Sibford Support Group
The Sibford Support Group is a group of volunteers who have come together during the Coronavirus crisis to
- help & support the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolated in The Sibfords
- help relieve the load on medical, social and emergency services.
Contact the group at ssg@thesibfords.uk
Please think about how this webpage could be made more useful and send your suggestions and comments to Tim at webmaster@thesibfords.uk
Are you self-isolating and need help?
If you are self-isolating, we can help with (for example)
- Collecting your prescription
- Picking up essential shopping
- Posting mail
- A friendly phone call
- Technical support for your iPad, tablet, phone, laptop or computer (see Tech Buddies below).
Otherwise, if you NEED help, please phone Ginny Bennett on 780 373 or email ssg@thesibfords.uk
Tech Buddies
If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with their computers, iPhones or iPads then the SSG Tech Buddies are here to help show you how to stay in touch, keep entertained, remain safe and shop online.
They will explain how to communicate with family and friends via apps such as What’s App, FaceTime and Zoom and show you how to download apps so that you can listen to podcasts, read books, watch films and play games.
Call Vicky on 07811 452 036 or email ssg@thesibfords.uk
Are you able to offer help?
If you can OFFER help with any of the above, please email ssg@thesibfords.uk
For more information about volunteering, see our dedicated page.
Other ways you can help
Sibford Stores has kindly agreed to have a box for Banbury Food Bank donations at the door of the shop. If you feel inclined to buy any extra non-perishable item(s), and pop them in the box, they will be collected and delivered to Banbury Food Bank. Urgently needed items include tinned meat, tinned fruit, tinned rice pudding, long life milk, long life juice.
Beware rogues and villains
Read Peter Hine’s warnings about con artists and scammers taking advantage of the crisis. Action Fraud has seen a very large increase in Coronavirus-related frauds .
Safeguarding
It is important to remember that keeping children and vulnerable adults safe is everyone’s responsibility and even more so during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Read the SSG Safeguarding Guide .
Keeping fit
Here is a practical and encouraging video, mainly for older folk, about exercising to help keep your immune system strong. It features Professor Janet Lord , Director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at Birmingham University.
Keeping in touch
- The social media site Nextdoor is very useful for keeping up with tips and information of interest to Sibford folk. One of our website gnomes is keeping an eye on conversations there and distilling key information onto this page.
- Bold New World have created an online guide to help those in isolation using their iPads / iPhones to download apps, watch catch-up TV, shop online and access NHS 111.
- Zoom has become very popular for online conferencing. Read this guide for using Zoom safely. If you are new to Zoom, you might find the Wykeham Benefice guide to setting it up helpful; it was written to support online church services, but is generally applicable.
- Our Tech Buddies can help you with computer problems. Call Vicky on 07811 452 036 or email ssg@thesibfords.uk
Local takeaways
- The Wykham Arms in Sibford has a takeaway menu . They are not offering delivery, but will meet you in their car park or patio if you don’t want to come in to the pub. Available Tuesday – Saturday, 12 – 2 pm, 6 – 9 pm. Roast Beef lunch available on Sundays. Phone 788 808.
- Blaze Inn Saddles (scroll down for menus) in Burdrop offers takeaways, for collection only, available Friday 6pm – 9pm, Sat and Sun noon – 4pm. Phone 780 494.
- The Stag’s Head in Swalcliffe has a takeaway menu. They will deliver within Swalcliffe but NOT to Sibford. Phone 788 660.
Local food suppliers with free delivery
- Sibford Stores and Post Office will deliver groceries to your door. Minimum order £10, by phone. Pay by card when ordering or by cash on delivery. Deliveries are made after the shop closes for the day.
- Miss T Catering will deliver a selection of meals for the freezer as well as her delicious cakes. Call 780 206 or 07841 910 037 to discuss options.
- Situated just outside Sibford, Truleaf Farm are still producing their specialist planet-friendly microgreens, harvested daily. You can pick them up at Sibford Stores or contact direct on 01295 40 41 40.
- Henry at Hook Norton Butchers has closed the door at the butcher’s shop in Hook Norton, but will deliver. The email address for placing orders is info@hooknortonbutchers.co.uk or phone 01608 738 373.
- Paddock Farm Butchery in Brailes will take your order over the phone, paid by card, and deliver free to Sibford, usually the next day. Their online shop lists products and prices but, for free delivery, order by phone.
- Tysoe Village Stores offer a free home delivery service. They prefer orders by email, minimum £25. They will happily split a combined order into separate bags if clearly shown in the email.
- Wyatts are offering a free delivery service to Sibford from their Bloxham and Great Rollright shops and plant nurseries. Minimum order £25 by phone or email.
- Holdsworth Foods normally supply the catering industry but are now able to deliver a wide range of foods to your door. Minimum order £40.
- Visit http://www.holdsworthfoods.co.uk and look up the product code and price under the ambient, chilled or frozen section. Many items are sold in bulk, but if you have concerns with quantities then email Michelle (see below) for help.
- Send your order to Michelle Holdsworth (of Hook Norton) mholdsworthfood@gmail.com , including your name, address and contact number.
- Telesales will contact you to arrange delivery and payment.
- Ofishial Foods delivers frozen ready meals free to Sibford from their Shenington premises. The weekly delivery day for Sibford is Friday; order by the Wednesday before.
- Milk & More delivers in Sibford Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, with orders (online only) accepted up to 9 pm the night before. Milk, breads, cakes, vegetables, fruit, etc. Unfortunately, when we last looked they had “temporarily” stopped taking on new customers; if you have a neighbour who has milk delivered, the odds are that they are a Milk & More customer, so perhaps they could help you out.
Official information
We are not alone
- There is a growing guide to other local support groups in the county at Oxfordshire All In .
- We are keeping an eye on the government’s GoodSAM scheme, but we do not see it as a replacement for the SSG.
- The SSG has registered its existence with Cherwell District Council and Thames Valley Police.
Light(en)ing up
- After seeing reports of people putting Christmas decorations up at the front of the house to lift everyone’s spirits, Philippa from the Ferris intends to do the same and has asked that we share the idea around the Sibfords. Happy to oblige.
- We’ve started a list of some things to do to lighten self-isolation. Visit Self-isolation amusements.
Our thanks to Dave Allen for the Doc Martin, Beatie and John Steed image magic.