Wokingham

An historic environment champion is set to take up the fight for Wokingham district's architectural heritage.

Wokingham District Council is committed to the protection and management of the district’s historic environment and as a result is planning to announce at its full council meeting on March 30 that Cllr Annette Drake will undertake this English Heritage role.

Joining a network of English Heritage champions across the country, Wokingham Cllr Drake will be responsible for protecting the historic aspect of the district while helping pave the way for future regeneration. She will ensure that the historic environment is considered when key decisions are taken and plays a central role in the development of all the council’s policies, plans, targets and strategies.

Wokingham Cllr Drake said: “I am committed to working with my colleagues at the council as well as the wider community to persuade them that the historic environment offers many opportunities to improve the quality of life for everyone.

“One of my roles will be looking to attract inward economic investment and funding for the historic environment of the district. And, I will work with planning officers to ensure that new developments in historic areas are creative and sympathetic to its environment. I am keen to promote the cultural heritage of everyone in the whole community.”

An historic environment champion will ensure the historic environment is protected and well managed within the Wokingham district. This will involve working with lots of different council services such as planning, highways, economic development and regeneration to ensure that historic environment is properly considered when key decision are taken. The champion will ensure there is joined-up thinking across many areas.

Cllr Drake will also work with partner organisations, such as the Local Strategic Partnership, to consider the historic environment in the development of their policies and strategies and added: “A combined approach will safeguard precious heritage across the district and I am looking forward to driving this agenda forward.”

Wokingham District Council,

Local football teams have scored themselves new changing rooms in Wokingham after Wokingham district council built a new pavilion at Barkham Recreation Ground on Latimer Road.

After years of having to change in an old iron Nissen Hut, teams using the pitches at Barkham Rec, including Ashridge Park and AFC Nam, can now kick off a new era of relatively luxurious accommodation with the brick-built pavilion offering two changing rooms with toilets and showers.

And to mark the upgrading of facilities at the Rec, executive member for environment services Wokingham Cllr Rob Stanton visited the pavilion to officially open the changing rooms on Friday (March 17).

The £138,000 project was funded through developer contributions, known as section 106 money and is set to be used by local teams from the start of the next football season.

“I really think that we’ve played a winner here with these excellent new facilities for local football teams. This is a great example of using developer contributions to make real differences to the local community and I hope that the teams enjoy using their new changing rooms,” said Wokingham Cllr Stanton.

Jonathan Pickup from AFC Nam said: “The new pavilion is a great result for local teams. For many years we have had to use the old iron hut to change but now the players are set to benefit from warm and comfortable changing rooms, which I am looking forward to using at the start of next season.”

Wokingham District Council

One month into her new job, Helen Grimbleby, Wokingham District Council’s new community safety manager, is working hard to help to reduce the fear of crime in the district.

Helen, who took up her Wokingham post on February 14, will lead Wokingham council’s work on the Community Safety Partnership, which is made up of organisations who have a responsibility for crime prevention such as the council, Thames Valley Police, National Probation Service Thames Valley, Wokingham Primary Care Trust, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Wokingham Youth Offending Team and Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Her first priority is to review the progress made against targets set in the community safety strategy (2005 – 2008) which aims to reduce crime, disorder and the fear of crime throughout the Wokingham district.

She will also be leading Wokingham council’s work for the Safer Community Campaign across the district, which specifically aims to reduce crime in the home and in business, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder, and substance misuse. Helen and her team will continue to work with a number of other agencies on targeted actions for the campaign.

Helen said: “Levels of crime in the Wokingham district are low, the second lowest in the whole country, but we recognise that the fear of crime is too high and it is my job to help alleviate this fear. We are not complacent and know that we have to work with our partners to ensure that crime remains low.”

Before joining the district council, Helen was anti-social behaviour co-ordinator at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council. She led on a ‘Borough Blitz’ campaign, which introduced environmentally friendly graffiti kits for community groups and held awareness-raising ‘litter weeks’. She also supported campaigns with ‘Crimestoppers’ to identify graffiti tags, which resulted in official police action against two perpetrators.

During her time at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, she led the anti-social behaviour project, which saw a seven per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour incidents reported to the police along with a shift in perceptions of levels of anti-social behaviour. Helen is also a qualified solicitor.

Before Helen arrived, the Wokingham community safety team were already leading some dynamic new initiatives, including extended CCTV is some of the district’s car parks, support for the voluntary sector in tackling domestic violence and the highly successful community warden scheme. Their next venture is to encourage residents to reduce dog mess by distributing ‘bag it and bin it’ polythene bags to pet owners.

Enjoying her new role, Helen said: “It’s a challenge getting to grips with the workings of so many different organisations but it’s a challenge I will rise to. Many of the organisations have different ways of working and slightly different objectives but we have a common goal of reducing crime and the fear of crime within the Wokingham district. We know that the fear of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour can seriously affect people’s quality of life even though their chances of being a victim are low. I love the variety and the interaction with people especially working to address the concerns of local residents.”

Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, said: “The Wokingham district remains one of the safest places in the country to live and work and we are committed to ensuring that it remains so. I am delighted to welcome Helen to the team and I am looking forward to seeing her strengthen and build on the already good working relationships within the Community Safety Partnership and driving forward our priorities to reduce crime and fear of crime.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham Landlords and property managing agents who let large houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to tenants in the Wokingham district may need to apply for a licence. Licensing is part of a nationwide drive to improve standards in private rented accommodation. Landlords with licensable properties can apply from April 6.

In the Wokingham district privately rented properties that are three floors or more in height and have five or more tenants, and where basic facilities (such as bathrooms and kitchens) are shared, may need to be licensed. Failure to licence such properties could lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £20,000. The breaking of any conditions on the licence could result in fines up to £5,000. However, landlords who are already part of the voluntary accreditation scheme in the Wokingham district may be entitled to a reduction in fees if they own a licensable property.

Although Wokingham Council is currently working to identify properties within the Wokingham district that may need to be licensed, it is the responsibility of landlords to apply for a licence.

Wokingham Principal environmental health officer Joe Dray explains, “Wokingham District Council is looking forward to supporting local landlords and answering any queries they may have about the new HMO licensing scheme. HMOs provide much needed affordable housing, particularly for younger people. However, tenants in larger shared properties are often vulnerable to poor housing conditions. The Wokingham council wants to work with landlords to drive up standards and eliminate poor quality accommodation.”

Mandatory licensing will standardise existing registration schemes across England, making the process simpler for landlords and tenants to understand. Across the board procedures and stringent enforcement will also make it difficult for landlords to evade licensing. Those who fail to comply before July 3 may face fines of up to £20,000, a criminal record and, potentially, rent repayment orders.

To grant a licence the local authority must be satisfied that:

* The proposed licence holder, the landlord or managing agent, are ‘fit and proper’ people
* Properties and tenancies are managed appropriately
* The accommodation meets all minimum standards such as sufficient number of toilets, kitchens and bathrooms for the number of residents

For more information on mandatory HMO licensing and to identify whether you have a property that needs licensing, visit www.propertylicence.gov.uk. To apply for a licence for a property in Wokingham district, call Joe Dray or Rhian Hayes at Wokingham District Council on (0118) 974 6395.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham Lollipop men and women have joined together with the star of national television adverts to try to lick the prickly issue of unsafe driving in a new campaign launched by Wokingham District Council on Wednesday (March 15).

