all plastics in the world end up in landfill, just nine per cent is recycled.

“That’s why I wanted to create a business that focused on finding a solution to this.”

Bryan, 26, first came into contact with the BIPC back in September 2023, where his experience gave him the motivation to act.

Bryan continued: “I googled entrepreneur events in Oxford back in 2023 and that’s how I found the BIPC. I signed up to one of the start-up huddles to present my idea.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic and welcoming of my business proposal, and it was this that gave me the motivation to continue on with what I was doing.”

He has also utilised more of the services on offer, including one to one mentoring sessions, and computer software, such as Grantfinder.

Since then, Repolywise has gone from strength to strength, culminating in receiving £375,000 of funding from Innovate UK for the development of the ‘Atomic Scissors’ technology.

“The Atomic Scissors technology, developed at the University of Oxford, involves a highly innovative process to break down waste plastics at the atomic level to selectively convert waste into propane,” explained Bryan.

“This funding will allow us to develop the technology and get it to a point where it can be used commercially.”

With his business now thriving, Bryan is keen to encourage others to join the BIPC start-up huddles and share their ideas.

He said: “The BIPC centre is incredibly helpful to early stage entrepreneurs. You would be surprised what benefits the Oxford start-up community here can offer!”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “Repolywise’s rapid rise is a real success story for the BIPC. The fact that it was the start-up huddle that gave Bryan the motivation to put his idea into practice shows how much the centre can make a difference.

“We provide a range of services, resources and activities from one on one support, workshops and our start-up huddle to equipment, software, and even office space. By doing this we can give people in Oxfordshire an extra hand to make their dreams a reality and help their businesses thrive.”

One on one support can be booked online.

The monthly start-up huddle provides an opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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However, for 35 year old Sadia Ali, Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) made the process a whole lot less daunting, and she is now encouraging others to make the most of the centre and its variety of resources.

She explained: “After years of working in investment banking I knew I wanted something more. I knew I wanted a family, and the demanding hours of the banking world would have made that difficult.

“I’ve had my own journey with this, but I’ve also met so many people that are stuck in less than ideal situations because of money; whether that’s an environment, a relationship, cultural dynamics or a job.

“I’ve also witnessed the detrimental impact and spiralling effect finances and bad money management can have on mental health and overall wellbeing. There is nothing that gives you more choice, more options, more independence than having your own money set for growth and building an independent source of income.

“I wanted to make finance and wealth building more accessible for the everyday person. I wanted more people to understand how simple it is to build wealth and how it’s possible for everyone at any level of income to invest in the stock market.”

The Oxford born and bred entrepreneur first came to the centre thanks to a women’s event hosted by Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

 “It’s hard doing everything by yourself. Entrepreneurship is glorified as being easy, and so I felt out of my depth at times, especially as I was so used to high achieving,” Sadia commented.

“I found out about the BIPC through an event that I went to, hosted by OxLEP, at the Oxford Westgate Library.

“I was spending some time in Oxford, so it was the perfect little place for me to work from, providing the perfect balance between quiet focus time and also being around like-minded people in a similar position. I often used the marketing suite to film videos and podcasts. But mostly I used the booth for meetings!”

Sadia has also praised the support of the staff, particularly Ryan Johnson, Oxfordshire County Council’s BIPC Manager, and Sophie Silverstone, an officer.

She added: “The manager Ryan has also been a great help. He presented me with so many opportunities that I’m so grateful for, and Sophie was always available to help me through any real time challenges I was facing. I was really blessed to have had access to those two!”

Since using the BIPC to start her own business, Sadia is keen to share her own experiences and expertise to help others who may be feeling the same way she did.

She continued: “My business has grown so much in the last year and the centre had a huge role to play in this, mostly because of the space it gave me to focus and for helping me build a schedule for my work day. Also being around other business owners was so helpful, to support each other in quite a lonely journey. 

“I would strongly recommend anyone thinking about starting a business to use the BIPC and the resources available. From the free one on one mentoring to the marketing suite and the events that are held, it is such a brilliant space for anyone to start their journey. If you’re able to get through those first hurdles, then it is the most rewarding thing ever.”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “Sadia’s story just shows, yet again, how much the centre can help anybody to make the next step with their business. I wish her all the best.

“Much of what is on offer is free of charge. By providing free resources and support, we can give people in Oxfordshire an extra hand to make their dreams a reality and help their businesses thrive.”

Located in the Oxford Westgate Library, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support, which can be booked online, or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly start-up huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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The library, which reopened on 16 November, has been given a complete redecoration, as well as some new additions, including new moveable shelving to allow larger events to be held, and charging ports to allow customers to work on their own devices.

Surplus shelving and a counter from another library was also repurposed as part of the refurbishment to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the project.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “This newly refreshed library provides a lovely new space for people from all over the local community with a great range of books and so much more.

“This has been a real team effort, with the local community, our volunteer group, our staff and suppliers all pulling together. We have been lucky to have been supported by South Oxfordshire District Council, and the Friends of Goring Library, who also helped raise funds needed to buy some new books and hosted an event to celebrate the reopening.

“We are confident that local people will love the changes; and they now have a library that is modern, warm, welcoming and better able to meet their needs.”

 The refurbishment is part of an ongoing project to modernise Oxfordshire’s libraries, and improve accessibility, reflecting the changing needs of local communities.

It was made possible thanks, in part, to developer funding, applied for through South Oxfordshire District Council.

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Two years later, he kept his promise with support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

Now that his business, The Drone Rules, is thriving, 32 year old William is encouraging others to consider the BIPC to help turn their business ideas into reality.

Inspired by his Nigerian-born mother who was one of the first female aeronautical engineers in her town, William wanted to capitalise on his background in aerospace and astronautics engineering to create a business that centres on changing the world for the better through aerial technology – drones.

He said: “I had been working for an Oxford University spinout, having spent five years as a flight simulation engineer, building simulators and travelling the world to test them, but I had promised myself I would start my own business.

“The drone industry is a fast paced and rapidly growing market. This is because drones offer incredible value if used correctly – anything from aerial photography to delivering medical supplies at hospitals. There are so many opportunities with these incredible flying robots!”

William first came into contact with the team at the BIPC when he was offering free services at Oxford Westgate Library.

As he explains, “I quit my job in 2021, and I then began to offer free services to the library in the form of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) drone workshops. These were STEM based coding classes for young people.

“I was then introduced by a library manager to the BIPC management as she saw that I was keen to develop STEM workshops for young people.”

William was one of the first people to use the popular start-up networking huddles, which are now one of the most well attended of its kind in the country and has utilised almost every resource available.

“I have used almost everything at the centre to help my business, including the databases on offer, photography and lighting equipment, the green screen background, the meeting rooms for client discussions, and even the main room for various STEM sessions.”

Thanks to the help on offer at BIPC, William’s business is now thriving, providing educational and consultancy services to a range of different organisations.

“I have managed to branch the business out into two main areas: education and consultancy. “Drone City provides further development of STEM by inspiring young people (key stage one to two) through all mediums of education through practical sessions utilising our very own story books, online resources and STEM drones

“Meanwhile, Droneworxx (key stage two to post-16) helps with the development of careers by inspiring those aged 12 - 21 and over by offering programmes, workshops and practical sessions to help young adults to succeed in the world of autonomous aviation.

“The Drone Rules is the parent company for both Drone City and Droneworxx and is also helping businesses and organisations across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties adopt drone solutions including NHS, Oxfordshire County Council, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and Oxford Business Park.

“I would strongly recommend anybody who is thinking about starting their own business to attend a meeting with the BIPC for a one to one, or join one of the start-up huddles, and gain insights into taking the leap into developing your idea into a viable business.

“You may feel ready to fly, but learning about the financial, administrative, and business planning frameworks may help make the ride a little less bumpy!”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “The Drone Rules is just another example of a small Oxfordshire startup that has benefited from the expertise and resources on offer at the BIPC.

“It’s always great to hear these success stories, and I hope to hear many more.

"The BIPC offers various free resources, including free business advice and mentoring from our team, networking events, database access, meeting spaces, and equipment. It's the perfect place to bring your business idea to life.”

Located in the Oxford Westgate Library, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly startup huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's national network of business and intellectual property centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

With support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) 55-year-old Tim Pakouse has made his idea a reality and is encouraging others to make the most of the resources on offer.

Get Fed CIC (Community Interest Company) launched back in 2022 as a means of supporting young people identified as at particular risk of exploitation or exclusion from school. It aims to help them access employment while developing entrepreneurial skills along the way.

Experienced as a youth worker in a criminal justice setting,  Banbury-based Tim was concerned about the growing number of students for whom school was not working. He saw a link between these children and the developing problem of drugs exploitation: young people who weren’t achieving at school were more vulnerable to the offer of the local drug dealers, which gave Tim an idea.

He explains: “I was a youth worker for more than twenty years and saw so many young lads missing out on school for various reasons. I saw many of them at risk of getting involved with drug dealers and county lines.

“My idea was to create something where young people learn barista and business skills on our coffee van and have the opportunity to help project manage a gig in their community where they can earn 50 per cent of the profits. Making frothy coffees is a lot safer than dealing drugs!”

Tim first got in contact with the BIPC back in the summer of 2022 when he did a day of training with Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

 Although at first, he wasn’t sure about the impact that the BIPC would have, it was clear very soon how much of a useful resource it is, and had particular praise for BIPC manager, Ryan Johnson.

“I have worked with Ryan Johnson previously and stayed connected over various changes in role. Ryan is an inspiring person and amazing connector. When I heard about the launch of BIPC I was intrigued, and the timing seemed perfect for what I wanted to achieve.

“I was a bit sceptical at first as to whether BIPC would help me to be honest – I felt a bit inadequate to accept the help and I had a bit of imposter syndrome.

“However, the trainers were so helpful, and resources were so easily accessible. Being able to network with other business owners was great too – seeing your idea become a reality and getting useful feedback from others.

“I have used every resource available and I never miss a BIPC opportunity if I don’t have to!”

Since getting involved with the BIPC, Get Fed CIC has gone from strength to strength, with exciting plans including more involvement at local events and new vans. Tim even hopes to use the experience to help shape local government policy for young people.

“Get Fed is growing and gaining traction. We have now worked with more than 50 young people, with a high percentage of those having gone onto employment or further training.

“BIPC is the nursery from which we’ve sprung. The day of OxLEP (free!) training germinated the idea – talked about for years – which began to take on a plan and strategy.

“BIPC’s value is so organic and multi-layered it has to be experienced.  Ryan and the BIPC team energise the eco-system, which has incredible resources and potential – it’s one of the most exciting spaces I’ve ever known.”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “The BIPC is a great, but often underutilised resource that almost anybody with an idea could benefit from. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve already got a business, or you simply have an idea and want help taking it to the next step – the BIPC is here to help. Over 1,500 people have already been supported with their start-ups and their ideas.

“That’s why it’s so great to hear more about Tim’s business and the difference it’s already making to young people in the county. I am glad the BIPC was able to help Get Fed flourish.

“Much of what is on offer at our BIPC is free of charge, including one to one sessions with one of our advisors. If you have a startup, or simply a business idea, and need some advice, get in touch to book a free session now.”

Located in the Oxford Central Library at Westgate, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly start-up huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The monthly event, next taking place on 17 October from 6pm, provides a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The sessions are organised by the council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) and each event includes one or two business presentations, a question and answer period, and ample networking time.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “What our award-winning BIPC has achieved in such a short period of time has been astounding. Over 1,500 people have already been supported with their start-ups and their ideas, and the startup huddle is just one of a range of ways that people can benefit.

“Many of the services offered are free of charge, including this one. By providing free resources and support, we can help people in Oxfordshire turn their dreams into reality and help their businesses thrive.”

Located in the Oxford Central Library at Westgate, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one-on-one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

Its success was recognised by the national Libraries Connected Awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

For more information on the BIPC, visit the centre on the second floor of Oxfordshire County Library or go online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/bipc.

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The UK’s largest digital inclusion campaign, Get Online Week, aims to help tens of thousands of people get online in just one week.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “Get Online Week provides valuable assistance and support to individuals of all ages, helping them build confidence in using the internet. With many council and essential services now available online, these events offer a fantastic opportunity to learn digital skills in a welcoming environment.

“Whether it’s using banking apps, booking appointments through the NHS app, or accessing eBooks and newspapers with a county council library membership, enhancing digital skills can significantly improve residents’ lives.

