A winter guide for Banbury town centre published by Banbury BID (Business Improvement District.) Gift Ideas. What’s On. Things to do. Eat, drink and be entertained, the essential guide to Banbury this Winter:

• https://issuu.com/banburybid/docs/bid_-_love_winter_guide_2019_-_digital

Avon Dassett Parish Council is conducting a Housing Needs Survey in the village. The details of the survey and a pdf file of the survey are available at the following link http://www.avondassettparishcouncil.com/housing-needs-survey-2019/

The closing date for submissions is 30 November 2019.

Anyone wanting further details please contact the clerk to Avon Dassett Parish council by email at: avondassett.clerk@googlemail.com

Avon Dassett Pop-Up Market, Saturday 7 December 0900-1100

After an incredibly successful harvest market, the pop-up market returns to the Yew Tree with a Christmas theme on 7 December.

Joey and Nadine will be serving breakfast and hot drinks and there are some fantastic stalls booked:

Food

• Eggs – produced locally
• Cakes by Annabelle
• The Lost Farm: Xmas meats to order for village delivery in the week before Xmas (Turkeys £3.60 per lb; Cockerels £3.60 per lb; Goose £4lb); selection of meats on sale and to taste including Manx Loughtan lamb, Dexter beef, rarebreed pork, bacon and venison
• Napton Water Buffalo: freezer packs £20 for any five of meatballs, burgers, sausages, steak, mince and ice cream

Pet Food

• Homemade dog biscuits by Kipsters

Crafts

• Deb Watts – flowers with a vintage vibe
• Ann Allan – crafts and paintings
• Jill Curran Creations – polymer clay artist
• Maggie Woodward – decorated bottles
• Carers4Carers – crafts
• Laura – personalised gifts

Beauty and Home

• Skin & Tonique
• Hippy Hare Company
• Mandy Savage Soaps
• Glimmer and Gloss by Ang
• Scentsy

The market is not for profit and all money raised will go to Carers4Carers

Avon Dassett Soapbox Derby has been named as one of the finalists in a national award to recognise some of the most inspiring community businesses in the UK.

The Soapbox Derby was revived in 2018 and attracts scores of intrepid drivers braving the challenging downhill course. As well as providing spectacular family entertainment the Soapbox Derby raises money for local charities. The Soapbox Derby team are all volunteers from the local community.

The community’s work is now being recognised by national charity the Plunkett Foundation – an organisation which supports rural communities across the UK to tackle the issues they face through community business. The Soapbox Derby  are one of three finalists in the ‘Community Story of the Year’ award which recognises how community businesses provide extra support and services to local people. The award is sponsored by Triodos Bank.

The Avon Dassett Soapbox team are thrilled and privileged to have been nominated for this award by the Avon Dassett Community Benefit Society.

Twenty one community business across the UK have been shortlisted for the 2019 Rural Community Business Awards. Finalists range from farms and pubs to cafés, shops and a woodland.

James Alcock, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said: “Each and every one of the finalists are a great examples of people working together to make life in their own community better. Community businesses in rural areas can be a lifeline to the people they serve. The issues of isolation and loss of amenities are well known and these awards show that community businesses – of many different kinds – do so much as they tackle these issues.

“Community businesses are breathing new life into rural communities across the UK and it an enormous pleasure for the Plunkett Foundation to be able to celebrate some of the outstanding individual stories with these awards.”

The Plunkett Foundation is marking its centenary year. Since 2013 the charity has been recognising community businesses with their annual awards. This year the awards feature seven categories – all of which celebrate the achievements of groups across the country who have come together in community organisations and found the answer to the challenges they face through community businesses.

The awards are sponsored by Hastoe Housing Association, who specialise in providing sustainable, affordable homes to enable local people to remain within their communities.

George Parkinson, Operations Director at Hastoe Housing Association, said: “As England’s leading provider of affordable rural homes, we know there is much more to creating communities than just building homes. Community businesses often provide the only opportunity for people living in rural areas to come together. In providing work, volunteering opportunities and much needed services, they create the conditions for communities to thrive.

“These Awards play a vital role in recognising many of the great projects, businesses and people who continue to make a positive difference in their community.”

The awards are being presented in partnership with Power to Change – the independent trust that supports community businesses in England – and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation which supports organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society.

The awards ceremony will be held at on Wednesday 27 November at Burlington House in London.

Winners will take away a cheque for £250.

• Would you like to send a Christmas card to all your friends in the village but are also keen to save paper (and the environment!)?
• Would you like to support a local group at Christmas?

THE VILLAGE CHRISTMAS CARD IS THE ANSWER!

• Pop into The Yew Tree and sign the Christmas card
• Leave a small donation (this year the proceeds will go to Abacus pre-school in Fenny Compton)
• The Community website will publish a picture of all the signatories just before Christmas so you can share the Christmas spirit with all your friends and neighbours

This year’s Remembrance service will be on Sunday 10 November at 1 pm at the War Memorial.

The police will be in Avon Dassett at noon on Thursday 28 November to speak to the public about any crime concerns.

John Feilding, the District Councillor for Avon Dassett has had the Conservative whip withdrawn following complaints against his behaviour towards women.

In addition to stroking a council officer’s neck, complaints included invading female staff’s personal space, and telling a worker about his sexual health. A report found “overwhelming” evidence of “unacceptable behaviour”, adding female staff “do not like to be with” him.

Feilding has submitted a written apology to all employees. A Conservative Party spokesperson said Mr Fielding had had the Conservative whip withdrawn.

For further information see: http://www.stratford-herald.com/103117-councillors-apologise-following-sexism-investigation.html

It has just been reported that the collection box at St John the Baptist Church has been gouged out of the wall and emptied. This has been reported to the police but if anyone saw anything suspicious please report to Warwickshire Police on 101. A crime number will be issued shortly.