A banner carrying the message ‘Don’t Park on Zigzags’ was unveiled at Highwood Primary School in Woodley by Wokingham district council chairman Cllr Iain Brown and the hedgehog star of the national Think! road safety adverts. They were joined by school crossing patrollers (or lollipop men and women as they are commonly known) from across the Wokingham district, who want to see an end to driving practices that put both them and the people they help across the road at risk.

The Wokingham campaign aims to make drivers aware of the danger they pose by parking or dropping off on the zigzag or double yellow lines directly outside schools. The banner will be backed up by leaflets being delivered to parents by the school and reinforced by the school crossing patroller who is handing out road safety information and reminders to those using the crossing.

A second banner saying ‘Stop Means Stop’ was also unveiled at Nine Mile Ride Primary School in Finchampstead highlighting the problem of drivers who don’t stop for crossing patrollers, potentially injuring the patroller and any children or members of the public trying to cross the road safely. The campaign is backed by Thames Valley Police and Wokingham council’s highways consultants Mouchel Parkman.

Wokingham Council chairman Cllr Iain Brown said: “Often people just don’t think of the danger they pose by quickly pulling up on zigzag lines or not letting a crossing patroller step out into the road. It should be remembered that both of these simple acts could put a child’s life in danger. They are also both offences and drivers can be prosecuted.

“I hope that these new banners will make everyone think that little bit more about safer driving and parking and perhaps make a real difference to the safety of our roads.”

The Wokingham council currently has six vacancies for school crossing patrollers across the district. A high rate of pay is offered (£8.12 per hour or £10.28 including holiday pay) and the role offers the chance to play a key part in a local community. If anyone is interested in becoming a Wokingham school crossing patroller, they should contact the council on (0118) 974 6387.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council in partnership with Leisure Connection will be upgrading the pool disinfection system at The Carnival Pool in Wokingham.

The current ozone system will be replaced by a state-of-the-art ultra violet system. The benefits over the current system include lower chemical levels in the water, more effective disinfection, and ultimately an improved quality of Wokingham pool water.

The work is being carried out over two days: Friday April 14 (Good Friday) and Saturday April 15. The Wokingham pool will be closed for the 48 hour period, but pool facilities remain available at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, and the Harpers facilities at the Carnival Pool remain unaffected. The Carnival Pool will re-open on Sunday April 16 (Easter Sunday) at the normal time of 7.30am.

Wokingham District Council

Figures recently announced by the national Teenage Pregnancy Unit show that the rate of teenage pregnancies in the Wokingham district has fallen by almost 30%.

The Wokingham district is making good progress in reducing teenage pregnancies since a
strategy was developed in 1998 to address this. For the past six years health, social care and education professionals, to name just a few, have been working hard to reduce the rate, which at the time was one of the highest in the country.

And the good news is, the hard work has paid off with the Wokingham district reducing teenage pregnancies by 29.4% and is now the second lowest rate in England. And the district has the ninth highest reduction over this six-year period (1998 to 2004). When the government launched the national teenage pregnancy strategy they set a target for all local authorities to reduce the under-18 conception rate by 15%, which the Wokingham district has achieved by almost double.

The work of the Wokingham District Teenage Pregnancy Board has been instrumental in bringing down the rates in the district. This has been achieved by strengthening partnership working between health, social care and education and by ensuring that all agencies are working together to provide good sexual and emotional health services to young people.

More training has been made available to staff such as the ARC mentors (youth counselling) in schools, teachers, school nurses and governors on sexual health, drugs, sex and relationships. Support for young people has been available at youth clubs with drop-in sessions offering advice and information on sex and relationships. Information ‘credit’ cards have also helped young people, which they can carry around with them, providing useful information such as telephone numbers.

Over the past six years, work has been undertaken with the most vulnerable young people in the Wokingham district such as those in care or young offenders, to develop knowledge and skills to access health services.

But what’s next? The partnership board is currently looking at national evaluation of teenage pregnancy and what services were in place to reduce the rates. These will be looked at locally to see whether these services can be introduced in the district to reduce the rate even further. More work will be carried out with schools to develop sex and relationship programmes under the healthy schools programme.

Cllr Debbie Lewis, the Wokingham council’s executive member for health, said: “I am particularly pleased with the significant reduction in the conception rates and these are now at the lowest point since 1998. This reduction is a real credit to everyone including the many agencies involved in working with young people. These results show that with the better co-ordination of services it has a direct impact on figures. But, whilst these figures are encouraging, there is no room for complacency.”

Georgina Clarke, teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, said: “The figures that have recently been announced only look at conception rates up to 2004, and whilst this fall is good news for the district, even more work has been carried our since then to look at reducing the rate even further. We remain committed to ensuring the district’s young people have access to good sexual and emotional health services as we continue to address this issue.”

Wokingham District Council

The Creative Graduate into Companies Initiative (CGCI) is holding a FREE one-day workshop, in partnership with Wokingham District Council’s cultural services, on Thursday March 30. The workshop is for unemployed and underemployed creative industry graduates in the South East of England.

The event is part of a rolling programme of workshops and training sessions funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and aimed at improving creative industry graduates’ employability skills across the region. Hosted at Wokingham District Council’s professional development centre, the event on March 30 will run from 10am to 4pm and aims to raise self confidence and enable attendees to successfully market themselves as a brand.

The Wokingham day will be facilitated by communication expert Dawn Winder, managing director of i-define, who explained: “The emphasis of this workshop is creating insight into your ‘personal brand’, increasing confidence and raising self-awareness. You will feel more confident and full of practical ideas that will allow you to be more positive about who you are and what makes you different.”

Wokingham District Council’s head of cultural services, Chris Hamilton, said: “Visual and performing arts and media are among the most popular subjects studied by adult learners in our district, so we are delighted to be working with the CGCI initiative to support graduating students in their chosen profession for the future.”

Executive member for Wokingham community care Dianne King said: “Most graduates already have the knowledge they need to succeed once they have joined a profession, but to get a foot in the door can require a whole different set of skills. This kind of training is invaluable, turning their talents into opportunities to enter the workforce.”

To reserve your place, please visit www.cgci.ucreative.ac.uk or contact Helen Ellis on (01252) 89 2981 or email hlellis@ucreative.ac.uk for more information. For more information from Wokingham District Council, please contact Hazel Keelan on (0118) 974 6178.

Wokingham District Council

The roving eye of the law will be keeping a close look-out with re-deployable CCTV cameras and a CCTV van from April, in a bid to keep crime rates down in the Wokingham district.

As the warmer weather approaches vehicle crime begins to escalate, and in the Wokingham district the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) is launching a wide range of initiatives to combat vehicle crime related offences, under the campaign name ‘Operation Four Wheel’.

Funded by Wokingham District Council and Thames Valley Police, the mobile CCTV cameras are the first strand of the new campaign. They will keep a watchful eye over vehicles around the district and crime hotspot car parks will be particularly targeted, keeping residents’ and visitors’ cars safe from would-be thieves. Not only will car parks benefit from the installation of the cameras but, as they are mobile, they can be moved to other locations in response to changing crime patterns, for maximum effect on crime reduction throughout the district.