“It doesn’t matter what your level of knowledge and experience with the digital world is, there is something to help everyone.”

To celebrate this campaign and digital inclusion as a whole, Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries and community groups have organised events to help people learn more about the online world:

14 October
Abingdon Library from 10am
Drop-in session to help with banking, NHS and travel apps.

15 October
Aston Tirrold Village Hall from 10am
Help, advice and guidance for help using online services desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

16 October
Witney Library from 10am
Supporting people to use the Oxfordshire County Council library app.

17 October
Bicester Library and Carterton Libraries from 10am
eBook and audio digital drop-in session: free eBook, audio and magazine sessions to help with downloading and navigating apps.

Moreton Area Centre from 10.30am
Getting connected: learn to navigate your way in this digital world and explore the net and the endless possibilities to connect with the world using your phone or tablet.

Westgate Library, Oxford, 3pm - 4pm
New library computers, news and music streaming services: question and answer session about how to get online using new library computers, news searching and music streaming facilities.

18 October
Headington Library and Wantage Library, 2pm - 4pm
Intro to eBooks, magazines and audio: how to use eBooks and magazines. Bring a device.

There is support available throughout the year as well for those unable to make one of the Get Online Week events. Find out more about what is available by visiting Getting Oxfordshire Online’s website.

More information

Getting Oxfordshire Online was set up in 2021 by Oxfordshire Community Foundation, supported by seed funding from Our Common Good and Oxfordshire County Council. SOFEA are now the lead partner, working with Aspire and Bicester Green in the management team, supported by a network of partners.

They work in partnership with local communities to provide refurbished devices, connectivity and support to help everyone access the internet.

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The digital café is hosted on the first Monday of every month (2pm-4pm), and allows people who are struggling with or unfamiliar with technology to find help and support with using their mobile, laptop or tablet.

The initiative offers people free informal, one to one support around basic digital skills, with access to digital devices and the internet. It encourages and teaches people how to easily use digital technology as part of their everyday life.

The launch of this digital café is a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) and Oxford City Council.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community & Corporate Services, said: “It’s important that in the digital world, we do not leave people behind. Libraries play a vital role in making online services more accessible, so I welcome this new initiative and encourage those who feel they may need some help, to come along.

“The library is a great digital resource in itself. There is free access to, and support with, IT at every library in the county – as well as free Wi-Fi provision, and fantastic, free, digital content for everyone to access through their library membership at their local library or on their phone or tablet, 24/7.”

Marta Fischer, Digital Access Lead for BOB ICB who is also an NHS App ambassador said: “Digital Cafes aim to give people the confidence and skills to use digital devices such as smart phones and the NHS App so they can access health advice and support promptly. We want to break down barriers around digital technology so there is more of a level playing field for people of all ages and from different communities using this technology.”

Marta also leads training sessions on the NHS App and said: “People find the app very easy to use once I talk them through it. Some people assume all those over a certain age cannot use digital technology; but many of the patients I work with already use apps and appreciate how the NHS App makes it easier to access high quality online care when they need it such as ordering repeat prescriptions and manage hospital appointments.”

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Oxford City Council Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, said: “The Digital Café is free to attend and aimed at anyone who is struggling to use a mobile phone, laptop or tablet. The Council is very aware that there are large numbers of Oxford residents who are digitally disadvantaged but want to learn how to use online and mobile services. 

"They will find these free sessions friendly and informal and very useful. With so many services going digital in terms of access, I would encourage people to drop in. The Council really wants to see the city’s digital divide reduced so everyone can take advantage that access to new technology can bring”

There are currently 11 digital cafés located in libraries, GP practices, a care home and a leisure centre in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West region.

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The 2024 Summer Reading Challenge ‘Marvellous Makers’ is taking place at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries from 6 July.

In collaboration with The Reading Agency and Create, a top charity that delivers the creative arts to the most disadvantaged people, this year’s challenge wants to spark children’s imaginations and inspire them to be creative and tell stories through the magic of reading. 

From 6 July until 7 September, children aged four to 11 taking part in the free challenge can discover new stories, join in with free activities across the county’s libraries and explore their creativity – from junk modelling to music, dance to drawing and painting.

A mini challenge with a special card and stickers is also available for children under four.

Mark McCree, Service Manager, Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual opportunity for children to ignite and develop their love of reading, with the added bonus of being able to win some great prizes and take part in a whole range of activities at their local library. Reading, as well as being a fun hobby, sparks imagination and ideas.

“We welcome and encourage children across the county to visit the library and enjoy some great books over the summer. There are plenty of creative events to take part in too, and it’s all free!”

This year’s bespoke illustrations are created by Natelle Quek, celebrated illustrator of titles including Wild Wild Wood (Puffin Books) and I Am Nefertiti (Five Quills).

To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries service hosts activities and classes throughout the county for people of all ages. Residents can find out what’s on by going to oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries.

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Now in its tenth year, the competition continues to be a platform for the talented writers of Oxfordshire, with three categories to reflect the breadth of talent in the county.

Winning for the second time in the adult category was Jez Fernandez from Grove whose story ‘Dreamland’ is a wickedly funny, yet strikingly poignant story littered with pop culture references and a diverse cast of authentic characters, all set within a quintessential American diner.

Commenting on his second victory, 50 year old Jez said: “This is such thrilling news, and I am so honoured to win again.”

His 2017 winning short story ‘Time of Death’ is one of the most downloaded ever for a competition-winning title.

Thirteen year old Oxford High School student Alison Zhao was victorious in the young adult category with her story 2056. It is a thought provoking vignette exploring how bringing an AI robot into the home can have an unimaginably profound impact, for better and for worse.

“I couldn't believe it and had to stand there for a minute to just let it sink in. And then it hit me, I'm going to be published. That's amazing!” said Miami-born, self-confessed Swiftie, Alison.

Finally, this year’s children’s winner was eight year old Sophia Skidmore from Witney. Her story ‘A Street of Time’ is a rip-roaring time travel adventure spanning multiple centuries and countries.

Sophia said: “I felt emotional because I found out I was going to be an author and they were going to release an eBook and audio book and the whole world could hear me read out my story, which is a massive thing for a little girl like me. It makes me really happy!”

