This month

Homes for Ukraine – call for landlords 

Are you a landlord or are you considering becoming one soon? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Most of our Ukrainian guests in Oxfordshire have settled very well in their local communities and found work, so we’re now very keen to find a range of good value properties across the county to help them to start rebuilding their future with more independence.

If you’re a landlord or interested in becoming one please email oxfordshirehousingcapacity@southandvale.gov.uk or call 07858 687569. For more information, visit our South Oxfordshire Homes for Ukraine webpage.

Help to stop waste fires

One of our bin crews recently had to carry out an emergency tip of a whole truckload of recycling onto a street in Abingdon after a fire started in the back of their truck.  There have also recently been several fires reported at waste facilities.

The fires are happening because people are wrongly putting flammable items, such as batteries, vapes and gas cannisters, in with their waste or recycling.  This is very dangerous, putting lives at risk, disrupting vital services and potentially causing significant and costly damage to equipment and the environment.

To find out how dispose of fire-risk items safely, visit our Help Stop Waste Fires page.

Waste and Recycling Activity Pack

Get ready for the holidays by downloading our free children’s Waste and Recycling Activity Pack.

This colourful and easy-to-read pack provides some fun activities for young children to enjoy during the summer holidays which will help teach them about waste and recycling and about reducing waste around the home.

To download your pack, visit southandvale.gov.uk/activitypack

Plastic-Free July

This month we’ve been supporting Plastic Free July – an occasion for people across the world to try and significantly reduce their plastic use for the month… or perhaps not use any at all!

The Climate Action Oxfordshire website has some great tips on how to use less plastic – including taking a reusable bottle and downloading the Refill app so you can always find where to fill up, and swapping clingfilm for reusable covers.

Free and low-cost activities this summer

This summer we have activities planned guaranteed to entertain children of all ages, and the grown-ups too!

From dance to skateboarding, Xplorer to family fun days, these free and low-cost activities will keep everyone busy.

Booking is recommended for some of the sessions and the councils’ websites have booking forms and all the details of the activities including date, location and times.

Find out more on the South Oxfordshire School Holiday Activities page.

Other News

Wallingford Castle Meadows wins Green Flag award

Speaking of parks, once again our very own Wallingford Castle Meadows has won a Green Flag award - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces. Huge thanks to our friends at Earth Trust who manage the castle meadows for us. The award is given out by Keep Britain Tidy, setting the standard for good high-quality parks across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available on the Keep Britain Tidy website.

River Thames water quality updates

For anyone hoping to use the River Thames at Wallingford and Henley for swimming, boating or fishing this summer then you’ll be pleased to know that the environmental charity Thames21 is doing regular water quality sampling as part of its campaign to improve water quality and gain bathing water status in those areas. The charity is publishing its water quality updates on its website. The details for Wallingford are here. The details for Henley are here. 

Autumn delights await at Cornerstone Arts Centre

Cornerstone's autumn season is now on sale, featuring a wide range of shows, classes, exhibitions, and workshops for everyone, starting in September. 

If you're already missing Wimbledon, book tickets for the hilarious Agatha Christie-style comedy for all ages, "Crimes on Centre Court," on 14 September. 

Continuing with the letter C, Cornerstone is expanding its Christmas show offerings this season.

Enjoy an adults-only evening of Christmas-themed burlesque in Hundred Watt Club: A Burlesque Christmas Special on 14 December. For toddlers, book the multi-sensory theatre experience, "A Flight Before Christmas," on 15 December. The season's crown jewel is their Christmas show for everyone, “Heart of Winter”, running from 18 December to 24 December. 

For more information and to book your tickets visit the Cornerstone website.

Cost of living support

If you’re struggling with money because of the cost-of-living crisis, there’s another event coming up that could help. We’ll be joining BBC Radio Oxford at their event outside Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot on Wednesday 2 August from 10am – 1pm.

There will be lots of information and advice on what help there is for people struggling to make ends meet at the moment. Everyone is welcome and in the meantime there’s lots of information on cost-of-living help on our website.

Plenty of fun for the family at our Better Leisure facilities

There’s plenty to do this summer at our Better Leisure facilities across the district.

• Pop along to Riverside Park and Pools in Wallingford for a dip in the pool, play with the kids in the newly refurbish splash park or stay for a few days in the campsite.
• Our leisure centres are offering Kids Swim for £1 at the swim for all sessions at our indoor swimming pools between 9-10am.
• Come along to Didcot Wave for the Family Fun Sessions.
• Abbey Sports Centre has float sessions for all the family to enjoy over the six-week holiday.

Booking is recommended, you can do so via the Better UK website or App.

South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
southoxon.gov.uk