The van and the cameras, which will be introduced over the next couple of weeks, are part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’s ongoing project to cut vehicle related crimes in the district. They will be utilised in special operations to tackle not only Wokingham vehicle related offences, but also other important crime and disorder issues such as anti-social behaviour and burglary.

Chief Inspector Tony Ismay from Thames Valley Police said: ”The acquisition of mobile CCTV cameras and a purpose built CCTV vehicle are additional tools in our armoury to further drive down crime. Both systems provide us with the on-going flexibility to target different areas within the district and will be utilised to reduce and detect crime. They are a valuable asset and I believe they will prove their worth in a short space of time.”

Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for community safety, said: “Through partnership working with Thames Valley Police, Wokingham District Council is doing all it can to help make the district a safer place to live, work and visit. Crime can have a devastating effect on victims, even if the crime is relatively minor like having a vehicle broken into. It is not just about the expense and inconvenience these sorts of crimes provoke, but it is the invasion of a person’s personal space and property which can leave a lasting effect. I am pleased measures have been put in place to alleviate this problem and hope that as a result of the CCTV cameras and van, crime will be kept at an all time low.”

Wokingham District Council

The REME Museum of Technology Presents the ‘paint me’ Creative Workshop

Sunday 9 April 2 – 4 pm suitable for 7 – 12 year olds

each child £9, accompanying adults free

design and create your own T shirt and take it home with you

paint some pictures on paper choose your favourite then put it on a Tshirt

Booking: 01189763375

or talk to Alice our education officer, payment in advance confirms booking

Cheques made payable to: Deborah Rogers

For more details about workshops and family events or to book places please call the Education Officer on 0118 976 3375. To find out about other forthcoming MINTI Club workshops and family events check out our web site at www.rememuseum.org.uk

REME Museum, Isaac Newton Road, Arborfield, Berkshire
RG2 9NJ

Concentrated working practices by South East Water at the request of Wokingham District Council are set to result in the first phase of the work on the A321 Finchampstead Road in Wokingham completed ahead of schedule.

The water company is currently carrying out vital long-term Wokingham road works to replace three old water mains - which are increasingly prone to leaks and bursts - with a single new, plastic mains. The first phase of the work saw the closure of the Finchampstead Road between the Landen Court (Tesco) roundabout and Molly Millars Lane. This phase was set to last until March 19 but, due to evening and Saturday working requested by the council, the water company is now ready to start the second phase of the work ahead of time on Wednesday March 15.

The Wokingham council and highways’ maintenance contractor RCS have also pulled out all the stops, having completed resurfacing on this stretch of the road on Saturday March 11 and lining work today (March 13).

Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “The council was told in no uncertain terms that this work needed to be carried out. We’ve worked hard to try and minimise disruption wherever possible and I’m pleased to see that this approach is set to result in the first phase being completed ahead of the planned timescale.

“The council itself is doing what it can to make the process easier by coordinating its resurfacing works and completed this first stage by today.”

The second phase of the work is now set to begin at 9am on Wednesday March 15 and will see the second road diversion put into operation. This involves the closure of the A321 Finchampstead Road between Molly Millars Lane and the A321 Sandhurst Lane. The official diversion route is as follows:

For Wokingham bound traffic - A321 Sandhurst Road, B3430 Nine Mile Ride, A3095 Crowthorne Road, A3095 Mill Lane, A329 Berkshire Way, A329 London Road, Peach Street, Market Place and Denmark Street.

For Finchampstead bound traffic - Wellington Road, Station Road, A329 Shute End, Rectory Road, Wiltshire Road, A329 London Road, A329 Berkshire Way, A3095 Mill Lane, A3095 Crowthorne Road, B3430 Nine Mile Ride and A321 Sandhurst Road.

Local businesses will remain open as usual. Access for emergency vehicles, residents and pedestrians will be maintained throughout the closure.

Wokingham District Council

A Wokingham district-wide community conference, organised by Wokingham district’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), will drive forward community involvement in the new Local Area Agreement and in developing a community vision on Wednesday March 29.

The conference entitled “Continuing success” will be held at The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, beginning at 9am and will aim to:

* Provide an understanding of the Local Area Agreement and what it means for the Wokingham district

* Identify the community’s priorities for the future

* Debate the “state of the district” with Wokingham District LSP

The conference will consist of workshops on the role of the Local Strategic Partnership, developing the Community Strategy, and the four blocks of the Local Area Agreement. Representatives from LSP members and networks, as well as local community representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors and local residents will be invited to attend the conference.

They will choose between two workshops during the morning: ”The work of the Local Strategic Partnership” and “Developing Sustainable Communities”. For the afternoon, there is a choice of four workshops based on the Local Area Agreement: “Children and Young People”, “Healthier Communities and Older People”, “Safer and Stronger Communities” and “Economic Development”. The afternoon will begin with a presentation by “Local Futures” on the state of the district, and at 2.45pm there will be a question and answer session with a panel drawn from members of the LSP. The conference will close at 4pm.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for key stakeholders in the Local Area Agreement to meet and exchange ideas, and a learning opportunity for all involved,” said executive member for community development Dianne King. “I look forward to the input of all our valued partner organisations in shaping the future of the project.”

Many local community organisations have been invited to the conference, but any local group or individual who would be interested in attending should contact Sue Roberts in the council’s Strategy and Partnerships team on (0118) 974 6016.

Wokingham District Council

The achievements of students at the Bulmershe School were officially put on record on Friday February 24, when Wokingham District Council’s executive member for children’s services Cllr Frank Browne visited the School to learn at first hand about their academic and sporting successes.

Headteacher Peter Lewis keeps a book of achievement in which the successes of both individuals and groups are recorded and Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne witnessed the most recent ‘book signing’ by students on Friday.

Many students at the Woodley school were celebrating particular achievements. Head girl Zoe Tyndall has won a place at Magdalen College Oxford to read History whilst Tim Skinner has won a place at Jesus College Cambridge to read Physical and Natural Sciences. Natalie Bryce will also be joining her peers at Oxford when she reads Law (Jurisprudence) at St Catherine’s College. The fourth Oxbridge student is former head girl Memoona Khan who will be taking up a place at New Hall, Cambridge, to read English.

Also signing the book of achievement was head boy Ritchie Dann. He is the managing director of the 2005 Young Enterprise Team and recently won an award at Reading Town Hall for the most innovative product. Peter Charij also achieved recognition as the Reading junior male sports personality of the year for his significant achievements in rowing at a national level.

The Bulmershe School, Wokingham is a specialist sports college and many of the pupils have recently celebrated success on the sporting field, including Chloe Farrance and Stacey Chance, both members of the Bulmershe Gym Club. They will be flying off to China in May to take part in an international competition in aerobic gymnastics. They were also members of the school team, which gained a number of awards for their 2005 Rock Challenge and they performed in a competition at The New Theatre in Oxford.

Mitchell Pallett - a long-standing member of the GB junior squad in Wushu, a martial art - is training hard for the first World Youth Wushu Championships in Malaysia in August 2006. Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne also met talented footballers Abdulai Baggie and Paul Gideon. Abdulai is on the books of ReadingFootball Club and Paul with Southampton Football Club.

