Driving Miss Daisy Didcot, in collaboration with ShopAppy.com, is encouraging people to support their local businesses for Love Local Day on 14th February
Love Local Day 2023 comes at a time when many small independent high street businesses are under immense pressure due to soaring inflation and energy bills, and reduced consumer spend, so this year it’s more important than ever for people to shop local.
Love Local Day is about sharing the love of all things local. Locals are being invited to nominate their favourite local business online by 14th February 2023 and the winners will receive a gift as a token of appreciation from the community.
Nominations can be made at shopappy.com and the nomination deadline is 14th February. Winners will be announced and receive a special gift on 20th February.
In addition, a £50 ShopAppy voucher is up for grabs for customers who share a picture of their favourite local Didcot spot on social media using hashtags #DIDCOT #LoveLocalDay on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook so get snapping to be in with a chance of winning the prize.
Zororo Mubaya, managing director of Driving Miss Daisy Didcot, said: “We are delighted to be joining in the 2023 Love Local Day campaign as it will give us all a chance to show our love for the many local businesses that provide convenience and services locally for us all to enjoy.”
Dr Jackie Mulligan, Founder of ShopAppy who is leading the national Love Local Day campaign, adds: “It has been a challenging last decade none more so than this last year for our town centres and high streets, but we know there is tremendous love for local businesses in our communities. So we need to champion localism. Nominations will highlight the importance and positive impact these businesses have on the life of our communities and commercial hearts and how critical they are to our social and economic lives.”
Well done to the 20 brave men who have bared (almost) all for an outdoor winter fundraiser in Virginia Water raising more than £2,500 (so far) for the Mental Health Foundation.
We’ve all been feeling the cold in recent weeks. So praise is due to the local runners who braved the chilly trails of Virginia Water Lake togged up in just a pair of running shoes and “budgie smuggler” briefs.
The Budgie Smuggler Run 2023 event was founded by Brian Turner, Josh Lappin, Paul Dash and Jordan McDowell from Hampshire and Surrey in 2021 when they wanted to raise money and awareness for charity.
Since then, others have joined in the January spectacle, with 20 runners taking on the 7km route last Sunday (29th January) raising more than £2,500 for the Mental Health Foundation.
Brian said: “It started off as a bit of a laugh, but with a serious aim to raise money and awareness for charities that are close to our hearts. It certainly does turn heads, and after the first run I was surprised to find more people than just me willing to strip down and run the 7km route in the middle of winter.”
The Budgie Smuggler Run is now set to become an annual mass participation event in aid of raising money and awareness for men’s mental health.
World record holder Darren Hardy, a charity fundraiser and former British Army officer who was medically discharged from the army with PTSD in 2017, joined this year’s event. “It’s such a great event and certainly turned heads,” he said. “Despite the frosty January start we all rose to the occasion and drew quite a crowd at the finish line. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to do something a bit different for charity.”
“It certainly does turn heads”
Over the last two years, runners have raised £2.5k for BulliesOut, an anti-bullying charity, and £1.3k for Cancer Research UK.
Wallingford Vehicle Rally and Parade is back this May and tickets go on sale on Friday 3rd February
Wallingford’s hugely popular vehicle rally and parade is back on Sunday, 14th May showcasing classic, custom and unusual vehicles from bicycles to tanks.
Tickets to take part in the 300 vehicle parade around Wallingford and park on the Kinecroft go on sale at 8pm on Friday 3rd February.
Organisers say: “On the 3rd February at 8pm we will share the GiveTap link via our website, email and on social media to enable you to purchase your ticket.
“All tickets are £20 plus a booking fee, like last year all profits raised are going to local charitable causes.
“We are also offering 30 PARADE ONLY tickets for any vehicle. These go on sale in a few weeks time (date tbc); this is to avoid confusion with the main ticket sales.”
Vehicles of all shapes and sizes take part in the parade through town in convoy – quite a sight – if you’re lucky enough to be on the parade route, pull up a chair and take a front row seat and watch the impressive sight. Where else can you see a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air parked behind a 2CV or a big American classic alongside a super car?
In addition to watching them drive past, visitors on the day will also get the chance to ride in a classic or supercar courtesy of The Sporting Bears Motor Club. Ride in the car of your dreams in exchange for a donation to charity, another great reason to attend the fun event.
