Do you know any people who might need some help with small repairs in their home?
The Home Improvement Agency (HIA) is dedicated to helping older and vulnerable people live safely and independently in their own homes by providing advice, assistance and grants for home adaptations, repairs,
heating, dementia and safety within the home.
It currently provides a Small Repairs Handypersons Service that will carry out small works within the home at a subsidised rate of £20 per hour if eligible. The service is offered to vulnerable home owners who live within
South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse districts. Vulnerable tenants may also use the service for jobs that are not the responsibility of the landlords.
The handyperson scheme is available to persons:
Age 55 or over; or
Have a disability or severe health problem that prevents them from carrying out the repair themselves
What we can do?
Home safety and falls prevention
Home security
Keysafe Installations
General household repairs
Minor plumbing
Dementia Assistance
Working closely with Dementia Oxfordshire we have created a referral pathway that improves home support and quality of life within the home. Memory aids like calendars, clocks, whiteboards and safety measures such as locks, keysafes, gas checks and signage can be requested immediately then delivered and installed FREE to theclient.Please contact us at hia-sv@oxford.gov.uk or call us on 0300 373 5663 if you would like further information / leaflets

We have a Brownie unit that meets in the Upton village hall every week in term time. It provides many girls aged 7-10 years with fun, activities, friendship and adventure.
We are in need of volunteer/volunteers to help our current leaders run the unit. If you think you’d like to know more
information about what is involved -please visit www.Girlguiding.org.uk or email millbrookdistrictcommissioner@gmail.com

The reading took place in the Village Hall on 9th December and raised £251 for
the Friends of St Mary’s. Many thanks to all who attended and contributed.
Malcolm Wright

We wish to provide clarification that due to the availability of our organising group, we have collectively decided to shift the drop-in to the last Friday of the month, replacing the previous Thursday schedule. This change will apply for the remainder of this year and into 2024. The regular timing will remain at 10.00-11.30, with the occasional extension for special events.
We have a Christmas Special planned for Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.
Upton’s Pop-Up Bakery: Following feedback from villagers, we have decided to trial preorders with the Blewbury Bread Company. You can now pre-order delectable pastries and bread from a reduced menu for collection at the monthly drop-in. The order cut-off will be the Wednesday before the drop-in. This service is being trialled by volunteers and operates without profit.
Upton’s Donations to Didcot Food Bank: We are delighted to share that we are now accepting donations for the Didcot Food Bank at our monthly dropin event. For those who may not have heard, Jennie and Steve, who have
been part of our village for 10 years, have recently relocated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jennie and Steve for their kindness over the years. We welcome Rachel and Chris, who have graciously taken the role of collectors. If you are unable to attend the drop-in but still wish to contribute, Rachel and Chris continue to receive donations at their residence, Conifers on Stream Road.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events. The Upton Drop-In Team – Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)
If you have any questions or would like to help out with any of the meets, please feel free to email Nicola Hall – events@uptonvillagehall.co.uk

Winter, November 23rd – March 2nd
Open to all residence of Upton
Two age categories – anyone below 16 and all others 16 and above.
Themes
Upton and Surrounding Area (in winter) – Anything that shows off the
area in which we live – landscapes, buildings, people, nature, sunsets, weather etc.
Animal(s) in winter – wild or domestic
All submissions should be in JPG format and emailed to
upton.photo@outlook.com
Remember to include a brief description or title.

Rob Traynor

Route 94 (Didcot – Blewbury): Following receipt of BSIP funding, this
service will be improved to operate hourly over two slightly different routes
• service 94 will run between Didcot, East Hagbourne, Blewbury and
Upton, roughly every two hours,
• a new 94A circular route will also serve West Hagbourne, the Astons
and Moretons, again roughly two-hourly, following a similar route to
the former 94S service.
This will re-introduce regular bus services for the Astons and Moretons.
Chilton and Harwell Campus will no longer be served – these places are now
served by route X34.

We have a Christmas Special planned for the Village Hall Drop-in on Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.

The next Village Hall Drop-in will take place on Friday, November 24th, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

There is a new schedule for the Village Hall Drop-in, it will now be on the last Friday of the month, replacing the previous Thursday schedule. This change will apply for the remainder of this year and into 2024. The regular timing will remain at 10.00-11.30, with the occasional extension for special events.

Following this, we have a Christmas Special planned for Friday, December 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We have exciting Christmas festivities in store, including music, festive drinks, and delicious mince pies. Please mark the date on your calendar.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events.

Best wishes,

The Upton Drop-In Team

Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)

We are delighted to share that we are now accepting donations for the Didcot Food Bank at the Village Hall drop-in event. For those who may not have heard, Jennie and Steve, who have been part of our village for 10 years, have recently relocated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jennie and Steve for their kindness over the years. We welcome Rachel and Chris, who have graciously taken the role of collectors. If you are unable to attend the drop-in but still wish to contribute, Rachel and Chris continue to receive donations at their residence, Conifers on Stream Road.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in our community events.

Best wishes,

The Upton Drop-In Team

Volunteering on behalf of Upton’s Village Hall Amenities Trust (UVHAT)