Waste has never bin so easy with a new smartphone app
Waste collection information is now just a screen tap away in the Vale of White Horse. The district council has launched a brand-new smartphone app, which is available free of charge for iPhone and Android phones right now.
The app is called Binzone – by simply tapping their postcode in and selecting their address, residents can find out which bin is being emptied this week, and what day it’s being emptied.
The app will also send users a notification if their waste collection day changes due to a bank holiday – very handy for keeping track of what day bins will be emptied over the Christmas period.
It will also let residents know if collections are disrupted by snow or icy conditions.
Binzone is available to download free of charge on the iPhone Appstore and the Google Play Store.
Council support for Syrian refugee families highlighted
In September 2015 the Government committed to resettling up to 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK. We pledged to resettle six families in the Vale.
To ensure families moving to the Vale were able to quickly settle here we worked with the British Red Cross and local church and voluntary groups to provide a suitable environment with access to a support network. The work in the Vale was featured in a recent edition of the BBC's Sunday Politics.
Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council said: “When a family arrives in the UK, it is vital that they are resettled into a suitable environment and with the support they need to adapt to life here. That means finding appropriate private rented accommodation, arranging health and education, and providing translation and language services as well as ongoing support. However, it is often the little things, the tasks that people take for granted, such as organising bus passes to ensure the family can get to local services, which are most important.
“I’m very proud of the support that we and British Red Cross have provided for the families. Voluntary groups and residents across the Vale have also been very supportive, offering donations and welcoming the families to the local area and helping to make them feel a part of the Vale community.”
Helping residents keep warm and healthy this winter
Residents in southern Oxfordshire concerned about keeping warm and managing their energy bills are being encouraged to contact an advice service for help.
The Better Housing Better Health service, funded Vale of White Horse District Councils alongside the county’s other district councils and Oxfordshire County Council, helps people who are vulnerable to the effects of living in cold homes over the winter period.
The advice service offers free, impartial advice on staying warm and managing energy bills. Residents can find out if they qualify for a grant to install energy saving improvements to their homes or a free home energy visit to look at ways to save energy to bring their bills down.
If you or someone you know is struggling to keep warm and well this winter call the free BHBH hotline on 0800 107 0044 or visit the website www.bhbh.org.uk.
Over £100,000 awarded in the Vale of White Horse
Communities from Hinksey to Hendred and Botley to Blewbury have benefited from over £107,000 in grants awarded by Vale of White Horse District Council this month.
Out of the total amount, the district council has given £55,306 to communities close to where new homes have been built.
£10,833 was awarded to Stanford in the Vale Parish Council towards removing a large electricity pylon from a 19-acre site so they can start using the space as a recreation area. There are plans to build a new community building, sports pitches and play areas for the whole community to enjoy.
Grants totalling £6,050 have been awarded to refurbish the Royal British Legion clubs in Abingdon and East Challow – a popular venue for lots of community events for residents.
A spokesperson from Challow Royal British Legion said, “Being awarded this grant will allow the committee to agree the necessary roof repairs sooner than expected. This well-used hall is a social hub for the area and the improvements to the club will be appreciated by all club users.”
Kennington Parish Council received £4,750 to help them to forge ahead with new plans and designs for a brand-new pavilion, a much-needed facility which will be used by local clubs for sports and recreational activities.
Other donations include:
- St Peter and Paul Church in North Hinksey who were given £4,088 to improve the heating, toilets and windows for community use,
- Snells Hall in East Hendred received just over £1,000 to help upgrade their lighting,
- Botley Bridges were awarded £1,518 to support three ten-week family improvement courses and,
- Blewbury Parish Council had £6,257 for installing a ‘trim trail’ – a range of equipment offering physical activity for the whole community on their recreation ground.
- Watchfield Parish Council received £11,146 to improve their play area and to buy a defibrillator to be placed nearby.
The cash came from two funds, both of which are available to not-for-profit organisations for one-off projects that benefit the wider local community.
The district council also provides financial support for community festivals and events happening in the local area. For more information on all the grants the district council offer, visit www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/grants.
Oxfordshire getting physical to support people with diabetes
Oxfordshire has a new county-wide project to support people with diabetes into physical activity.
The project is being delivered by five district councils, including the Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire Sport and Physical Activity and is funded by the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning group.
Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can sign up to receive motivational coaching sessions, subsidised activities and ongoing telephone support and advice on managing their diabetes. They can also sign up to take part in 12 week StepWatchers programmes where they receive free pedometers and motivation to increase their step count.
There are currently more than 28,000 people registered as having diabetes in Oxfordshire and about 2,200 are newly diagnosed each year.
With type 2 diabetes, physical activity is an important component of your treatment plan. Not only does exercise affect your heart health and lower your blood glucose levels, but it can improve your confidence and sleep quality.
If you are interested in this scheme, simply complete our Diabetes Survey here https://www.getoxfordshireactive.org and a member of our team will be in touch. Alternatively, you can call us on 01235 422226 or email us [email protected].
Call to action. Go Active Get Healthy is a programme designed to support people with diabetes with physical activity interventions. Please visit the scheme website for further information and to self-refer onto the programme and find out more about activities taking place across the county
https://www.getoxfordshireactive.org/
Please also follow the scheme on social media
https://www.facebook.com/goactive.vale/
Vulnerable residents can register for priority service from utility companies
We can’t promise your electricity will never go off, but if it does, your local network operator will do what they can to make sure you have the support you need, when you need it.
You can join the Priority Services Register if you are dependent on electricity, have children under 5, have a disability or communications needs or over 60 years old (none extortive list).
Registering for your free Priority Services is easy. You can join the register by:
- Calling on 0800 294 3259 and register over the phone.
- Clicking here and fill out the easy online form.