Age UK Oxfordshire
Affordable Warmth Network
Citizens Advice
Eldon Friends
Home Instead
Libraries
Live Well Oxfordshire
Neighbourhood Watch
Police
Volunteer Driver Service
Age UK Oxfordshire
Age UK provides help for people over 50 and their carers on a range of issues such as health, housing and income. They also offer advice on consumer matters, leisure, transport and end of life information. Our local link is Richard Preston.
Contact
Local link: Richard Preston
Tel: 01869 340512
Email: richard.preston5@btopenworld.com
Website: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/
The Affordable Warmth Network
The Affordable Warmth Network is funded by the NHS and district councils across Bucks and Oxon and is central to the regional Warm Homes Healthy People (WHHP) project.
The Network aims to reduce the number of people in fuel poverty and improve health and wellbeing. The Network provides a free helpline, community outreach and training of front-line staff to help spot and alleviate fuel poverty.
Contact
Tel: 0800 107 004 from 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
Email: awn@nef.org.uk
Website: www.affordablewarmthnetwork.org.uk
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice provides independent, confidential free advice on a wide variety of topics via their Community Help and Information Services (CHIP). The CHIP service is free and located in places such as libraries, voluntary organisations and community centres. You don’t need an appointment to visit a CHIP.
The nearest CHIPs to Steeple Aston are at Banbury and Bicester. To find their locations and opening times ring 0333 0383 221 or look on their website – cawnac.org.uk. You can also ring this number for telephone advice.
The CHIPs provide an advisory service and may be able to answer your query immediately but if not you will be directed to specialist support elsewhere.
Alternatively there is a Citizens Advice office in Witney which provides the full range of advice at:
Witney CA
The Old Print House
Marlborough Lane
Witney OX28 6DY
Tel: 0808 169 6031
Banburyshire Advice Centre
This is an independant charity that provides free, confidential and independent advice on the full range of benefits issues.
Contact
Banburyshire Advice Centre
49c Castle St
Banbury OX16 5NU
Tel: 01295 279988
Website: https://www.banburyshirecitizenproject.org.uk/
Eldon Friends
Eldon Friends is an independent service that specialises in providing support to enable clients to remain living independently in their own home.
Whether they require transport to medical appointments, light housework, assistance with shopping trips or just simply companionship, Eldon Friends has the right package to suit their needs.
Contact
Elaine Kelly
Tel: 01869 340449
Email: info@eldonfriends.co.uk
Website: www.eldonfriends.co.uk
Home Instead, North Oxfordshire
The North Oxfordshire branch of Home Instead, based in Deddington, is part of an award-winning homecare provider offering a range of non-medical services to help seniors and their families feel secure, confident and happy in their own homes. This can include just having a cuppa and a chat, shopping, meal preparation, light housework and outings as well as personal and dementia care.
They say: “For us the relationship between our staff and the people we care for is vital. So we don’t do short visits (minimum an hour), don’t wear uniforms, make sure the same people visit each time. We always introduce people before a service starts so no one ever has a stranger coming to the door. Through the relationships we form our service does not feel like ‘care’ more like a friend has come for a visit.”
Contact
Home Instead
Chapel Square,
Deddington,
OX15 0SG
Tel: 01295 237237
Email: maria.finn@homeinstead.co.uk
Website: www.homeinstead.co.uk/northoxfordshire
Libraries
The nearest libraries are at Deddington, Banbury and Bicester.
Contacts
Banbury library
Tel: 01295 262282
Bicester library
Tel: 01869 252181
Deddington library
Tel: 01869 338391
Website: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-culture/libraries
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Live Well in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Council has an online directory of over 2,000 (and growing) support services across the county to help residents live better.
Live Well Oxfordshire has been developed by Oxfordshire County Council in partnership with Age UK Oxfordshire and Affinity Works. The directory has been designed to bring together information about groups and organisations offering services for adults with a variety of needs in one place.
It includes categories such as looking after someone, keeping fit and well, finding a care home, help with life events and many more.
Website: https://livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk/
Neighbourhood Watch
A new Neighbourhood Watch scheme was set up in the village in March 2018 following a spate of burglaries and anti-social behaviour.
The co-ordinator is Martin Brimacombe and there are street or area representatives for most of the village. These volunteers inform their neighbours of events and developments in criminal related activities and keep an eye on their neighbours, especially those who are vulnerable.
Martin can be contacted by email at steepleastonneighbourhoodwatch@gmail.com
There is also information on local crime on social media including the village Facebook page.
There’s also a WhatsApp Application called STEEPLE ASTON CRIME ALERT. This will require the admin team to add you to the group through your mobile number once you have downloaded the app.
Crime information from the police
Thames Valley Police also have a new application that you can subscribe to at https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/
This site provides an invitation for you to participate in the exchange of information with Thames Valley Police, Neighbourhood Watch and other community groups. As a registered recipient you will not only benefit from two way messaging but may also learn about those in your community subject of anti social behaviour orders, help identify suspected or wanted criminals or learn about community groups, events or meetings in your area
There you are invited to become a registered recipient of messages of information, crime alerts or witness appeals local to the area in which you live or work by email, text or telephone.
There is now also a free smart-phone Alert app which provides the latest local policing news straight to your phone. The app can use GPS data to send you targeted messages according to your current geographical location and messaging preferences, sending you instant notifications to your mobile phone about specific information, warnings and advice relevant to that location.
To download the app, visit the Apple store or Google Play and search ‘Thames Valley Alert’.
Reporting a crime
Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood team has advised the community to report ALL crimes.
Call 999 to report a crime in progress that is endangering life or property. STATE THAT THERE IS A CRIME IN PROGRESS. Reporting the event after it has happened may not result in the police attendance. Reporting a crime to 999 will result in the limited resources of the police being sent to attend.
Call 101 for a crime that has taken place where there’s no further risk to life or property. This is the Non Emergency number. Police will still be aware of the crime and depending on the crime it may result in further police action. Any criminal activity that is reported may also be linked through the build of intelligence from 999/101 calls resulting in additional police activity and further reductions in crime.
Police
In an emergency always dial 999.
For any other non-urgent matter, please dial 101.
For details of our local police officers, the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood team, and their latest reports, also to register for Community Alerts, please click here.
And there is information on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour together with all the latest information on the Thames Valley Police on their website: www.thamesvalley.police.uk.
Volunteer Driver Service North Oxfordshire
Based in Banbury, this Community Interest Company was set up in April 2025 to replace Volunteer Connect, which was closed down. It says is committed to creating a positive drive for our community!
Volunteer drivers use their own cars to take people to appointments at hospital and elsewhere when there is no reasonable alternative transport available.
They are always looking for volunteer drivers, who are paid 45p a mile from their door. Contact them on the email below to find out more.
Contact
Tel: 0300 3030 125
Email: info@volunteerdriverservice.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerDriverServiceNorthOxfordshire