Children and Teenagers

GUIDING FOR GIRLS

Girlguiding UK is preparing to celebrate its centenary in 2010 and although active in the area (with Rainbows at Barford St. Michael and both Brownies and Guides at Deddington and Middle Barton) there are no units in Steeple Aston.

Deddington & District Guides are, therefore, looking for volunteers 18+ to bring Guiding back to the Astons. Initially, we would like to open a Rainbow Unit for girls aged 5 - 7.

Guiding is run by volunteers and Girlguiding UK is always keen to hear from anyone who would like to help out. If you can offer enthusiasm and commitment along with your skills and experience, Girlguiding UK will provide all the training you need.

Volunteering can be as flexible as you need it to be, making it easier for you to share your time, energy and skills. You don't have to meet weekly or at the same time, or even at the same place. You don't have to wear a uniform. You can help out with more than one Guiding unit and Guiding units don't have to be run the same way they've always been run. Girlguiding welcomes new ideas!

The first ever UK-wide survey of the membership recently carried out by Girlguiding UK, which represents the opinions of over 3000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members across the UK, shows that girls today still enjoy a girl-only environment in which they can share their feelings, grow in confidence, form strong friendships and know that they are being heard.

Guiding is about fun, friendship, new challenges and adventures and Deddington District Guides has active members of all ages: Rainbows (5-7), Brownies (7-10), Guides (10-14), Senior Section (14 -25), Leaders (18-65), as well as a Trefoil Group open to anyone 18+ who wishes to enjoy the Guiding spirit but unable to take an active role with the other Sections.

Let's bring Guiding back to the Astons.

Contacts
Rachel Lawmon, District Commissioner
Tel: 01869 347415
Barbara Weston
Tel: 01869 340567 (answerphone).

GET INVOLVED WITH STEEPLE ASTON SCOUTS - WHATEVER YOUR AGE!

28 million scouts around the world have just celebrated 100 years of scouting - so why not join in Steeple Aston? Scouts already meet at the Sport and Recreation building on Tuesday evenings, from 7 - 9pm. It is open to anyone, boys and girls, from the age of 10 - 15. They take part in a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, from archery and shooting to cookery. To join or to find out more - contact Colin Cassford, Group Scout Leader on 01869 243038.

Until a few months ago there was an active group of cubs in Steeple Aston. They enjoyed activities such as climbing trees, tackling an assault course, crayfishing, laser-shooting, cooking and playing outdoor games. They put on their own circus performance, made aeroplanes and were hosed down during a visit from a fire engine. If that sounds appealing to your 8-10 year old then please contact Chris Elliott on 01869 340736 as she would love to re-start cubs. It would probably run from 6 - 7.30pm on a Monday evening at the Sport and Recreation building.

If you or your child would like to attend scouts, cubs or beavers then please let Colin or Chris know.

If you are aged 18 or over and would like to help run cubs or beavers then please contact Colin. All you need is lots of enthusiasm and energy! We'll provide you with training and support.

New Children’s Musictime

Music for the under 5s, with live musical accompaniment, has come to Steeple Aston.  

Meetings are held on Wednesday at 10.30am in the Sport & Recreation Building. The cost is £2.50 per week, second children only £1. Coffee and biscuits are served at the end of each class.

For further information contact Sarah on 01869 338466. She says. “Come and join our friendly group, where the parents have as much fun as the kids!!  We look forward to meeting you.”

If you can’t make it on Wednesday mornings you could join other local groups held on Mondays at 2.00pm at the Windmill Centre, Deddington and on Fridays at 10.30am in Duns Tew Village Hall

Spotlight School of Dance 

The Spotlight School of Dance has been running for six years continuing the work of the Middle Barton Ballet School.  The children do exams using the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus for ballet and the Imperial Society of Teacher of Dancing syllabus for modern and tap.  Some of the seniors have done their professional exams. 

The modern and tap classes are held in Steeple Aston Village Hall on Thursdays after school and Saturday mornings.  Children need to be four to start tap and five for modern.  Modern is a mixture of what you see in music videos and what you see in musicals.   

Ballet classes are available at Middle Barton School and Sandford St Martin Hall.  Children can start ballet from three-years-old.  

Contact
Suzi Hambidge
Spotlight School of Dance
Tel: 01295 273085

Steeple Aston Youth Club

Steeple Aston Youth Club meets once a week during school term time, on Thursday evenings, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. It is usually held in the Sports and Recreation Centre, next to the Village Hall. It is a thriving club, attracting up to 35 youngsters of secondary school age per session.

The club re-opened in September 2004 and is run by an organising committee largely made up of parents. There are around ten volunteers who work in rotation to supervise the youngsters at each session. The club is always supervised by at least three adults.

The club has the following to offer:

• it has its own tuck shop.
• it is a great place to meet and chat.
• there are opportunities to play table tennis, table football, snooker and other games such as giant chess and indoor skittles. In the summer time outside games may be organised, such as Softball.
• there are monthly fun games and sports sessions with the A Team from Active Ten-20, a local organisation supporting youth activities throughout Oxfordshire. In summer these sessions are in the village and in winter they are in the Active Ten-20 Centre at Upper Heyford.

The club has just been given money by the Youth Opportunities Fund and additional equipment and activities are being planned.

The club charges £1 a session. For further information please contact Simon, Deborah or Anne.

Steeple Aston Baby and Toddler group

The Baby and Toddler Group meets at the Sport and Recreation building every Thursday from 9.30 to 11.30am.

The group is a friendly one. Children can socialise with others whilst mums, dads, grandmas, grandpas and carers chat over a cup of tea or coffee. They have a good selection of toys, puzzles and other activities, and also benefit from being next to a fantastic children's play area.

Membership is open to anyone with a "bump", or bringing along a baby or toddler. The cost is £1.50 per session. All you need to do is turn up on the day and you will be very welcome.