Moving away from sporting success, William Reddie and Joe Spark have become successful public speakers and debaters. They were both recent winners in the Rotary Youth Speaks competition and in the English Speaking Union debates. They competed and defeated Eton College, but lost out to Winchester College in the final.

In 2005, two students Zoe Tyndall and Joe Spark represented the school’s 2005 World Challenge Trip to Peru. Their expedition was filmed and the DVD of their trip is now being used as the worldwide promotional video for World Challenge.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I really enjoyed meeting the young people at The Bulmershe School, many of whom have achieved great personal triumphs in their own specific areas of interest. There is tremendous talent at this school both on and off the sports field and it was good to see young people achieving so very highly academically as well as in a sporting capacity. I was also delighted to have the opportunity to tour the school and discuss a number of issues with the headteacher including future investment at the school and measures they need to take to address attendance. The local authority is committed to working with the school to provide the best education for all its pupils.

“I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at Bulmershe School and I look forward to working with the school in the near future and developing our already positive relationship further.”

Headteacher Peter Lewis said: “We were delighted to welcome Cllr Browne to our school and I would like to thank him for taking the time to meet with a number of our students. As their headteacher, I am very proud of their achievements, both on the academic front where four of our students have won places to Oxbridge, and in a wide variety of other areas of life from sporting activities to public speaking.

“Cllr Browne was interested in the exciting future plans of our young people and I hope that he enjoyed hearing from them personally, including Joe who put the case against party politics and for the independence of individual politicians! Afterwards Cllr Browne toured the school and visited some classes. We discussed very positively the ways in which the school and the local authority can work collaboratively to deliver high quality provision for the school and the community on the Bulmershe campus.”

Wokingham District Council

Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday 2 April – Sunday 23 April 2006

Join the REME Museum of Technology’s Easter Egg Hunt! Spot all the eggs hidden in the displays and vehicles. Track down the Easter Bunny! Complete the quiz sheet and enter the prize draw to win the BIG Easter Egg! All children will receive a prize for completing the quiz sheet.

The Easter Egg Hunt runs for the Easter period during Museum opening hours (Mon - Thurs 09.00 - 16.30, Fri 09.00 - 16.00 and Sun 11.00 - 16.00). The Museum will be closed over the Easter weekend (Friday 14 April - Monday 17 April).

Easter Egg Hunt Quiz Sheets cost 30p. Normal admission charges apply: Adult £3.50, Child £2.50, Family £10 (2 adults and up to 3 children) and under 5s free. Suitable for children aged 5 – 12 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more details about workshops and family events or to book places please call the Education Officer on 0118 976 3375. To find out about other forthcoming MINTI Club workshops and family events check out our web site at www.rememuseum.org.uk

REME Museum, Isaac Newton Road, Arborfield, Berkshire
RG2 9NJ

“Get ‘fresh’ and put seasonal local Wokingham food on the menu!” That’s the message to pubs and restaurants from Wokingham District Council and fellow supporters of the Local Food and Hospitality Show, held last Tuesday in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Wokingham District Council supports Berkshire Food Group, which promotes local food and drink for people in Berkshire, and works to improve access to healthy locally-produced food for all. Last week saw the group to organise the second annual Local Food and Hospitality Show - an opportunity for people in tourism and catering to meet local food and drink producers and suppliers. There were opportunities to sample offerings from more than 30 producers as well as a local food lunch, networking and workshops.

Barkham, Wokingham based “Two Hoots Cheese”, a family business producing award winning hand-made soft blue cheeses, held a very successful stall at the show.

“Visitors at the show really had a genuine interest in local food,” said Sandy Rose, from Two Hoots. “People really wanted to know where the cheese comes from and how it is produced. We made several really good contacts – including the National Trust, who are investigating local suppliers for the cafes in their local venues.”

Sandy, who also sells at local farmers’ markets and supplies a growing number of local farm shops, feels there is an increasing demand for local food. “People really want the quality and taste of fresh local food now,” she said.

Research shows that 76% of tourists want the opportunity to sample local produce when they are on holiday; while 70% of UK-based consumers want to eat locally produced food, and 49% want to buy more than they do now. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and visitor attractions in the Wokingham district were shown the benefits of this trend at the Local Food and Hospitality Show.

Tamara Schiopu, co-ordinator of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes, and Oxfordshire Food Groups, organised the show. “Local food can transform the pub-dining experience because customers are looking for food that is fresh,” she said. “Differentiation between pubs can be the key to success.”

The show followed the launch of the 2006 - 2007 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire Food Guide, which was released on February 15. This directory of local producers has been distributed through all farmers' markets and to all tourism information centres, hotels, restaurants, public libraries and colleges in the area. To obtain a free copy, telephone 01865 484116 or e-mail localfood@brookes.ac.uk

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham DC Shinfield Infant and Nursery School is at the forefront of using information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance their work – and that’s official! Shinfield Infant and Nursery School is one of the first schools in the UK to receive the prestigious new ICT Mark – and the first in the Wokingham district!

The new quality mark recognises schools that can demonstrate they use ICT to support all learners and all school activities. The ICT Mark is awarded by Becta, the government’s lead agency for ICT in education, and recognises the success that Shinfield Infant and Nursery School has in developing a strategic approach to its use of ICT across the whole school. Officers from Wokingham District Council provided support and encouragement to assist the school in moving towards the award.

The school was praised for its good provision of ICT and has particular strengths in technical support and using ICT across subjects taught at the Wokingham DC school. A range of ICT is used, with one particular initiative seeing pupils using a video camera, in conjunction with a secondary school, on a book project. The infant school children recorded themselves saying what kind of story they liked and this was taken into consideration by the secondary school pupils when they planned a suitable storyline for a book they were writing for the infant school.

In year two, the higher achieving pupils are given a different task which challenges them appropriately, whilst in year one a pupil with visual difficulties has additional equipment to produce enlarged text. The special educational needs co-ordinator uses ICT to support and reward learning in the classroom.

Teachers have undergone a good variety of training both in school and at a local secondary school and teaching support staff have undergone Learndirect CLAIT training, which provides information on the Windows operating system and Microsoft Word 2000, and this has impacted on their ability to use and help with ICT in the classroom.

Mandy Turner, headteacher at Shinfield Infant and Nursery School, said: “We are delighted to receive the ICT Mark. It recognises our approach to ICT and the positive impact that it is having on our school as a whole. The school is one of the oldest schools in the Wokingham district and to have been awarded this prestigious award shows that we are able to combine tradition with the best of forward thinking in planning an innovative and stimulating curriculum. All credit must go to former headteacher Ann Nolan and both former ICT co-ordinator Elaine Brown and current co-ordinator Charlotte Jakins who all played a large part to achieve this award.”

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for children’s services, said: “To have Shinfield Infant and Nursery School amongst the first in the country, as well as the first in the Wokingham district, is a major achievement and something of which we should all be very proud. To gain this new award is a wonderful achievement and they should be congratulated on this success. This demonstrates the excellent ICT management and teaching that is taking place in the district’s schools."

Wokingham District Council

The Wokingham Learning Partnership is looking for a new chairman and is calling for interested people to get in touch!

The Partnership, hosted by Wokingham District Council, brings together those involved in encouraging people of all ages to fulfil their potential through learning and also acts as the voice of the community for adult learning and skills issues within the district.