There are stalls and food vendors for everyone to enjoy alongside an incredible selection of classic motors. Something for everyone and what’s more, it’s all in a good cause with a variety of local causes benefitting from funds raised on the day.
Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race, Reading’s most egg-citing event is back, on Shrove Tuesday
Launchpad is inviting local businesses and organisations to compete for the coveted frying-pan trophy – and entertain Reading shoppers and workers as they do so in this year’s Pancake Race.
Teams of four are asked to do their best fancy dress and flip pancakes as they race the route on Broad Street on Tuesday, 21st February at 12.30pm. Registration is now open for the event.
Launchpad’s Pancake Race is now in its 26th year. All the money raised from this event funds the charity’s essential services for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading.
These include supported housing; a free drop-in service for anyone in housing crisis; and a work and life skills centre so clients can build confidence, learn new skills and get back into work.
As well as the coveted frying pan trophy and the adoration of the people of Reading for the winners, there are also prizes for second and third place, best team spirit, best fancy dress and best fundraising team.
Last year’s cracking winners, local accountancy firm, Crowe UK, took their bird-themed fancy dress to the top spot. But what will this year’s winners be wearing? Whether you rock up as dinosaurs, chickens, fast food or astronauts – (almost) anything goes at Launchpad’s Pancake Race when it comes to fancy dress. There have been clowns, bananas, the Spice Girls, crows, barristers and Morph suits scrambling for first place.
Vicki Lewis, Launchpad’s fundraising manager, said: “The annual Pancake Race is a really popular event and is thoroughly enjoyed by all, whether you are taking part or spectating, it is a sight to behold! The costumes and Olympic-standard competition make it quite eggs-traordinary!
“Launchpad is very much a local charity working in close partnership with the Reading community. The ongoing support we receive from local businesses is greatly appreciated. The event is a really fun way for people to get involved and join in with this incredible sense of community spirit. And in such uncertain times, the money raised by our wonderful teams is more important than ever.”
To take part email [email protected] by Monday, 13th February with your name and contact details.
Race registration is £99. There are 34 places up for grabs for teams of four. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Launchpad are also asking for volunteers to help with team registration, bucket collections and monitoring participating team’s pancake flips! To get involved, please email [email protected] for details.
“Pets just make us feel happier” – the simple reason why many elderly people benefit from the companionship of an animal
We are a nation of pet lovers and for many this doesn’t change just because you have to enter a care home – man’s best friend can become even more important at this time of life.
Ill health, loneliness, depression and anxiety-related issues can all make later life harder but pets can help ease the elderly through and studies have shown that interacting with a dog, cat, rabbit, ducklings and even fish can kindle memories about past experiences and provide an opportunity to talk.
One charity which knows a thing or two about the benefits our furry and feathered friends can bring is Oxfordshire-based Pets As Therapy who say a PAT pet can improve a person’s mental health and overall wellbeing, adding that there’s often an increased connection with carers and family too, and those living with dementia can feel energised and elated, “It comes down to a very simple truth: pets just make us feel happier”.
The charity was founded in 1983 by dog owner and volunteer Lesley Scott-Ordish and as it enters its 40th year, its vision remains unchanged to ensure everyone has access to the companionship of a pet regardless of their circumstances. In addition to its work in care homes, Pets As Therapy also extends the services to schools, hospitals and prisons.
More than 4,000 volunteers go out and about with their animal friends extending the paw or claw of friendship to day care centres, residential homes and hospices as well as the other facilities. Pets As Therapy volunteers are pet owners who give up their time to help, if you would like to help find out more and apply at petsastherapy.org/information/for-volunteers
One such home company which has benefited from the love and attention of a PAT dog is Brendoncare which has homes in and around Alton and Winchester in Hampshire and at Froxfield near Marlborough.
Staff and residents there have seen first hand the positive effects of the joy and companionship that animals can bring.
Rebecca Spicer, Volunteer and Activity Manager at Brendoncare, said: “Wellbeing is so much more than the word games and outings. Bringing animals to show our residents adds an element of home: a visiting PAT dog, social farm experience or even a pet animal for the home adds to this.
“Animals bring love and comfort to our residents, and for them the nurturing feeling of caring or parenting something is familiar. In practice all residents have a natural instinct to stroke a dog, hold a chick or pet a horse. It’s those integrated moments that are engrained in our memories that give us that warm fuzzy ‘good’ feeling in our tummy.”
