Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

THE work of Oxfordshire children’s reading charity ARCh has been given a massive ‘thumbs up’ from schools throughout the county in its 2015 Pupil Survey.

More than 100 primary schools, including the three Thame primary schools, were invited to respond to ARCh’s annual survey, which measures the impact that providing one-to-one assistance from a trained volunteer reader can have on a pupil’s reading and wider learning performance.

Elaine Adams, Development Manager of the Bicester-based charity said: “Schools reported that 92% of pupils who participated in our assisted reading scheme in 2015 showed a marked improvement in reading and writing coupled with a valuable uplift in concentration and self-confidence.

“The findings are a fantastic reward for the work of our army of volunteer reading helpers who regularly mentor over 700 Oxfordshire schoolchildren between the ages of 6-11 years.”

There are eight ARCh volunteers working in the Thame schools and following the charity’s latest training course, a ninth will start this term.

Elaine Adams, ARCh’s Development Manager said: “Our volunteers come from different backgrounds and choose to volunteer for ARCh for many reasons. Some are recently retired and are looking for a useful way to use their spare time. Others may be looking for work and find volunteering in a school setting through ARCh for one year gives them the valuable experience and insight into schools enabling them to gain employment in an education setting.

“One such volunteer has recently moved on from ARCh to do teacher training and has quoted: “I have absolutely loved spending this time encouraging reading for pleasure and forging great relationships with three amazing young people. I hope that I will have access to an ARCh volunteer when I am a teacher.”

The results of the ARCh Pupil Survey were compiled and independently analysed by Research Oxford.

For information about volunteering or supporting the charity’s work in other ways please contact: info@archoxfordshire.org.uk
www.archoxfordshire.org.uk

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a robbery at the petrol station in Postcombe.

The police have said that at 7.59pm on Tuesday (26/1) a man entered the Postcombe Service Station, London Road, A40, Postcombe and threatened the staff with a crow bar and demanded money from the till and cigarettes. The till however was empty, as it had been cashed up and the cigarettes had been put away. The offender left empty handed.

The offender is described as a white man, around 5ft 6ins, of medium build, and wearing a balaclava and dark clothing including a jacket and gloves.

Investigating officer Det Con Rachel Jackson, from Abingdon Force CID, said: “Detectives are investigating the incident and we are appealing for anyone with information to contact police. If you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at around the time of the incident please come forward.”

If you have any information about the incident which could assist the investigation please call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

DO you know a new, restored or extended building in the Chilterns area which you think is worthy of an award? Why not enter it for the prestigious Chilterns Buildings Design Awards, there is one month until the deadline! This competition has been run every year for the past 17 years by the Chilterns Conservation Board and the Chiltern Society to highlight examples of great building design which conserve and enhance all that we love about the Chilterns.

This year the public, as well as planners, architects and builders, are being asked to let us know about projects that deserve this award. Entries can be new builds, renovations or extensions and can be any sort of use including homes, workplaces, public buildings, farm buildings, bridges etc. They must have been completed during the past three years and should put in practice the principles in the Chilterns Building Design Guide, published by the Conservation Board.

The Chiltern Society and the Chilterns Conservation Board are dedicated to safeguarding what’s best in the Chilterns, one of the most outstanding areas of countryside in England, and to encouraging high standards for new development.

“We want to encourage better building design, and to encourage architects and developers to use traditional, local materials and designs in their work. We are not trying to turn back the clock, but we do believe that new buildings in the Chilterns should fit in with the beautiful countryside that’s around them”, said Lucy Murfett, Planning Officer at the Conservation Board.

Past Oxfordshire winners include a new barn in Britwell Salome near Watlington which received a Special Project Award in 2014 and a new office building near Henley-on-Thames, now housing Bremont Watch company, which received a Highly Commended Award in 2013.

The closing date for entries or nominations is March 1st 2016. The application form is available at www.chilternsaonb.org/annual-design-awards or can be obtained from the Conservation Board office (01844 355500), email: office@chilternsaonb.org) or from the Chiltern Society, White Hill Centre, Chesham (tel: 01494 771250, email office@chilternsociety.org.uk).

THAME resident Roger Ferrari will be taking part in the London Marathon on April 24, in aid of the British Lung Foundation as part of ‘Team Breathe’ for the charity, and is looking for community support and awareness in Thame.

Roger explained: “Lung diseases affect more than 12 million people in the UK and the British Lung Foundation have spent over £24m in research to combat lung disease and campaign of its prevention.

“Despite having never run a marathon before, I’m looking to raise £1,800 for the British Lung Foundation and hoping that the Thame community, including local businesses and organisations, will help with donations as well as host for fundraising events. ”

Roger has a fundraising website HERE and is training hard around the local area. For more details, you can contact him at roger.v.ferrari@gmail.com or call: 07864607148.

DESPITE a mass protest outside county hall this afternoon, against £69m of cuts from the County Council’s budget, as well as impassioned speeches from several members of the public inside the building and four addresses from County Councillors, at the end of an hour-long discussion, OCC’s Cabinet voted unanimously to recommend the proposed budget to the full council on February 16.

The proposed budget cuts include slashing bus subsides and closing Childrens’ Centres throughout the county, expected to include Thame’s Red Kite Centre.

During the meeting, placards were waved and there were cheers and applause after every speaker against the cuts that would affect those they viewed as vulnerable. There were several calls for Tory Cabinet members to resign.

One of the speakers at this afternoon’s Cabinet meeting was Mary Stiles, speaking in her capacity as Chair of the Advisory Group of the Red Kite Children’s Centre in Thame, and Chinnor and Thame Town Council’s Parish Transport Representative.

Mrs Stiles told the meeting: “The closure of all 44 Children’s (Children’s) Centres and the cutting of all bus subsidies are both very short-sighted proposals and in addition to the catastrophic effect on the users of both services, will lead to a greater cost to the public purse in the future.

“You will know from the consultations the arguments made by many individuals and organisations in favour of keeping our Children’s Centres open and our subsidised bus services running. In three minutes I have time to make only a few points:-

Children’s Centres
– prevention is always better than cure and more cost effective in the long run
– families need local services, not a centre 20+ miles away (the distance from Thame to Didcot)
– outreach from over 20 miles away is costly in both time and money
– providing a service only for referred families is stigmatising and makes those families harder to reach

– in Thame and Chinnor Health Visitor clinics, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy sessions all take place in the Red Kite Children’s Centre. Other premises
would have to be rented for these services if Red Kite closes

Subsidised bus routes

– at present there is a bus service in the Thame area which is used by people living in villages or the edge of town to go into town. Many have contacted me to say what a
lifeline this is and I know from talking to other Parish Transport Representatives, people all over Oxfordshire are saying the same
– if people become isolated, because they cannot go out regularly, all the research shows that particularly elderly and disabled people and parents of young children can   suffer from poor mental health, leading to problems which could have been prevented and costs which could have been avoided
– the local residents who have contacted me have said they don’t need a bus every day – 2 or 3 times a week would suffice. They are not asking for much

“Please think again. Don’t cut completely. Find a way to save our Children’s Centres and subsidised bus services.
It may be a cliche, but true none the less – where there’s a will there’s a way.”

Despite the vote going against the protesters, Mary Stiles is undaunted has said that she intends to get a petition up before  the full council meeting on February 16, to try and save the 120 bus, and that she will be joining in with the Pledge Card Campaign against all Councillors who voted to close Oxfordshire’s Childrens’ Centres.