Former Wokingham chairman Robin Cops stood down last month after four years at the helm. It is now looking for a new champion to build on the position it has established in the community and take the partnership into its next phase.

Wokingham Cllr Dianne King, executive member for children’s services, said: “The ideal candidate will have experience of holding a senior role in business and will also want to make a contribution to the local community. He or she needs to share the partnership’s vision and become the champion for learning. It is a challenging role but one that offers great opportunity to make a real difference to the district.”

An increasingly important aspect of its activity will be the leadership of the adult learning and skills responsibility for Wokingham district within the Local Strategic Partnership, working with a wide range of other partners from the public and private sector, and in particular the business community.

Since the Wokingham Learning Partnership was established in 2000, it has worked behind the scenes to help identify and meet residents’ learning needs. Within the last year, it has sponsored the launch, with record enrolments, of the Learndirect Centre in Wokingham Library and identified needs and supported management courses for local businesses.

The partnership has also been instrumental in bringing many new learners to courses at two neighbourhood learning centres, the Karten Centre in Crowthorne and the CResCent Centre in Lower Earley, and been involved with Family Learning Week and the Discover Culture Festival. It takes an overview of all adult learning in the district.

Chris Hamilton, corporate head of cultural services, said: “The partnership has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced in 2000 and now includes all of the key players, working together to improve and coordinate adult learning and skills across the district. I am looking forward to working with the new chairman in promoting the enjoyment and value of learning to all our residents.”

The role is voluntary but expenses are paid and the partnership receives administrative support from the district council. Anyone wanting more information should contact lifelong learning manager Wendy Crosson-Smith on (0118) 974 6164.

Wokingham District Council

Choosing the right independent school for your daughter or son is one of the most important, and perhaps most difficult, decisions you will make. We recognise that facilities and setting are always important, but what is valued even more is your child’s educational experience within our learning community.

Bearwood College, Wokingham is privileged to have a fantastic site and its hard not to be impressed by the splendid facilities, the imposing mansion House, the tree lined drive. This natural setting allows young people to grow within a safe and secure environment.

We have 350 senior school pupils aged 11 to 18. Claremont House is our nursery and Kindergarten providing care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. In September 2006 we open our Pre-Prep Department, which will cater for children aged 5 to 7 years (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2). As from 2008 we plan to open our Prep-school department from age 7 to 11yrs.

It will only be when you visit that you will truly experience our school’s warm atmosphere in which your child will thrive. Bearwood College, Wokingham has so much to offer you. Please come and visit us on Our Open Morning on May 13th and take a closer look.

Bearwood College, Wokingham

Police are appealing for witnesses to an armed robbery at a newsagents in Wokingham.

Three masked men, two of whom had handguns, entered Meadowmart Newsagents, in Meadow Road, Wokingham, at 7.20pm on Saturday (11/3).

One of the armed offenders pushed his handgun into the stomach of the shopkeeper and demanded money while a second searched the till area. The third offender pointed his hand-gun at the head of a female member of staff.

The offenders stole the evening’s takings, which will not be disclosed, and headed off towards the Barkham Road,/Woosehill Lane, Wokingham.

Det Con Phil Mullins, of Lodden Valley CID, said: “This incident left the newsagent workers visibly shaken but thankfully unhurt.

“Fortunately, this type of incident is extremely rare in Wokingham and in Wokingham Town Centre there have only been four armed robberies with firearms in the past six years.

“In each of those cases the offenders have been caught and given lengthy prison sentences.

“We now ask for the public’s help in catching these offenders.”

The offenders were all wearing hooded tops and they had their faces covered with masks. They are all aged between 18 and 20 and are of medium height and build.

One of the offenders wore a very light blue coloured top with a red logo across the chest.

Police are also keen to trace a dark-coloured saloon car parked in Woosehill Lane, Wokingham which was seen to make off at speed around the same time of the robbery. The car would have been driven on to Barkham Road at a relatively busy time of Saturday night.

Anyone with any information about this incident should call DC Mullins at Loddon Valley via 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Iain Brown was on hand last week (Friday February 24) to cut the ribbon to officially open the new Wokingham Hawthorns’ After-School Club.

Wokingham Cllr Brown and his escort Carole Brown joined over 30 children at the after-school club, based in Woosehill, Wokingham which provides a friendly and stimulating environment for children whose parents are unable to meet them from school because of other commitments such as work or study.

The idea for the club first came about in July 2005 when a need for such a facility was identified by a group of parents led by Sian Thornley and Sheila Coles. A voluntary committee was established soon after and they worked extremely hard over the following six months to get the club up and running. They opened their doors for the first time in January 2006 and the club is available to all children who attend the Hawthorn’s Primary School.

The club received start-up funding from central government’s SureStart initiative to help with the cost of equipment, rent and staff salaries. Funding was also allocated by SureStart and the school themselves, to create a path from the school to the church, which means that pupils have safe and easy access to the club.

Wokingham Chairman Cllr Iain Brown said: “It was a pleasure to officially open the after-school club and meet the children. With many parents working full-time, clubs like the one at Hawthorns can be a great help to working parents by providing a safe environment for their children to play and learn after school. This club offers a range of varied activities from arts and crafts, to sport and music activities and it was very clear to me that they children love attending this club! It was good to see so many people helping and having fun themselves. There is a relaxed and happy atmosphere and I wish it every success for the future, especially for their plans to start a breakfast and holiday club as well.”

Sian Thornley from Hawthorns’ After-School Club said: “The committee formed in August and have worked extremely hard to find the correct staff, and to create an Ofsted registered after school club, which meets local needs for good quality affordable childcare.

“Currently the club has 26 children registered, and is registered with Ofsted for 40 places per session. The club and committee are very excited about what the future holds as they grow and expand.”

Wokingham District Council

Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be a full time job for parents and carers. But following an awareness day organised by Wokingham District Council last January, attended by more than 100 parents in the district with ASD-affected children, a band of pro-active parents formed their own action group for mutual support.

Wokingham Autism Support for Parents (WASP) works with a multi-agency team of professionals on a five-year development plan for children with autism in the Wokingham district. They have also set up a parent support group that has been so successful it has divided into two – one group to further local service delivery, and one to support parents with the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

Wokingham Cllr Iain Brown, the Wokingham council chairman, usually presents a small gift and a plaque each month to an individual or group that has given good service to the community. The WASP parents won February’s award for their leading role in developing the ASD support network in the district. On Friday February 24, WASP representatives Stephen Abery, Wendy Bird, Cathy Fastnedge and Helen Lodge visited the chairman’s civic offices at Shute End, Wokingham to receive their gift of flowers and a special plaque.

“The WASP parents took a leading role in developing the council’s autism webpage, which receives an incredible number of enquiries, including those from other authorities who need advice,” said Cllr Brown. “WASP is an invaluable service to parents with children on the spectrum, and their work is a real example of good practice that is highly valued by Wokingham District Council.”

Wokingham District Council

The Bartered Bride,
Opera at Bearwood,
Bearwood College Theatre,
Wokingham.

Opera at Bearwood are performing Bedrich Smetana’s ‘The Bartered Bride’ at Bearwood College Theatre, Sindlesham, Wokingham, from 11th July to 15th July 2006 (excluding Thursday 13th July) nightly at 7.30 p.m.