Animals offer unconditional love and companionship. Sometimes, they provide a level of companionship that people can’t and many find interacting with pets such as simply stroking their fur to watching their antics can have a very calming and reassuring benefit.
Animal visits to care homes can bring back fond memories for residents, with many remembering previous pets or happy times with friends and family when they come face to face with visiting animals.
Brendoncare Alton recall a recent visit by a range of farm animals which for one resident was a special afternoon as he reminisced about the pig farm he used to run and remembered precious memories for him and his family – whilst stroking a pig!
Animals give residents a break in routine and something they can look forward to. But that’s not all – research suggests that animals and their calming nature and affection can offer health benefits such as lowering people’s blood pressure and heart rate, increasing levels of oxytocin (the stress-reducing hormone) and decreasing the production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Brendoncare say that while they love seeing their residents’ excitement when they get to hold a duckling or stroke a donkey, their lovely smiles aren’t the only benefit of petting these animals. Stroking an animal’s fur/feathers, hearing their unique sounds, holding them in their lap, feeding them and grooming them are all interactions which provide great sensory stimulation for residents and are particularly beneficial for people with dementia.
Brendoncare Park Road in Winchester helped welcome some baby ducklings into the world and alongside the familiar caring and nurturing aspects that bring back familiar feelings, cuddling and petting the ducks also provided sensory stimulation.
In addition to the work of charities such as Pets As Therapy in care homes, many residential homes welcome residents to bring their much-loved pets with them with they move in recognising the benefits to older people – improving mental wellbeing, decreased dementia rates, a sense of purpose and fun.
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More care related articles
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A day in the life… – Nurse turned care home manager Susie Green shares her memories of life as a care home manager in A Most PreciousGift
Planning for the future – Get your financial affairs in order with a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney
Squires Garden Centres have advice about what to do with your tree after Christmas
A real Christmas tree is one of the most significant purchases for many families during the festive season, and this is perhaps even more of a reason to make a conscious effort to treat it in a sustainable way after Christmas.
‘Real’ Christmas trees are 100% recyclable; they can be shredded into chippings which are then often used locally in parks or woodland. Local authorities have drop-off points or special collection of ‘real’ trees in early January, so it is worth checking services available – just remember to remove all the decorations first!
In addition to local drop-off points for recycling trees, there is also the National Christmas Tree Collection, the flagship event of JustHelping, the service benefitting local hospices and charities, with service users paying a donation to have their ‘real’ Christmas tree collected – in relevant locations, Squire’s Garden Centres promote the service to customers. In 2022 the charity raised over £975,500 for over 108 charities, hospices and community organisations.
Other creative ways to consider recycling a ‘real’ tree include:
Mulch the needles – remove branches and shake off needles and they will decompose over time
Wood compost – if you can’t get the tree shredded locally with ease, branches can be removed and trunk dismantled into small chunks, quickening up decomposition
Use the tree as a stake – removing needles, the trunk can be used as a useful garden stake for flowers or vegetables
Wildlife habitat – remove tree branches and use to thoughtfully set up a shelter in the corner of the garden for wildlife
Creative coasters – the tree trunk can be cut into small circles for rustic coasters, sanded down and sealed (to avoid sap leaking) and decorated if desired
‘Pot Grown’ Trees (with roots) – are a great, sustainable investment as they can be planted in the garden afterwards for an outdoor tree next year, or nurtured in their pot or re-potted in a bigger one if necessary and brought in again for next Christmas
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “Real” Christmas trees are a sustainable crop – while growing they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. After Christmas cut trees are totally recyclable and pot grown trees can be enjoyed again next year. Local tree collection services can also be a win-win with trees being sustainably recycled and community charities benefitting too.
“As Christmas draws to a close, we can all think about what we do with our tree, committing to a collection service or re-purposing in the garden to help nature and wildlife – and absolutely avoiding festive waste in landfill.”
Titilolami Bello is the inspiring founder of ethical haircare brand Ori Lifestyle. We caught up with her & teamed up to offer a luxe set as a prize…
Q. Hello Titilolami! Can you tell me a bit about how & why you founded Ori Lifestyle & why it fills a gap in the market?
“In 2015, I was horrified to discover that my hair had been damaged from excessive styling and heat. Not only was it thinning, but I had lost all the hair around my edges (temple). If I didn’t stop my bad hair care practices, I knew it would get worse and I would be locked in a vicious circle of camouflaging with the exact hair practices that led to my hair loss. I decided to immerse myself in caring for my own hair. However, I was not accustomed to wearing my own natural hair, as it grew out of my head – but I was determined, no wigs, no weaves, no extensions, no braids.