Mark McCree, Service Manager, Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to run this competition for a decade now, and the creativity and talent of the writers continues to astound us. Well done to all the brilliant authors who submitted a story this time around, and particular congratulations to those who have been chosen as our winners.”

All the winners are available to read on Oxfordshire libraries webpage , or on the Libby app, available to download from the Apple store or Google Play store.

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The new and improved library, which reopened on 25 March, boasts an exciting new children’s area, complete with reading dens, dedicated working and study spaces with charging points, and moveable shelving to allow the space to be used for events.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “We have transformed Chinnor library on multiple fronts. We installed new signage and branding, updated the furnishings, created a flexible layout, installed a new heating system, and incorporated environmentally sustainable features.”

“This has been a real team effort, with the local community, our volunteer group, our staff and suppliers all pulling together, and we are really proud of the end product. We are confident that local people will love the changes; and they now have a library that is modern, warm, welcoming and better able to meet their needs.”

Work was also carried out to improve the building’s environmental footprint, including the installation of additional loft insulation and solar panels, lighting upgrades, and replacing heaters with new air source heat pumps, which will also provide air conditioning in the warmer months.

The refurbishment was made possible through developers’ funding, alongside some additional council contributions.

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Twelve organisations are to share nearly £425,000 to help improve community transport in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council is awarding the grants, ranging from £700 to £135,000, to fund new vehicles, expand schemes, provide new services, offer administrative support and carry out surveys of potential passengers.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, pictured, said: “Most of us take it for granted that we will be able to get to the places we need to. However, when people can’t drive or access public transport, they can be stranded.

“That’s why Oxfordshire’s active and diverse community transport sector is such a lifeline to so many people. From small volunteer car schemes to larger minibus schemes offering timetabled services, we are incredibly grateful to all those who work so hard to keep our residents mobile.

“We know these grants will make a big difference to all these organisations and help them to continue the fantastic work they are doing.”

The recipients are West Oxfordshire Community Transport; Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone (UBW) Minibus; The Villager Community Bus; CAWNAC (Oxfordshire) Volunteer Driver Service; Daybreak Oxford; Readibus; Shrivenham/Bourton/Watchfield/Longcot Parish Councils; Wallingford Town Council; Wantage & District Community Transport Community Interest Company (CIC); Chinnor Village Centre; First & Last Mile CIC; Watlington Parish Council.

Daybreak Oxford, pictured above, has been awarded £135,000 to expand the scheme it has been running for 15 months, transporting people with dementia to and from day centres and taking the older population on shopping trips.

Lee Gray, Chief Executive of Daybreak Oxford, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding. It means we can increase the number of days we can operate, the number of centres we can visit, and double the number of people we can serve. We take them door-to-door and it is a real lifeline for so many people.

“We recently bought our second minibus, thanks to a donation from the MacFarlane Family Foundation, and the council’s grant will take care of everything else, from permits to safety inspections, as well as drivers and coordinators to make it sustainable.”

West Oxfordshire’s First & Last Mile, pictured right, has been awarded £40,000 to expand its services and provide administrative support to cope with the additional workload.

It has three vehicles and currently carries about 80 passengers a day, mostly schoolchildren, and serves villages between Long Hanborough and Standlake. However, it is in the process of improving its timetable from next month to include a shopper service from South Leigh into Witney for villagers.

Andy Swarbrick, First & Last Mile CIC Director, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded a community transport grant. We feel it is in recognition of the widely applauded service we run in one of the most challenging rural areas of Oxfordshire since our inception in January 2022.

“The award will be used to establish not only a shoppers’ service but also put the whole business on a more professional footing. That said, a critical aspect of our philosophy is to engage locally, both in terms of volunteers and the support of the wider community.”

Community transport is part of the voluntary sector and plays a key role in filling gaps in service where public transport is not available. It helps provide safe, accessible, cost-effective, flexible transport run by the community for the community in rural and urban areas.

Community transport can include car clubs, community minibuses, dial-a-ride, lift shares, taxi shares and voluntary car schemes.

Some groups offer services just for their members, while others are open to the public. It can take disabled people to work, children to school, sick people to healthcare and older people to the shops. It runs local bus routes and provides transport for a wide range of clubs and other groups.

The council supports the development of not for profit community transport groups and services.

Small start-up grants to help groups in their development are available, while the council can also help with the cost of training volunteers as minibus and passenger assistants.

More information is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

The annual competition is free and is a chance to inspire new writers, discover original stories and hear unique voices from around Oxfordshire.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “This is a great opportunity for budding authors to get creative and share their stories by entering this competition. Past winners have been some of the most popular downloads of the year, so this is the perfect chance for new writers to get their story published and enjoyed by others.”

There are three age categories:

• Children: 7 - 11 years old
• Young adult: 12 - 17 years old
• Adult: 18 years old and above.

Stories written by children can be up to 1,000 words and those by both young adults and adults can be up to 3,000 words.

Winners of each category will see their short story published as an eBook and eAudiobook for library members to borrow in 2024 on Overdrive – the library service’s online platform for downloading eBook’s, eAudiobooks, magazines and more.

As part of the celebrations, there will also be special creative writing opportunities on offer in libraries!

Full competition terms and conditions as well as information about how to submit entries can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website at oxfordshire.gov.uk/shortstorycompetition

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It’s been a whirlwind year for our Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Oxfordshire. Although it’s still relatively new, we’ve already supported over 1,500 people with their start-ups and ideas, and all of our hard work was recently recognised in the form of an award from Libraries Connected.

We’re delighted that our work helping young people in enterprising activities and supporting them into business has been recognised by Libraries Connected - a membership organisation representing the public library services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - in the form of the Children's Promise Award. 

Of course, the BIPC doesn’t only support young people, but we’ve been particularly focused on younger generations here in Oxfordshire, partnering with local and national organisations to nurture their ambitions, and give them the skills to build their enterprise.

For the past two years we’ve been partnering with Oxfordshire Young Enterprise to host the end of year showcase. Last year alone, we had 75 students from 14 schools all over the county attend a special learning event where they pitched, exhibited and were interviewed on their projects.

We’ve additionally hosted individual school visits, including those for children special educational needs. This includes introductions to resources including our free market research databases including COBRA, which provides how-to guides on starting hundreds of different types of businesses.