Fully staged in English with orchestra, this Czech comic opera features amongst others, polkas and the famous ‘Dance of the Comedians’.

Our Wokingham audience can picnic in the picturesque grounds, as is usual with our productions, from 5 p.m. before going into the enclosed theatre for the performance. Further details are available on our website www.operaatbearwood.org.uk and tickets are now on sale by phoning Alan Williams on 0118 926 2394 or emailing him on alan@operaatbearwood.org.uk

Residents in Devitt Close in Shinfield are enjoying a cleaner environment thanks to Wokingham District Council’s community wardens who have removed fly-tipping from the area last week.

For the past six months residents have had cause for concern over illegal fly-tipping on a privately-owned piece of land on Devitt Close. When the Wokingham community wardens were patrolling the streets of the district and acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of local communities, they were approached by a local residents’ association with their concerns that fly-tipping was becoming a health hazard in Devitt Close.

And last week (February 23) Wokingham community wardens Rebecca Eggleton and Mark Methven removed the fly-tipping and took it the community skip on Halls Lane in Shinfield. Mark said: “We are here to help improve local communities and sort out problems, which is why we ask residents to work with us so that together we can make a real difference. And this was the case in Devitt Close. As the land is privately-owned the landowner is supposed to deal with the fly-tipping. However, as the problem had been going on for several months we decided to remove it to improve the environment for all the residents.”

Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for community safety, said: “Quality of life is important to our residents and fly-tipping can cause real concern. The wardens have spent time building relationships with local residents in Devitt Close and this was a one-off good-will gesture by the wardens to remove the fly-tipping in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.”

Wokingham district council spends on average £150,000 a year on clearing and disposing of fly-tipped waste from the pubic highway, open spaces and council housing areas around the district. Fly-tipping is the ‘dumping’ of rubbish onto a piece of land, which does not have a licence to accept waste. It is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution with fines of up to £20,000 or six months’ imprisonment.

Wokingham district council urges residents to report anyone fly-tipping on (0118) 974 6339 or 974 6307. The community wardens can also be contacted by phone on (0118) 974 3798 or via email: communitywardens@wokingham.gov.uk. The wardens are happy to speak to anyone who may have concerns and any information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Wokingham District Council

Assistant Wokingham Youth Support Worker Vacancies

• Due to an expanding and vibrant Youth Service we have a number of new and exciting initiatives for young people across the district.

• To ensure these initiatives can go ahead opportunities have arisen to take on new committed and enthusiastic staff.

• If you are over 18, have an empathy with young people aged 13 - 19 and wish to help, guide and support the young people in your local community then this is a job for you! We also have some opportunities to work with our younger age range aged 11-13.

• Across the Wokingham district we have 6 well-resourced and equipped youth centres

• Mobile youth projects, which get youth resources to hard to reach communities

• Street work projects to work with young on their own territory.

We have vacancies as:

• Centre Based Assistant Youth Support Workers
• Street Based Assistant Youth Support Workers
• Mobile Project Assistant Youth Support Workers
• Instructors/ Trainers
(You will find full descriptions of these roles within the pack)

In Return We Can Offer You:

• A full induction and a professional training programme up to and including NVQ level 3 in youth work
• Professional support in your work and for your development A possible route to higher education via the training
• A challenging and rewarding job

More Information:

• Many of the Projects operate during the evenings. Weekend, daytime and holiday work is becoming increasingly available.
• Sessions usually last approximately 3 hours during the evenings from around 7:00-10:00pm
• All staff are recruited via application form and interview and all staff need to undertake a successful Criminal Records Bureau check and have acceptable references.

• For further information call Nigel Shaw Tel: 01189746267

WOKINGHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL
YOUTH SERVICE

CENTRE BASED ASSISTANT YOUTH SUPPORT WORKERS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ROLE

There are a six purpose built youth centres across the Wokingham district and a number of satellite buildings such as community or village halls where youth activities take place.

All this provision is there to respond to the needs of young people in that locality and each centre will provide programmes and activities in consultation with the young people.

The role of the part-time assistant youth support worker is to work as part of a team to promote and develop informal learning and social educational opportunities for young people.

This is achieved through building relationships with the young people who attend the projects and finding out their needs, aspirations and interests. In response to this the centre team will organise for young people, and support young people to organise fun programmes and activities that meet these needs.

Activities could include, for example:
• Encouraging young people to organise their own pool competition to learn organisational skills and take responsibility for themselves
• A video based project looking at issues around sexual health

Throughout this process staff are working with young people to help them achieve their ambitions; to empower them to carry out their ideas; challenge their attitudes and behaviour and to aid their personal development.

Staff also support individuals or groups on either personal issues or group activities, promoting positive images of themselves or gaining new knowledge and information.

Sometimes staff are directed to undertake outreach work, which is where workers go out to where the young people are congregating and meeting in the community. This is to inform them about the centres and encourage them to use the facilities.

WOKINGHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL
YOUTH SERVICE

STREET BASED ASSISTANT YOUTH SUPPORT WORKERS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ROLE

Young people gather in many different types of area on their home patch. Sometimes it is in situations where they can see and be seen. They want to be part of what is going on, be able to greet passers-by, and be seen.

Sometimes, and especially in winter, the need is shelter, and the situation sought is somewhere with a roof over their heads, either shop canopies, subways or under trees.

Often they wish to gather away from sight to “do their own thing” and away from any community pressures to behave, reduce noise levels, or (perceived from the adult community) cause a nuisance.

Most of the time such gatherings of young people are harmless (both to themselves and the community). Sometimes they can become harmful to individuals in the group, either in terms of peer pressure to commit minor crime or substance abuse, or as targets for drug dealers.

Often young people perceive themselves being moved on from one place to another for no real reason and that “no one is interested in us”. Occasionally the reaction to this feeling manifests itself in petty crime and vandalism.

The Street Based Assistant Youth Support Worker’s job needs to be carried out in such a way as to not unrealistically raise young people’s expectations in regards to wants, and is fourfold:

1. To contact young people on their own territory, and to form a relationship with them and develop a feeling that someone cares about what they do in their leisure time and about them as people.

2. To inform young people about what is on offer for them in the area, and help them and encourage them to use the facilities available.

3. Pass back to youth facilities young people’s perceptions of them, what needs need to be met and ways such facilities can attract their potential customers.

4. Work with young people on their own ground, to help them to achieve their ambitions; to empower them to carry out their ideas; challenge their attitudes and behaviour; to aid personal development; and support individuals and groups on either personal issues or group activities; promoting positive images of themselves; or gaining new knowledge and information.

Street Based Assistant Youth Support Workers are working on the young people’s territory, and therefore intruding into their space. Development of trusting relationships is extremely important, especially where there is the need to positively challenge the young people’s lifestyles, beliefs, habits or behaviour for the benefit of the young people.

WOKINGHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL
YOUTH SERVICE

MOBILE PROJECT ASSISTANT YOUTH SUPPORT WORKERS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ROLE

The Mobile Youth Provision enables the project and its professional staff to engage with young people in the rural parts of Wokingham. The main unit of a van and a 2.5 tonne trailer is resourced with computers, music facilities and a coffee bar; these are the tools used by Assistant Youth Support Workers to enable them to attract and engage with young people. The unit is used on recreation spaces, local car parks and in the housing estates in which young people live. We also have other project based mobiles in Wokingham and Earley.

