THEATRES across Oxfordshire warn that they face an uncertain future as they mark the first anniversary of being forced to close their doors at the start of the first lockdown. A year ago today, theatres across the country went dark as part of measures to control the spread of coronavirus. UK Theatre, the industry body that represents most theatres announced the closure of about 250 venues after Boris Johnson said people should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres as part of “drastic action” to tackle the pandemic. Most venues have remained shut since, losing the vast majority of their income. And despite aid from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund, they are still fighting for their survival.
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AN Oxford charity that helped to connect shielding and self-isolating people to volunteers during the peak of the pandemic has celebrated its first birthday. On March 12 last year, Oxford Hub launched Oxford Together, a support programme which saw volunteers deliver groceries and prescriptions to those who were unable to get them themselves. They also put themselves forward for the Hub’s Phone Links service to make regular social phone calls to isolated individuals in Oxfordshire; or step up to be Street Champions, mobilising people and coordinating activity on a street-by-street basis. Since then, the Oxford Together digital platform has processed more than 9,100 requests for support and mobilised more than 1,200 people to volunteer in their communities with support from local partners including Arts at the Old Fire Station, Oxford City Council and Oxford Code Lab.