For people making the first steps into business, we appreciate there can be barriers to accessing the knowledge that is mostly gained from experience. Having the tools to navigate the market is critical in so many sectors, and being able to offer access to some of these is something that makes us unique here in Oxfordshire. This is also why we’re also looking at cross-organisational approaches to link up with colleagues in Target Youth Support services to help young people who may not ordinarily have this access to get involved and gain skills they need, while also signing them up to benefit from a library membership more widely.

Beyond this, we’ve also been looking at how we can support companies or help people to create companies that support young people in education, wellbeing and other related activities.

Among the organisations to benefit from our services is GetFED. GetFED provide barista and business training for young people at risk of exclusion and exploitation. Through bespoke training sessions, the organisation supports young entrepreneurs with the basics of running a small business, developing barista skills and even project managing their own events.

The Drone Rules is another organisation that has been working closely with the BIPC. This unique organisation provides education for individuals and educational providers on all things drone-related – a technology that will be no doubt of interest to a lot of people. 

BIPC Oxfordshire is certainly opening the doors for many young people and we hope we can continue to tap into the undiscovered skills of many more.

If you want to find out more about the work of BIPC Oxfordshire visit their website or head to the Centre, you can find them on the second floor of the Oxfordshire County Library in Oxford, with Locals in Bicester and Blackbird Leys Libraries.

Ryan Johnson – BIPC Engagement and Marketing Manager at Oxfordshire County Council

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 The Summer Reading Challenge 2023, Ready, Set, Read! aims to keep minds and bodies active over the summer break, empowering young people to forge new connections with others and unleash the power of play, sport and physical activity through reading. It is produced by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust.

The free challenge launches on 8 July and runs until 9 September 2023.

 Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety said: “In the last year, our libraries have hosted a record number of classes, activities and events with over 8,000 held and over 133 thousand people attending. 

“The Summer Reading Challenge is always one of our most popular activities for young people. Not only is it a great, free way to keep children entertained during the long summer holidays, but it could also help pave the way for a lifelong love of reading.”

 Children can sign up at their nearest library, where they will be given a poster to record their reading journey. They can read any library books of their choice and win rewards including stickers and a medal. Libraries will be running lots of activities and events related to the challenge.

 Under fours can also take part in a mini challenge with a special card and stickers.

To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge.

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries service hosts activities and events throughout the county for people of all ages, find out what’s on by going to oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries.

Th national Libraries Connected Award celebrates the achievements of library workers who have had an exceptional impact on their library service, users or their local communities.

The county council’s Oxfordshire Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) team, based in Oxford Central Library in Westgate, won the children’s award at the ceremony on 20 June 2023 for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “It’s great news that our BIPC team has been recognised for its brilliant work over the past two years. I hope that the work has inspired many to follow their dreams.

“Much of what is on offer at our BIPC is free of charge. . By providing free resources and support, we can give people in Oxfordshire an extra hand to make their dreams a reality and help their businesses thrive.”

The BIPC team has introduced hundreds of children and young people to entrepreneurship through workshops, networking events and one to one business information sessions in its cutting-edge facilities, which include a marketing suite, VR headsets, interactive TVs and market research databases. 

Through strong partnerships with local schools, universities, charities and the youth justice system, BIPC also hopes to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and offers positive opportunities to those at risk of youth violence or criminal exploitation.

Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said: “These awards highlight the incredible opportunities libraries offer to their communities. But more importantly they recognise the people that make that possible – the library workers who show such dedication, creativity and innovation every day. The winners are a credit to their library services and to the public library sector as a whole. Huge congratulations to them all.”

The winners were chosen by expert judges including crime writer Priscilla Masters and children’s author Cathy Cassidy. The judging panels also included Arts Council England, The Reading Agency, BBC Arts and OverDrive, creator of the Libby reading app for libraries, who sponsored the awards.

The BIPC is a specialist library service delivered with the support of The British Library as part of a national network of similar centres. It provides high-quality information and resources, guidance, and networking activities to support a wide range of developing businesses and entrepreneurs.

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The winner of the adult section was Caroline Kohl, who wrote The Writer’s Constitution. Set in the Hotel Beauregard, the book is an evocative mystery, laced with humour to keep the reader guessing throughout.

Caroline, from Oxford, said: “I’m really glad that the judging panel enjoyed my story.”

Young adult winner, Izzy Borg, writer of The Book-Burner’s Daughter, tells the tale of Stori, who takes a stand against the rich and poor divide in her community when she is forced to work as a book burner to provide fuel for the needy.

Izzy, aged 16 from Abingdon, on winning for a record second year on the run, , said: “Finding out I was the first two-time winner of the competition was both a shock and an honour!

“I wrote The Book-Burner’s Daughter as a bit of fun in my spare time, never imagining that it would be chosen to be published, but I am so thrilled to get the opportunity to share it. I hope that through the story I can spread my love for reading and help people to realise the importance of our libraries!"

Meanwhile the winner in the children’s section was Lucy Hemingway with The Contortionist.

The Contortionist is about a young girl, Kayla, who is forced to live with her aunt Ida when her father dies and mother goes missing. However, an impromptu visit to the circus sets Kayla on a new and unexpected path.

Lucy, aged 11 and from Chalbury, said: “'It means a lot to me to have won. I love writing stories, but I don't always manage to finish them! I'm so pleased I finished this one and that the judges enjoyed reading it.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “The judging panel enjoyed reading and discussing the entries from many talented writers. The standard of this year’s stories was especially high. The winners should be extremely proud of their achievements”

Now in its ninth year, the competition continues to be a platform for the talented writers of Oxfordshire, with three categories to reflect the breadth of talent in the county.

All of these stories are now available to borrow as an ebook or audiobook by visiting Oxfordshire Libraries Overdrive platform.

Find out more about Oxfordshire County Council’s Libraries service, including how to access free ebooks, audiobooks, and more by visiting oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries.

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Oxfordshire County Council welcomed guests including the British Library’s Chief Librarian, Liz Jolly, and 15 managers from BIPC centres across the country to Oxford for the event, which included presentations showcasing the county council’s leading approach to youth engagement.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “I was pleased to be able to welcome the chief librarian for the British Library, and library staff from all over Britain to Oxford.

“It’s very telling that the work of the council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre was chosen as the first host of such a networking event. Oxfordshire is leading the way nationally in youth engagement and partnership work, and I hope that the event will help others to understand how they can replicate our centre’s brilliant work.”

The BIPC offers many start-up support opportunities and activities, where anyone can access one to one support or workshops to support their business start-up ideas. The centre is part of the British Library's National Network of Business & Intellectual Property Centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

For more information on the BIPC, visit the centre on the second floor of Oxfordshire County Library or go online at oxfordshire.gov.uk/bipc.

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The Oxford-based author of the Sunday Times bestselling DI Fawley crime series will be coming to Oxfordshire County Council’s Abingdon Library to talk about her first stand-alone novel, Murder in the Family.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “I am delighted that once again Abingdon Library is welcoming another critically acclaimed author.

“Our Oxfordshire libraries have hosted so many acclaimed authors of both fiction and non-fiction writings in the past, including Mick Herron, Nicola Cornick and Peter Tickler. It’s great to be able to welcome to many big names and hopefully encourage more people to develop a love of books.”

Cara Hunter also commented on her upcoming appearance: "I love doing local events and especially in libraries. We didn't have many books at home when I was growing up so I owe my love of reading – and where I am now – entirely to libraries."

Cara's novels have sold over a million copies worldwide. Her upcoming release Murder in the Family has already been optioned for TV by Neal Street Productions – the company behind TV hits such as 1917 and Call the Midwife.

The event starts at 6pm and will include an audience question and answer session and a chance to purchase signed copies of her new book. Tickets cost £2, which includes refreshments, and are available by asking at the library or calling 01235 520374.

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries regularly hold events, most of which are free of charge, for people of all ages, from ‘rhymetime’ for young children to ‘knit and natter’ for adults and much more. Find out more about what’s on by visiting the county council’s libraries’ webpages.

More information

Murder in the Family is an ingeniously plotted and addictive novel about an unsolved murder that gripped the nation. When Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of the family home in London in 2003, he left behind a wealthy, older widow and three stepchildren. Years later, a group of experts are filmed on the set of a true-crime show as they re-examine the evidence – with shocking results.

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For one individual across the pond, Teresa Bennett, it was particularly stressful to find out her rescue dog, Cora, had destroyed a signed copy of a book she had borrowed.

However, thanks to the work of staff at Oxfordshire County Council’s Abingdon Library, Indianapolis-based Teresa was able to replace the book, Slow Horses by Mick Herron, and even get her own signed copy of his latest collection.

Jess Williams, Customer Service Advisor at Abingdon Library, explained the unusual request: “Last November, we were lucky to welcome Mick Herron to Abingdon Library to promote his newest story collection, Standing by the Wall.

“Shortly before the event, I was contacted by a lady from the USA, who explained her dog had chewed a prized copy of a Mick Herron book she had borrowed. She was desperate to organise a new, signed copy to replace the destroyed one.

“As the book has been adapted into a TV show, its popularity meant it was difficult for her to get her hands on a copy – and even harder for an autographed copy.

“We regularly hold events at Abingdon Library with famous authors, speakers and much more. She noticed through her online search that we were hosting an event to launch Mick Herron’s latest series of short stories and asked if this meant we could help her to get a book autographed for her.”

So working closely with contacts back in America, Jess worked around the clock to get a copy of the book to the library in time for the event. Eventually Teresa Bennett managed to get a second-hand copy delivered at the eleventh hour, but when it arrived at the library, typically, it was in very bad condition.

Miraculously though, the Abingdon Library team managed to get hold of another copy just in time to get it signed at the event.

She continued: “When I explained to Mick Herron about the mishap, and the international efforts undertaken to get this book to him, he absolutely loved it. Not only did he sign the book but he also asked to get in touch with Teresa directly.

“This is such a wonderful example of how libraries and books can unite people and spread happiness and, in this case, from across the globe. It’s amazing that somebody all the way in Indianapolis called on Abingdon Library for help and I was delighted to play my part in the story of a dog, a book and a thriller writer.”

As Mick Herron testified himself: “The tale of Cora and her taste for fiction is one of those delightful episodes that come along every so often, proving that stories don't only happen in books – even if the best ones end up in libraries!”

He’s since arranged for Teresa to receive a signed copy of Standing by the Wall, signing it, ‘Teresa & Cora – Another tasty book …. With my best wishes, Mick Herron.’

Mark McCree, Service Manager for Libraries and Heritage at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This story just shows how much a love of literature can unite us all over the world and how much our library staff will go above and beyond to help people get their hands on a book!”

Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries, including Abingdon, regularly hold events, most of which are free of charge, for people of all ages, from rhymetime for young children to knit and natter for adults and much more. Find out more about what’s on by visiting the county council’s libraries’ webpages.

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There are a range of fun and free activities during the Easter holidays for young children to enjoy, as well as a new exhibition, Making an Entrance, that seeks to showcase some of the best museum acquisitions from over the past decade.

From 3 April, visitors will also soon be able to unwind in a new dog-friendly seating area in the scenic courtyard as part of an extension to the existing café. The project, funded with a grant from the South East Museum Development on behalf of Arts England, has also allowed for the purchase of plants and new pots to allow garden volunteers to grow produce for the café and help the museum reduce food waste.

Mark Haynes, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Customer and Cultural Services, said: “Our Oxfordshire Museum has so much to offer to people of all ages, and there’s even more coming with an exciting new exhibition this April.

“Entrance to the museum is free, as are activities for children during the Easter holidays, so a trip to the Oxfordshire Museum is a great day out for everyone. You can also now enjoy one of the museum’s delicious homemade cakes in the grounds with a furry friend.”

From 1 April, the new ‘Making an Entrance: unseen treasures’ exhibition will be showcasing the very best of the museum's acquisitions to the collection from the last decade. Many of the objects will never have been on public display before.

It is a chance to see the breadth and depth of the county’s collection and learn more about what, how and why we collect objects.