The role of the part-time assistant youth support worker is to promote and develop social educational opportunities for young people.

Staff use the Mobile Provision to run projects and diversionary activities that inspire both the imagination of the young people and that of the local community as well as using the skills and interests of the staff.

This is achieved through building relationships with the young people who come to use the mobile and finding out their needs, aspirations and interests. In response to this the mobile team will provide the activities, information and advice the young people require.

Throughout this process staff are working with young people to help them achieve their ambitions; to empower them to carry out their ideas; challenge their attitudes and behaviour and to aid their personal development.

Staff also support individuals or groups on either personal issues or group activities promoting positive images of themselves; or gaining new knowledge and information.

Staff often undertake outreach work, which is where workers go to actively seek out where the young people are congregating and meeting in the community. This is to inform them about the project and encourage them to use the provision.

WOKINGHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL
YOUTH SERVICE

YOUTH SERVICE INSTRUCTOR/ TRAINER

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ROLE

Due to expansion in the Youth Service and a drive towards running accredited programmes of learning for young people there will be opportunities for instructors/ trainers to run various accredited and non-accredited courses and sessions across the district.

The Youth Service has a focus on accredited work and will require a team of instructors to run a variety of courses in response to the needs and interests of young people across Youth Service Provision.

The role of the part-time instructor/trainer is to deliver the specialist knowledge and skills required to support the Youth Service to promote and develop social educational opportunities for young people. In this instance it will be delivered through young people completing an accredited programme of learning.

These courses could include; sports based programmes, Community or Junior Sports Leaders Awards, Babysitting courses, First Aid, Life skills based programmes, Djing and mixing, Dance, Arts.

The courses will often be of a limited length of 5-13 weeks so the role will not require a permanent commitment.

The instructor/trainer will need a relevant recognised qualification and be competent in the discipline to be able to instruct at the level that is required for the course.

To enable the young people to fulfil their full potential and build their self-esteem the worker must be able to build relationships with the young people who attend the courses and meet their needs and aspirations from the course content. The centre/project team will support the worker and the young people meet these needs.

For more information call Nigel Shaw, Head of Wokingham Youth Service on 0118 974 6267.

Every school in the Wokingham district will shortly be receiving an award-winning CD-rom to provide help and advice on how to cope when someone has died.

The CD-rom has been produced by the Rotary International and is an informative resource designed to help children, families and their teachers with the trauma of bereavement.

Wokingham District Council recently published a support framework for schools to assist them following a critical incident and/ or sudden traumatic event. Schools have found this a useful document and to complement this framework, Stephen Hempson-Jones, headteacher at the Hawthorn’s Primary School in Wokingham, felt the CD-rom would provide a useful additional interactive tool for staff and children to use if they have suffered a bereavement.

Stephen, also a member of the Rotary Club, said: “It is a fact of life that death can be premature, sudden and even violent. All of our schools have to deal with it because any community is inevitably touched by death. Death is often a taboo subject, and the idea behind this CD-rom, which is backed by a long list of hospices and bereavement organisations, is to bring it out into the open and talk about it. It has plenty of practical guidance for teachers and families who need to know how best to help children. It is also the first resource to cover this topic in a comprehensive and interactive way.”

The CD-rom, which has been sent to every Wokingham secondary, primary and special school in the district, aims to offer help and advice on how to cope with death in the family, the death of a friend, teacher or even a pet. It lends support to teachers who may be faced with dealing with a situation that is new to them and offers practical advice on how to support a pupil if they have suffered a bereavement.

The CD-rom is also designed for parents and children and discusses a range of issues such as emotions, where to go for help and signs to look out for following a sudden death to help them through this difficult time. It also includes true stories of children offering their experiences to help others. There is a detailed section on different religions and how each religion deals with death and funerals.

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I would like to extend my thanks to The Rotary Clubs of Easthampstead, Loddon Vale, Reading Maiden Erlegh and Wokingham for their generosity for providing all the district’s schools with this very useful and interactive tool.

“When someone dies it can be very difficult for children to understand the meaning of death. And it is also difficult for teachers who have to support their pupils. This CD-rom provides useful advice on a whole range of issues from expected reactions to other resources available.”

The Cd-roms have been funded by The Rotary Clubs of Easthampstead, Loddon Vale, Reading Maiden Erlegh and Wokingham and is the fourth in the ‘Coping with Life’ series.

Wokingham District Council

March is health and well-being month in three of Wokingham District Council’s libraries, working with a range of local and national health partners.

Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley libraries are holding a number of drop-in sessions throughout the month and health professionals will be on hand to talk to residents on a one-to-one basis about health issues that concern them. Wokingham District nurses will offer blood pressure testing and advice on healthy eating, whilst occupational therapists will talk to individuals about keeping safe in the home. There is also a special session at Woodley Library for residents with hearing concerns.

Christine Grieve, senior community librarian at Woodley Library, said: “The drop-in sessions will provide our residents with an opportunity to find out about a range of topics from healthy eating to hearing concerns, all in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.”

Wokingham Cllr Dianne King, executive member for community development, said: "Health is influenced by so many different factors and embraces mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being. The aim of these drop-in sessions is to help residents to make informed health choices. Health professionals will be on hand to offer one-to-one advice and I hope that many local people will come along to one of the sessions.”

The sessions are taking place at the following libraries:

Woodley Library, Headley Road, Woodley

Event: Healthy eating – advice from Green Road GP Practice
When: Monday March 6 between 2pm and 4pm

Event: Safety in the home – advice from the district council’s occupational therapists
When: Thursday March 9 between 9.30am and 12.30pm

Event: Want to hear more? – advice from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
When: Thursday March 16 between 10am and 12noon

Wokingham Library, Denmark Street, Wokingham

Event: Healthy eating – advice from Finchampstead GP Practice
When: Wednesday March 8 between 10am to 12 noon

Event: Safety in the home – advice from the district council’s occupational therapists
When: Monday March 13 between 9.30am and 12.30pm

Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close, Lower Earley

Event: Healthy eating – advice from Brookside GP Practice
When: Monday March 20 between 2pm and 4pm

Event: Safety in the home – advice from the district council’s occupational therapists
When: Tuesday March 28 between 9.30am and 12.30pm

Wokingham District Council

A Perfect & Successful Marriage Continues Between Wokingham Libraries And Learning

Following on from the success of Learndirect Wokingham, the service is being rolled out to two other libraries in the Wokingham district – great news for local learners!

The Learndirect service will be available at Woodley Library on Tuesday afternoons and Lower Earley Library on Friday mornings from next week (March 6).

Wokingham district council’s cultural services are leading the way across the county by hosting a Learndirect centre in one of its libraries where it has gone from strength to strength since it opened its doors at Wokingham Library in September, with record enrolments.

And now as a result of this success, two outreach centres will be established in Woodley and Lower Earley libraries, with more to come. Outreach centres will allow local learners to try out learning packages and get more details on the courses on offer. Tutors will be available on selected days to offer advice to learners, particularly to those who may find it difficult to get to the centre in Wokingham. Learners will be able to undertake their work at any participating library or at home, at any time and pace. A wide range of courses are on offer from basic literacy and numeracy skills to computing, foreign languages and business management. All are very low cost and some are free.

