“Some good news over the summer for the broadband roll out in our area. The government have announced an extra £45 million investment in rural broadband. The new funding for the government’s Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme adds to the £30 million investment announced last year, increasing the total pot of funding available to £75 million. In other broadband news, East Hagbourne have clubbed together to obtain ultrafast broadband for the village. More information in doing this in your area can be found at communityfibre.openreach.co.uk.
Oxfordshire hospitals are being given a major funding boost to to improve care ahead of winter. The Oxfordshire NHS Trust has been allocated an extra £3.21 million to improve diagnostics and patient flow. This is part of £145 million of capital investment in the NHS from the Department of Health.
Two projects in Didcot have just been awarded a combined £19,331 from the National Lottery. Didcot TRAIN, where I am a patron, has been awarded £9,531. TRAIN works with young people in the area to fulfil their potential and overcome barriers that may limit their social integration. The second, SOFEA, has been awarded £9,800. It works with young people and their families to overcome a variety of issues and build confidence and skills.
Kellogg’s are running the Schools Breakfast Club Awards to celebrate best practice in breakfast club provision and recognise the role played by the schools, teachers, parents and children in helping them run. If your school runs a breakfast club, they can enter at kelloggsbreakfastclubawards.co.uk.
I was very pleased this month to visit a number of excellent organisations in the constituency. Skoob Books in Didcot have an enormous second hand book collection, and supply film sets with books for background shots. Milton House Hotel has come under new ownership and are planning a range of improvements. I was also pleased to meet with the Changing Places team, who are campaigning for fully accessible disabled toilets, and Bpas in Oxford who provide specialised reproductive health services to the area.