Families with young children can also make the most of fun family activities over the Easter Holiday, free and with no booking required:

Tuesday 4 April
Colour, Craft and Make: Creative activities aimed at the under-fives.
10.30 am - 12.00 noon

Rhymetime: Come and enjoy some rhymes and songs
12 noon - 12.30pm

Down the Rabbit Hole: Make a fun wooden spoon rabbit character and have a look at the dress Alice wore
2pm - 4pm

Wednesday 5 April
Sow and Grow: Plant vegetable seeds in a decorated plant pot. Just keep them away from rabbits!
10.30pm – 12.30pm

Thursday 6 April
Storytelling: Our weekly library storytelling, but this week bursting with bunnies.
11.15am – 11.45am

Origami Flowers: Make your own garden of freshly folded flowers - suitable for beginners and experienced crafters.
12noon – 1.00pm

Peter Rabbit’s Easter Garden: Using paper and card make a colourful garden for Peter Rabbit.
2.00pm – 4.00pm

Tuesday 11 April
Colour, Craft and Make: Creative activities aimed at the under-fives.
10.30am – 12.00noon

Cycle of Life: Explore the life stages of butterflies and make something fun to take away.
2.00pm – 4.00pm

Rhymetime: Come and enjoy some rhymes and songs
12.00 – 12.30pm

Wednesday 12 April
Bug Hotel: Check-in and help construct a bug hotel in the museum garden. Make a mini bug house to take home.
10.30am – 12.30pm

Thursday 13 April
Storytelling: Our weekly library storytelling, but with an interesting insect theme
11.15am – 11.45am

Incredible Insects: Let your imagination run wild. Use a variety of materials to make a species of insect.
2.00pm to 4.00pm

A full list of events is available on Oxfordshire Museum’s website.

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The annual competition, hosted by Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries service is a chance to discover new writers, original stories and unique voices from around Oxfordshire.

The winners will have their story published as an ebook and eaudiobook on Oxfordshire libraries’ OverDrive platform, where they can be borrowed, read and listened to from anywhere.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Community Safety, said: “The annual competition is a wonderful opportunity to inspire people of all ages to put pen to paper make their unique writing voice heard. 

“Past winners have proven to be the most popular downloads of the year, so this is the perfect way for new writers to get their story published and enjoyed by others.”

The competition is split into three age categories free to enter.  The short story competition categories are:

• children: seven to 11 years
• young adults: 12 to 17 years
• adults: 18 and above

Entries can be submitted from Wednesday 3 January until Sunday 26 February 2023. Stories can be up to 3,000 words.

Full terms and conditions as well as instructions on how to submit entries can be found on Oxfordshire libraries’ webpages.

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People will be able to choose from a range of different and exciting items including a Baird television from 1949, a collection of items from Didcot A Power Station, an ice-cream container from L Smallbones in the 1930s or a medieval cauldron and jar.

 The chosen item will be accompanied by events delivered by Oxfordshire Museum Service staff.

 Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Community Safety, said: “Instead of our museum curators deciding the programme for next year at Didcot library, this is an exciting opportunity for library users to become the curators and decide instead.

“What object evokes the most memories and interest for residents of Didcot? Do explain your vote on the library Facebook page.”

The deadline to cast a vote is 17 December, which can be done using Didcot Library’s Facebook page or in person at the library.

Shortlist

Ice-cream container from L Smallbones, 222 Broadway, 1930s

In the early 1930s, Broadway became the town’s thriving shopping centre. Leslie and Betty Smallbones ran a tobacconist and confectioner’s shop at 222 Broadway in the 1930s, where this ice cream cup was sold.

Baird television 1949

This television belonged to a family from Didcot who worked at Harwell and were always interested in the latest technology. Only few households would have owned a television in the 1950s. Broadcast hours were strictly controlled by the postmaster general.

No broadcast went out between 6pm and 7pm for a while to make it easier for children to be put to bed, a time slot known as ‘toddlers’ truce’. It was dropped in 1957.

 A collection of items from Didcot A Power Station

Didcot A Power Station operated from 1970 until March 2013. Its impact on the landscape with its striking cooling towers often divided opinion but became the defining image of Didcot. In 1968, the power station won a Civic Trust Award for how well it integrated into the landscape, but in 2003 a poll in Country Life magazine judged it to be Britain’s third worst eyesore.

The items here came from the training room at the station:

·       Work order: This is an example of a typical work order issued to the engineers working at the plant in 1974.  

·       Fuel tokens and fuel ration book: These were issued for the working vehicles on the site during the oil crisis of 1974.

·       Placemat set: This leatherette table set came from the training room at the power station while it was operated by Central Electricity Generating Board between 1970 and 2004.

 Medieval cauldron and jar

The 11th to 12th century bronze cauldron and jar were found by a metal detector user on the outskirts of Didcot. The cauldron was placed on top of the jar as a lid and has been repaired many times with patches. The repairs illustrate how important the cauldron was to its owner, but it is not known what it would have contained.

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The free liners are available from the following locations during December, while stocks last:

• All Oxfordshire libraries
• County Hall, Oxford
• Abbey House, Abingdon
• Bodicote House, Banbury
• The Marsh Road Depot, Oxford
• Welch Way - Town Centre Shop, Witney
• Bicester Green
• Oxford Wood Recycling, Abingdon
• The Wantage Mix
• Share Oxford.

Customers who use the Home Library Service will be offered a roll of food caddy liners with their book delivery.

All households receive food waste recycling collections from their district council. Oxfordshire County Council arranges for the collected food waste to be recycled. Although most households already recycle their food waste – the council recycles nearly 25,000 tonnes of food waste annually – it estimates that a similar amount wrongly ends up in general waste.

If all of the food waste that is still thrown away in general rubbish bins was recycled, it would save Oxfordshire County Council more than £2 million a year.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate change and Environment, said: “The best thing people can do – especially during this cost of living crisis – is to minimise the amount of food that gets thrown away. Where that’s not possible, home composting or recycling food waste using the kerbside collection really help to reduce the impact of waste disposal on the climate.

“That’s why we are giving away these caddy liners to make it easier for residents at a time when we know that food waste is likely to increase significantly. Reducing the amount of food waste that ends up in general rubbish could save the council millions of pounds – money that would be better spent on other projects to improve people’s lives.”

General rubbish in Oxfordshire is burnt to generate energy, which already reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfill, but recycling food waste doubles the climate change benefit.

The recycling process generates green electricity and a fertiliser that is used on farmland across the county.

Residents are also being reminded that Oxfordshire’s seven household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. They will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 8am - 3pm. Details of where to find HWRCs is available at oxfordshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentres.

There are also tips on reducing waste and making savings over the festive period, from zero waste gift ideas to sustainable Christmas jumpers, on our Reducing waste with a green Christmas webpage, which also includes details of its #ReuseLikeScout colouring competition for under-16s. Entrants will be entered into a prize draw, with five winners receiving book tokens.