For those outside of my culture of my culture this may be hard to understand. But I belong to that generation that completely subscribed to the beauty standards we saw in magazines, on TV and I was complicit in the erroneous messaging that our hair is hard to manage. Worse still I internalised messaging that our hair is not as desirable. The decision to wear only my own hair forced me to confront these biases. And in the three years that followed, I learnt exactly how to care for my Afro, how to grow it longer and I underwent a mindset shift – I embraced my own beauty and stopped trying to turn my hair into what it was not. A lot of people in my circle started asking for advice because they saw the transformation in my hair and this led to the course and the products followed.
“My brand fills a gap in the market because it is rooted in education, we adopt a holistic approach that considers our client/customer’s lifestyle. So while we sell hair care products, we are constantly educating on the role of nutrition, stress and sleep management.”
Q. Can you tell us about ethical & charity element of the business?
“We donate 50p from every product purchased from us to the UK registered charity, Path to Possibilities. Path to Possibilities sponsors disadvantaged children through secondary school in Nigeria, and in 2017 it established a resource centre in the slum area of Ikota in Lagos, Nigeria. Children in the slum community have access to the charity’s free library and computer centre. Path to Possibilities is close to my heart because I grew up in poverty in Nigeria. I was able to obtain my first degree in law and my master’s degree in public policy because my mother benefited from charitable donations in my early years.
“We pride ourself on being ethical and so we don’t partake in fear mongering marketing or make wild claims about hair growth products which simply do not exist nor do we demonize ingredients such as sulphates, parabens or silicones.”
Q. We’re focusing on education in our upcoming January special. Can you tell us your experience of school?
“I was expelled from school at 14 and I generally didn’t like any of the schools I went to. Given that I went to four girls-only secondary schools, that says a lot. I found that there was a poverty of aspiration for many black children from the type of background I came from in the 1990s. I was forced to finish my education in Nigeria which was a mixed blessing. On one hand, I was surrounded by seemingly engaged and ambitious peers, but I struggled with authority and the excessively controlled environment there too.”
Q. What is your favourite way to learn, and what changes should be made to the system?”
“I do love learning alone or though group discussions, sharing big ideas. When I was in university, I really struggled with traditional lecturers and found the atmosphere extremely stifling and boring. I did really well by studying alone and by attending smaller tutorials. I still believe lectures should be optional in some settings, in favour of something else for people like we who just wouldn’t learn in these environments.”
Q. What’s been the most rewarding part of the journey so far?
“The most rewarding aspect of my business is helping women and mums unlock the potential of theirs or their children’s hair. Unfortunately, many black women have internalised hair discrimination which has hampered them from understanding their hair, or even hindered them from wearing it out in public. When women tell me my work has helped them to reconsider or helped them to start taking better care of their hair, it makes me very happy.”
Q. What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start their own business?
“Just do the thing. Start and refine as you go along. There will never be a perfect time, you will never be ready.”
Q. Who would be your dream star or celebrity to champion your brand?
“Chimamanda Adiche, the writer. Not only does she have a fabulous head of hair, she is a vocal feminist who continues to shine a light on very many important issues of our time. Her multifaceted interests and commentary embody precisely what an Ori Lifestyle person is.”
Q. If you could make one wish for the world what would it be?
“My one wish for the world would be for us all to realise that there is an imbalance in the value we place on money. And this imbalance is the root cause of many of the atrocities we are facing as humanity, including endangering our environment.”
Q. Are you a New Year’s Resolution person, and if so what are your wishes for 2023?
“I am not a New Year’s Resolution person, I have not had any in many years. But I do have a New Year’s resolution for 2023, my resolution is to pay a little more attention to my writing, which has been on the back burner since I started my business. In 2023, I want to move closer towards marrying both the business and the writing.”
Q. Can you tell us your favourite places to hang out in the South East?
“I particularly love South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, the restaurants and Spa and the hotel itself is a delight, the service and the food are absolutely divine.”
One lucky winner can win a Drip 2 luxe hair care gift set containing Ori Lifestyle’s two-year bestselling khalila oil, cold-pressed Leccino olive oil, as well as our super-fluffy antimicrobial organic bamboo hair towel.
