The good news is that the vaccine is now on its way. More information below. But just a reminder NOT to phone your local surgery about this. Invitations will initially be made via telephone and text message. Invitations will be sent gradually according to both the supply of vaccine from the NHS, and according to the priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation.

Please leave the phone lines of local surgeries clear so they can deal with all the other urgent health needs of the community.

With immediate effect, and until further notice, Avon Dassett post office will be closed on Monday and now will only be open each Wednesday from 9.15am until 10am.

If any resident is unable to visit the Post Office during these hours and needs assistance please contact the Parish Council’s Covid-19 Support Group who will try to help. The Support Group can be contacted by phone, text or WhatsApp on 07860 702749 and by email at:  covid19@avondassettparishcouncil.com.

It has been a challenging year, but let’s get together in a COVID-safe way on Christmas Eve for socially distanced carols from Dassett and Friends who provided the music for VE Day in May accompanied by pianists Jasper, Mia, Tess and Bella.

A few carollers will sing a small number of favourite carols and Christmas songs through the village from 4.30 pm on Christmas Eve. It would be great if you could come to your doorstep and join in to celebrate Christmas 2020!

The singers will be on the steps of St John the Baptist Church at 4.30 pm. At the grass triangle at Lower End at 4.45 pm, finally ending up in front of The Yew Tree at 5 pm.

Here is the online version of the carols: https://youtu.be/QJ4IKMCksF8

And here is the song sheet for you to sing along on your doorstep on Christmas Eve:

• Avon Dassett Christmas Carols 2020

It has been a challenging year, but let’s get together in a COVID-safe way on Christmas Eve for socially distanced carols from Dassett and Friends who provided the music for VE Day in May.

A few carollers will sing a small number of favourite carols and Christmas songs through the village from 4.30 pm on Christmas Eve. It would be great if you could come to your doorstep and join in to celebrate Christmas 2020!

The singers will be on the steps of St John the Baptist Church at 4.30 pm. At the grass triangle at Lower End at 4.45 pm, finally ending up in front of The Yew Tree at 5 pm.

A carol sheet and online music will be uploaded here soon!

Please see the latest newsletter here.

Our Crime Safety page has links to key sources of information including Warwickshire Rural Watch.

Unfortunately there is another caravan theft to report.

A caravan was stolen from Avon Dassett on the evening of the 15/16 December. The incident number is 45 of 16/12/2020.

If anyone has any CCTV footage or noticed anything suspicious in the area please notify the police.

This information leaflet contains links to helpful resources compiled by Stratford District Council:

• 1948 Advice to support your health wealth housing wellbeing DEC20

Could you make a difference to your community during this difficult time?

Volunteers from across Warwickshire are needed to help support Warwickshire County Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a national testing programme.

Community testing sites (also known as mass testing sites) will be set-up across Warwickshire in the next few weeks with the first site opening in north Warwickshire very shortly.

Talking about the call to action, Cllr Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for the Environment and Heritage & Culture said:  “Volunteers are an essential part of the work we are doing here in Warwickshire. The testing will play a vital role in keeping communities safe and will enhance our fight against Covid-19. By testing people who don’t have symptoms, we are hoping to catch those who are not aware that they have the virus to ensure that they don’t unwittingly spread it to other people - including friends, loved ones and work colleagues.

“If you’re great with people with a friendly and approachable manner and want to play your part in helping to keep communities safer, then this is the role for you.”

The pilot will use the fast turnaround lateral flow test kits, which can deliver results in around an hour. Lateral flow antigen tests are a new kind of technology that can be used to test a higher proportion of asymptomatic people, better enabling the Public Health team to identify and isolate more people who are at high likelihood of spreading virus and break the chains of transmission.

Volunteers are needed for front facing roles to support with the following:

• Help people to register on arrival
• Provide reassurance and a friendly face

• Give out information and answer any questions
• Help to manage the flow of people and guide them around sites, keeping everyone safe and ensuring the sites are well run

Volunteers will not be asked to get involved with the testing procedure itself, this will be undertaken by the staff on site.

The health and safety of all volunteers, staff and visitors will be of paramount importance.  COVID-19 safety measures and guidance will be applied at all times.  Appropriate PPE will be issued to volunteers.

If you would like to play your part in history and support this major initiative in the fight against COVID-19, whilst at the same time giving something back to your local community, then please email volroles@wcava.org.uk with your details and location.

Alternatively, the link for the application form for you to complete can be found here.

You can also call your local office on:

• North Warwickshire Tel: 01827 718080
• Nuneaton & Bedworth Tel: 024 7638 5765
• Rugby Tel: 01788 574258
• Stratford-on-Avon Tel: 07850 515185
• Warwick District Tel: 01926 477512

For more information about Warwickshire County Council’s response to the pandemic and services available at this time visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 410410. To find out more about Warwickshire CAVA visit https://www.wcava.org.uk/