Teresa Archer, chief officer at Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire In March, some of our volunteers decided to start isolating prior to the national lockdown announcement. We started to restrict our appointments as we had fewer resources, and more clients started cancelling face-to-face appointments. During the week of March 23 when lockdown was finally announced, we saw unprecedented demand on our Adviceline at the point where we had little capacity to answer it. Within two weeks we had 35 volunteers and all of our staff working remotely from home. We adapted our support systems to ensure that we are providing quality supervision and support to our volunteers and staff, providing supervision remotely through video calls.
Their eligibility will then be assessed by the council revenues team. Toby Morris, cabinet member for resources at WODC, said: “We know how worried businesses have been about these grants as they face having little or no income. “We have made the applications process as simple and as easy as possible for businesses so these applications are not another worry in a challenging time. “We will do our very best to process these grants as quickly as possible and get this financial lifeline out to our communities. “I would urge business owners to respond to their emails swiftly to help us speed up the payment process or act quickly to fill in an application form if they haven’t previously done so.”
The couple s plan to build a 117.5sq metres super wine cellar has reportedly been approved
They were initially given the green light to build it at 81sq metres but submitted a grander design last month
Beckham will be able to store a staggering 7,000 bottles of wine
The renovations will be part of a garage extension to fit four more of the retired footballer s luxury cars
The couple have already been granted approval to build a lake and sauna
Green city councillor Craig Simmons said the Lib Dems message was ‘misguided and unhelpful’. He added: “We all need to take personal and collective responsibility for complying with Covid rules and that may involve having a gentle word with your neighbours, work colleagues and local businesses. And, if that is not effective and they continue to ignore the law and putting others at risk, then it is perfectly reasonable to report their behaviour.” Michelle Mead, the Conservative leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, and TOry group leaders Jane Murphy (SODC) and Simon Howell (Vale) also said enforcement was an important part of the rules.
AFTER 30 years running from a school hall, a gymnastics club is just months away from opening its new dream home. Despite the extra challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Carterton Gymnastics Club is braced to move into The Vault, a purpose-built facility. The club’s head coach and director, Debra Courtenay-Crane was awarded a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for her services to gymnastics and young people in Carterton, in the recent New Year Honours list. She has worked tirelessly over the last three decades to get the new facility open. Despite the limited facilities, gymnasts from the club have gone to the Commonwealth Games and most recently, a world championship in Orlando.