More information about how to reduce your food waste and recycle more this festive season – including links to the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which contains money-saving tips, storage hints, and recipes to make the most of your leftovers – is available on the Oxfordshire Recycles’ Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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The exhibition is a chance to see the Stoke Lyne Roman coin hoard – the largest in Oxfordshire County Council’s collection – for the first time and learn more about how the museum acquires, catalogues and cares for them.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety said: “These coins are another exciting find that helps us to discover more about the rich history of our county, and the Roman occupation of early Britain.

“As the largest hoard in our significant collection of coins and artefacts, I am delighted that we’ve been able to bring this exhibition to Bicester. If you have an interest in history and learning more, this is the exhibition for you.”

To mark the start of the exhibition, Bicester Library is also hosting a “Roman Coin Hoard Day” on 3 December featuring activities for both families and adults alike, such as lectures on the hoard, making roman helmets and a question-and-answer session with the Museum Service’s archaeology team.

Those who have made their own discoveries, no matter how small, can also bring along their hoards to Finds Liaison Officer Dr Edward Carswell, who will be on hand to help them learn more about their finds.

The hoard was discovered in September 2016 by a metal detector on farmland. The coins are all thought to date from the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus (AD 253 to 260) to the reigns of regional emperors Tetricus I and II (AD 271 to 274) and Aurelian (AD 270-5). The hoard also contains several unofficial copies that could post-date AD 274 but cannot be closely dated.

The Bicester area in the Roman era was predominantly rural with notable tribal boundaries at Aves Ditch and the river Cherwell. Nearby Alchester is the site of an ancient Roman town.

Discover more about what’s on at Oxfordshire’s libraries and museums at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-culture

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The makeover has transformed the library – reopened on 14 November  - into a modern and inspiring space with an expanded children’s area, dedicated workspaces with USB charging points, moveable shelving to allow for community events and new book stock.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “This long-awaited revamped library provides amazing and exciting new spaces for people from all over the local community with many books and a lot more beside! It is somewhere for people to meet and socialise, host community events and even work from. We hope residents are delighted with the results, and we are very pleased we’ve have been able to invest in this valued local library.”

New energy-saving LED lighting and heat pumps were installed to create a more carbon-efficient library, and the internet upgraded to allow for faster connection speeds.

The refurbishment was carried out with the support of public library design specialists, The Design Concept, and was made possible thanks to housing developer contributions.

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Popular author, Mick Herron, will be dropping into the library to promote his new short story ‘Standing by the Wall’. He will be holding a question and answer session and will spend some time talking about the bestselling Slough House series – adapted into the TV series Slow Horses.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: "Mick Herron is one of Britain’s most popular authors. I am delighted he is coming to Abingdon Library next month. 

“Abingdon Library regularly holds events like this with popular authors from across genres – keep an eye out for some of your favourites!"

Commenting on his appearance at Abingdon Library, Mick said: "I’ve been a user of the public library system my whole life, and regard it as one of our great national institutions, enriching the lives of its users and, in dark times, providing a safe, warm place for those in need. Like the NHS, its value is incalculable.”

The event starts at 6pm. Tickets cost £2, including a complimentary glass of wine, and are available by contacting the library directly on 01235 520374.

Abingdon Library holds regular events with authors, hosting a great selection of both fiction and non-fiction writings in the past, including Nicola Cornick and Peter Tickler.

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A full pressurised water supply has now been returned to households and businesses (in OX1, OX2, OX3, OX4, OX9, OX10, OX14, OX33, OX39 (4NA), OX44, HP17 and HP18) that were affected by a burst water main on Tuesday 4 October at the Heyford Hill roundabout on the Oxford Ring Road.

Any residents who experience low water pressure are asked to report the problem by contacting Thames Water. Residents can also access information on what to expect when the water is back on at Thames Water’s website.

The A4142 Eastern Bypass from Heyford Hill to Rose Hill Roundabout re-opened on Sunday morning.

Anyone who needs to travel by car, should plan ahead and can check @OxonTravel for updates and the county’s park and ride options.

This year, the Reading Agency’s summer reading challenge is celebrating science and innovation and will see children team up with the Gadgeteers, a group of friends who love creating inventions. Children will be able to participate in various activities and events related to the challenge.

The challenge launched in the county’s libraries on Saturday 9 July 2022 and will run until Saturday 10 September 2022. 

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for children to enjoy some great books over the summer period and experience what our libraries across the county have to offer. Reading can have a tremendous impact on a child's development, and I hope this helps children across the county discover and pursue their love of reading.”

By reading books, and collecting stickers and other rewards, children can discover how the Gadgeteers use their skills to plan an epic summer party at their local community centre.

Once completing the reading challenge, participants will receive their very own Gadgeteers certificate and medal and get entered into a countywide prize draw. Prizes include exciting science kits and national book tokens.

To participate in this year's summer reading challenge, children can sign up at their nearest library. They will be given a collector’s poster to keep a record of their reading journey. 

Under fours can take part in a mini-challenge with their own unique card and stickers.

To find out more about the summer reading challenge, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/summer-reading-challenge

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 Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Marjorie Glasgow, said: “It was wonderful to welcome The Countess of Wessex to Oxfordshire. She got to see much of the county.

 “At Shrivenham she opened the Royal Army Chaplain’s Museum, which tells the story of chaplaincy in the British Army. At Charlbury she saw the new community centre and The Cornerstone, which has done an extraordinary job of continuing the strong volunteer work started during the pandemic.

 “Finally, in east Oxford she met people who are working together to make an enduring, positive impact on their community.”

It was here, at Blackbird Leys Community Centre, that The Countess visited the Community Impact Zone where she thanked staff, volunteers and organisations who contribute to the scheme. 

 The Community Impact Zone is an award-winning partnership between Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police to improve collaboration across services, work more effectively with residents and increase the resources and opportunities available in communities. The partnership is coordinated by Oxford Hub, a local charity focusing on supporting everyone to use their energy and skills to build a better city. 

 Sara Fernandez, Chief Executive of Oxford Hub, said: “We were delighted that The Countess chose to visit the Community Impact Zone and her interest in the collaboration is a testament to the inspiring work that residents, volunteers and staff are doing every day to make the Leys better for everyone.”

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