One of the services which Kidlington can boast of is its information centre, based in the heart of the village at Exeter Hall. Here you will find bus and train timetables, information about council services, tourism leaflets galore, and a host of advice booklets to guide you through the maze of benefits available. Funded by Cherwell District Council, the Kidlington and District Information Centre (KADIC) — or One-Stop Shop — is staffed by manager Lesley Higgins and her team of ten friendly volunteers. The volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and their combined skills enable them to help visitors with most problems, or point people in the right direction for more complex ones.

The centre stocks most benefit forms and all volunteers are given training in this area. It offers expertise in other ways. A common request is for help with form-filling or letter-writing, not only from those who have difficulty with English, but also those needing help to understand some of the jargon found on forms.

The team keeps up-to-date with Government announcements. For example, there was a flurry of activity when members of the public sought help in finding about recent amendments to the regulations for powers-of-attorney.

Kidlington is also a Tourist Information Point, one of three in the Cherwell district. As it is on the fringes of Oxford, many tourists find it more convenient to stop at Exeter Hall, where parking and access for disabled people is easier.

“Although the office is located in central Kidlington, it seems that many people are still unaware of the services it offers," said Lesley. “To maintain the financial support of Cherwell District Council, it is imperative to raise awareness of the centre through as many channels as possible. It would be a shame for the citizens of North Oxfordshire to lose such a valuable service.” KADIC is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am-2pm. But most tourist leaflets and benefit forms can be picked up from the corridor outside the KADIC office, which is open during office hours every weekday. Contact the centre at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington, call 01865 378479, email KADIC@talktalk.net or visit their website: www.kidlingtoninformation.org.uk Staff can also contact Tourist Information Centres around the UK and search the Internet for further details. They receive emails from tourists from all over the world asking for help in finding accommodation.

To contribute to this column, contact Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action by email at voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk