We are thrilled to share that Steve and Janet Cox have been awarded the High Sheriff Award for their outstanding service to the community through Cherwell Larder. To celebrate them and this accomplishment, we’d love to share their story with you.

Steve and Janet receive the 2024 High Sheriff Award.

Connecting with the Community

When we started Cherwell Larder there were hundreds of keen volunteers. 

Unfortunately, the drop out rate was enormous. Without notice, volunteer drivers would no-show, leaving dozens of households without expected food parcels on a Saturday afternoon. 

These parcels were created for anyone in the community who wanted support during the pandemic for any reason.  They enabled people to stay home to stop the spread of the virus, brought a sense of security to vulnerable people quarantining for safety, and helped those worried about the economic effects of the pandemic. 

Needless to say, the drop out of drivers was a huge stress, especially when we had chilled items that required immediate delivery for safety reasons. At that time, we reached out to anyone receiving a parcel to see if any of them had vehicles and would be willing to collect their own and deliver to others. 

Janet was the first person to respond. 

She, and her husband, Steve, would show up, fill up their car, deliver to half of Yarnton, then come back and do it again for the other half. They fed the entire village. 

Later, when it was time to move to Exeter Hall for collection services and to open our cafe, Steve and Janet continued their incredible voluntary efforts and took over leadership. She runs the front of house at the cafe, he organises the distribution of food and other essentials at the Larder. They’ve fed thousands of people always with a kind word, wading through their own hardships by connecting with the community. 

Steve is interviewed by BBC at the 2023 Earth Day Planting Party, where he and Janet helped organise a pop-up Larder and Café service at a Harvest @ Home greenspace garden in Kidlington.

In Their Words

We caught up with Steve and Janet about their experience of winning the 2024 High Sheriff’s Award.

Tell me about receiving the High Sheriff award. 

Steve: It was an actual privilege to go to it. And it was fantastic that me and Janet had been nominated for it. And I was actually surprised the amount of different things that people are  doing for communities and that is brilliant. Even this 11 year old lad, one November night, he actually saw a car crash and he stood in the middle of the road, and he’d been directing the traffic to make sure everybody was safe. It was unbelievable. It was a good night.  

How did you feel when you found out you’d won the award?

Steve:  Proud, but in my head, I felt I wouldn’t have got it, if it wasn’t for the team behind me as well. I know I put the hours in and load the van and, pick up  the food and get it here, and we’re here late at night and stuff, but it’s them out there who make it work. So I’m proud of them. Janet is as well.  

Janet: When we found out I was shocked because  it’s really good to have, I was  honoured.  I did feel it could have been for all of the people here really, because  I always think of us like a big family.  Everybody else works very hard as well. 

Did they talk about why they gave you the award? 

Janet: Yes, they said it was because we do a lot for people and we collect at night and we try to help people as much as we can. When somebody comes in we try to usually find something for them.  The other day there was a boy sleeping in the car out here and he came in one day and was a little bit nervous. I said, “Are  you, alright?”  and I gave him soup and a jacket potato. Then he came in the next day, and said, “You don’t have any clothes do you?”  I found a few T-shirts for him. He told me he’d been living in his car. So when I went home that night, I told my son and he gave me some boxer shorts  and some socks and a pair of trousers for him.  

Janet and volunteer Debbie run the café service at Cherwell Collective’s 2022 Platinum Jubilee Big Lunch for the Community.

What does it mean for you now and in the future?

Steve:  I felt really proud because I didn’t ever think I’d get anything like that. I was so shocked when we were told that we’d won it for services to volunteering.

I’m proud of Emily, I’m proud of the whole team, we just need someone with backing in Kidlington and clout to say, we’re going to do this, because otherwise the community is going to lose this.  

Conclusion

On behalf of all of us at Cherwell Collective, we extend a huge congratulations to Janet and Steve for a well-deserved High Sheriff Award.


Thanks to our incredible community of volunteers like Janet and Steve, our Cherwell Larder and Climatarian Kitchen café continues weekly. If you would like to get involved, please sign up here. And don’t forget –  Cherwell Larder’s services have recently changed. Read more about changes in weekly changes that took effect 1 April 2024 here.