Wokingham

Following the success of last December’s roadshow, which provided information about social care and health services, Wokingham District Council organised an even bigger event at the Pakistan Community Centre, London Road, Reading

During the day, 70 visitors to the centre learnt about the range of services available and picked up useful tips including how to prevent falls in the home and the importance of fitting and maintaining smoke detectors.

To bolster the range of information available to the district’s Pakistan residents, Wokingham District Council’s community care services invited a number of other organisations to the event. Amongst them were the Patient Advice and Liaison Services from Wokingham and Reading NHS Primary Care Trusts, Reading Fire Brigade, the Thames Valley Police racial equalities unit and Reading Borough Council’s Social Care Services. Professionals from the respective organisations were on hand giving advice and answering specific questions. The Rupert Square Tea Shop, the Berkshire Social Enterprise and the Pakistan Community Centre also provided visitors with useful information.

Comments fed back after the event included: “I think this is a good outlet whereby the Asian community have the opportunity to gain information they otherwise wouldn’t have access to, thank you.” And “I think it is a good idea to have events such as this to inform people what organisations do for the community.” Raja Nisar Kiani, vice chairman of the Pakistan Community Centre, said: “Wokingham District Council does a lot of work with the Pakistan Community Centre and they provide very helpful information.”

Ashwani Gupta, social inclusion officer at Wokingham District Council, said: “Wokingham
District Council initiated this important event inviting partners from the health, emergency and other services. The roadshow provided members of the Pakistan community in the district with valuable information about services available to them which they might not have been aware of before. As part of its social inclusion agenda, the council is committed to reaching all residents in the district and inform previously excluded groups. The management of the Pakistan Community Centre were exceptionally delighted to host the roadshow for a second time in two months and believe the Pakistan community of the Wokingham district are benefiting from these events. This event was an example of good partnership working between several different organisations, whose shared aim was to provide information to the Asian community in the district.”

Cllr Bob Wyatt, co-chair of the Black and Minority Ethnic Forum Wokingham, said: “The range of information and advice available at this worthwhile event was impressive and well received by the large number of people who visited the centre throughout the day. On behalf of Wokingham District Council I wish to thank the Pakistan Community Centre for playing host once again. I would also like to thank partner organisations for sharing this opportunity to impart valuable information to the Pakistan community and congratulate all those involved in this highly successful roadshow.”

Wokingham District Council