Family Centre

Abingdon Family Centre has a new building off Caldecott Road, on land previously owned by Caldecott School. Next door, is the housing development in Blacknall Road.

The previous Family Centre was run by NCH (National Childrens Homes), and was found next to Saxton Road Community Centre. But those buildings were no longer safe and have been torn down. The empty land will be turned to housing.

PACT took over running the family centre from the NCH. PACT (Parents and Children Together) is a professional agency working on behalf of the (Anglican) Diocese of Oxford in the area of family life.

Many activities are available at the Family Centre from baby sitting courses for sibling carers, healthy living advice through to messy play sessions.

CHINESE MEDICAL & SKIN CENTRE

For a long time this shop on the corner of West St Helen Street and High Street was Hadleighs China shop. It has been closed for maybe six months, and now is being refitted as ACUPUNCTURE & HERBS - CHINESE MEDICAL & SKIN CENTRE.

And the owners are very forthright about what they can treat. None of your English reserve. It includes - in bold - male conditions... and womens problems....

Vets in Abingdon

If you are looking for a vet in Abingdon, there is either the Abivale Animal Hospital in the Vineyard,

or Frasers in Caldecott Road. Or you could use a smaller village vet like the one in Steventon.

Nothing ever seems cheap at the vets: pet food, tablets... surgery (surgery especially so). After all vets' bills are not covered by national insurance.

Travelling Exhibition

This panel showing various images from Abingdon's past was unveiled in the Guildhall. It will be displayed at a number of locations in the coming weeks as a travelling exhibition for the 450th Anniversary.

Museum Roof Views

Down East St Helens Street towards St Helens Church (with scaffolding for the bells).

Along High Street towards Ock Street and Tesco.

Towards St Nicholas and the Abbey Gateway.

Trinity Church spire in the distance, The white building is the old BT telephone exchange now partly converted to flats.

Towards the Old Gaol (and River), and Didcot Power Station

Age Concern

The headquarters of Oxfordshire Age concern moved to St Edmunds Lane in Abingdon in 2002. Age concern, Oxforshire, is a charity with 100 members of staff and over 400 volunteers who aim to make a difference in campaigning and caring for elderly people.

There aims are to help elderly people to:

* lead happy, active and fulfilled lives as independently as possible (which may mean helping them find gardening help or home shopping)
* overcome the barriers which prevent them receiving whats rightfully theirs
* be their advocates
* communicate their needs in order to shape the policies and services of local and national agencies
* care for them, if they need extra help, in safe, secure and welcoming environments

This care home for the elderly in Ock Street is run by a charity called the Order of St John Care Trust.

Providing a home for elderly people, especially when it comes to people who are no longer able to live independently, is a very difficult thing to do well. Yet our carers are often some of the least well paid workers.

Age concern also also concerned for carers.