Sonning Common nursing home shares the gift of giving with donations for charity
Abbeycrest Nursing Home in Sonning Common has teamed up with the local community to collect more than 130 shoeboxes full of gifts for Operation Christmas Child.
Every year, the international relief and development charity Samaritan’s Purse collects shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1990, more than 178 million children in more than 150 countries have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
This year, Samaritan’s Purse are collecting a variety of Christmas gifts for children living in Africa and Ukraine.
George King, Customer Relations Manager for Abbeycrest Nursing Home said: “After a successful 2021 campaign, both residents and staff of our care home wanted to beat last year’s total of 54 boxes, so we mobilised families and friends along with the local community and businesses.”
After becoming a main shoebox collection point for the local area, Abbeycrest donated a staggering 138 gift-filled boxes along with cash donations totalling £690.
George added: “I want to send a huge thank you to our wonderful local community. The gift of giving provides so many benefits to our residents and staff at Abbeycrest, such as the feeling of social connection, promoting happiness and improving health. It is heart-warming to see the outcomes and benefits of the initiative to all involved.”
Businesses and community groups involved this year included the Christian Aid Charity Shop, Kingfisher Kindergarten, Little Birches Nursery and Preschool, FISH Volunteer Centre charity, Sonning Common Vauxhall, Co-op, Wood Lane Dentistry, Sonning Common Health Centre, Bishopswood School and Springwater Church.
Kingfisher Kindergarten manager La-Ryne van der Westhuizen said: “It was great to help support such a worthy cause and it aligns perfectly with our ethos of helping others.”
Abbeycrest Nursing Home provides residential, nursing and dementia care on a permanent or short stay basis. For more information or to arrange a tour of the home, search for Abbeycrest Nursing Home, or call the friendly team on 0808 223 5350.
Oxfordshire charity Yellow Submarine has won a national independent award run by Not On The High Street founder Holly Tucker to continue its great work helping people with learning disabilities and autism live life to the full
Many people with learning disabilities leave school with limited life skills and as a result poor life chances. This often leads to isolation and being marginalised. Yellow Submarine’s project start working with young people in the community settings from the age of 11 onwards, to build their social skills, confidence, independence and ultimately their employability. At the same time, Yellow Submarine supports families and carers with respite.
The team are celebrating their win in The Independent Awards 2022 represent best-in-class examples of UK small businesses. Both the public and expert judges chose Yellow Submarine’s life changing café as the High Street Shop Award winner.
Yellow Submarine has been overwhelmed by the support for the nomination. The votes from customers and supporters led them to be a High Street Shop Award finalist, but never could they have imagined bringing home the top prize on Thursday evening.
Enterprise development manager, Sophie Bradley watched the awards ceremony live from her home with her two young children and was delighted to discover Yellow Submarine had won the £10,000 prize fund after being announced as category winners. On the live awards feed run by Holly Tucker, founder of Not On The High Street, an emotional Sophie said: “The café team have worked so hard over the past 10 years changing the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism as well as providing our customers with delicious coffee and home-made food. To receive this recognition and prize fund will have such a huge impact on our social enterprise!”
The café opened in 2013 to provide a stepping stone into employment for individuals with learning disabilities and autism. Over the years the café has grown and they now bake their own cakes and have an online store to send them across the country. The cafes have now supported over 50 trainees through traineeships and training programmes, graduates have gone on to achieve wonderful volunteering and paid roles within the Oxfordshire community.
The Independent Awards finalists were voted for in a nationwide vote and the winner were chosen by a panel of esteemed judges who are experts in the small business field. On Yellow Submarine winning the High Street Shop Award Jo Fairley, founder of Green & Black said “Yellow Submarine makes me feel proud of how the world really is changing in positive ways – contrary to what newspaper headlines might lead us to feel. I truly wish I lived closer, because I’d be getting my coffee there EVERY DAY.”
Yellow Submarine will be taking their win proudly into 2023 as they celebrate the cafe’s 10th birthday and support more trainees with their journey to employment.
With this festive period set to be challenging for many children, Heritage & Sons funeral homes, owned by C.P.J Field, the UK’s oldest funeral directors, are hosting collection points for the Bucks Radio Toy Appeal, helping give disadvantaged children a better Bucks Christmas.
You’re all encouraged to donate new toys, games and gifts for all ages, from babies to teenagers. These can be dropped off at a number of Heritage and Sons funeral homes across the region