Back in July 2005, Wokingham District Council stepped in to prevent the loss of Learndirect in Wokingham to allow adult learners to continue to have a dedicated base for learning within the district. The district council won the contract to deliver the Learndirect service and Wokingham Library was chosen as the base because of its excellent location and the fact that it can easily accommodate the learners.

Wokingham Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “With the success of the Learndirect centre in Wokingham, the district council was keen to extend this service across the district. And I am pleased to announce that this service is now being rolled out to Woodley and Lower Earley libraries to allow our residents even more access to learning.

“Tutors will be available on selected days at Woodley and Lower Earley libraries to offer lots of advice to learners and I hope that many local people will be encouraged to sign up for courses and learning packages.”

Wokingham District Council

A landmark agreement involving Wokingham District Council and its partner agencies was given the green light last night (February 23)and will bring in around £900,000 in government grant funding.
 
At its meeting last night, the council’s decision-making executive considered the final draft of Wokingham district’s Local Area Agreement (LAA), before it is finalised with central government.
 
It was announced in June that the Wokingham district was one of around 60 areas selected to take part in the first phase of the LAA initiative.  LAAs form part of the government’s ten-year strategy to build a new relationship between central and local government. The proposals outline new arrangements to develop and deliver a range of locally agreed outcomes; bring together and simplify funding streams; devolve decision-making; reduce bureaucracy and join up public services.
 
The LAA is closely focused on the partnership work carried out between the council and its partners in the district, and has been drawn up by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) which includes the local police, the fire and rescue service, and primary care trust as well as representatives from voluntary and community agencies, the business sector, and town and parish councils. The council has led this work on behalf of the LSP.
 
The LAA identifies priorities and targets for the district under the following headings:
 

* Children and Young People
* Healthier Communities and Older People
* Safer and Stronger Communities
* Economic Development and Enterprise

 
Under these headings, key priorities have been identified and will be addressed over the three-year life of the agreement.  Although the LSP is collectively responsible for delivering on these priorities, each has been allocated a responsible lead agency.

 
The LSP will be monitored on its performance on the LAA priorities and specifically against identified ‘stretch’ measures that will attract up-front funding of around £900,000 from the government.  These are:

* To ensure that children and young people choose healthy lifestyles

* To ensure that children in care have stable local care arrangements

* Maintaining the high standards of educational achievement across the district in secondary schools

* To reduce unplanned acute hospital admissions amongst older people aged over 75

* To reduce obesity

* To reduce domestic violence in West Berkshire and Wokingham (joint target with West Berkshire Council)

* To reduce levels of crime including burglary and theft

* To reduce anti-social behaviour by reducing the number of deliberate fires and hoax calls

* To improve the environmental and social liveability of the district

* To increase the capacity and quality of volunteering across the district

* To improve home safety and increase awareness throughout the Wokingham district

 
For each of the 12 targets achieved over the three-year period of the agreement, the district will receive a reward payment of around £310,000 from central government, so overall the agreement means that up to £3.7million of additional central government money could come to the district.
 
Executive member for community development and chair of the Local Strategic Partnership Cllr Dianne King said: “The Local Area Agreement will be a landmark in partnership working within the district.
 
“The drafting of the LAA has involved all involved pulling together and identifying a clear way forward for the district.  Additionally, we have agreed on priorities that will attract significant government funding, allowing us to really move forward on key areas.”

Wokingham District Council

We are delighted to announce that some of the top names in the world of magic and illusion are coming together in Wokingham, to raise funds for Feed The Children.

Ali Bongo, honorary vice president of the Magic Circle, and the technical expert behind well known names such as David Nixon, Paul Daniels and TV series Jonathan Creek, will compere an evening of magical entertainment at Bearwood College Theatre, Wokingham on March 18.

Other acts will include Magic Circle president Alan Shaxon, Loki, Martyn James, Fluke, Mark Shortland, John Derris, and Magic Circle Junior Champion Jonathan Shotton.

Venue: Bearwood College Theatre, Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham, RG41 5BG.
Date: Saturday March 18, at 7pm

Suggested minimum donation: £25 Adults, £19 Children under 16. Includes a glass of wine or soft drink during the intermission, when close up magicians Kerry Scorah, David Ball and Mike O'Brien will mingle with the audience, and perhaps invite you to pick a card.

There is further information on our website, at http://www.feedthechildren.org.uk/pages/news_magic.shtml.

You can order tickets at the FTC offices, or online if you wish. This promises to be a great evening of entertainment, and all proceeds support Feed The Children overseas projects.

Feed The Children
2 Tavistock Industrial Estate
Ruscombe Lane, Ruscombe
Twyford, RG10 9NJ
Tel: 0118 932 0095

A teenage boy has been charged with wounding after another boy was stabbed near a Wokingham school in Berkshire.

The 15-year-old victim is recovering in the Royal Berkshire Hospital, a Thames Valley Police spokesman said.

He was stabbed outside St Crispin's School, in Wokingham, after school had ended on Friday.

A 14-year-old boy, arrested shortly after the stabbing, has been remanded in custody and is due before Reading Youth Court on Monday.

BBC News

Wokingham Community wardens and improvements to homes are just two of the benefits set to come Wokingham council tenants way as Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive considers the housing revenue account budget 2006/07 at its meeting next week (February 23).

The reserves of the Wokingham housing revenue account budget are now in a healthy enough position for the executive to consider additional funding for four new posts – a fundraiser, a community development worker and two community wardens – and a major repairs programme for all council houses.

If approved, a new grants fundraiser post will be created and their main role will be to attract substantial additional funding through grants to enable tenants groups to undertake a range of estate improvements and similar projects. The post, which will be funded from the Wokingham housing revenue account budget, will work with residents’ associations as the vehicle for submitting bids to charitable bodies and government departments. They will also work closely with the district council’s tenant services and tenant representatives.

A large proportion of the work of Wokingham district council’s community wardens relates to Wokingham council housing areas and tenants are keen to see an increased presence. As a result, if agreed by the executive, two community wardens will be employed for a two-year basis. Three-year funding for a community development worker to lead the revitalisation of the Gorse Ride estate in Finchampstead is also set to be considered. This post would mirror the highly successful Rainbow Park project in co-ordinating the district council’s activities and achieving investment into the area.

The Wokingham executive is also being asked to consider £300,000 of reserves to be used to improve council housing to ensure that the national decent homes standard is met. One of the targets set by the government is that all councils and housing assocations will ensure that everyone in social housing should have a ‘decent’ home by 2010.

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for social care service and housing, said: “If approved by the executive next week, a range of improvements will be brought about for council tenants in the Wokingham district. Funding for additional community wardens in council housing areas reflects local priorities and concerns for reducing anti-social behaviour. In order for the council to meet the government’s decent home standard we need to make improvements to council housing and we are committed to do so before 2010. These improvements will bring great benefit to our tenants.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham Police are appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery in Wokingham where a 17-year-old girl was threatened with a knife.

The victim was walking through Joel Park, Wokingham between the car park entrance to Holt School and the children’s play area, when she was approached by a man.

The man asked for the time and when she looked away from him he put a knife to her throat and demanded money.

The victim’s mobile phone then started to ring, which created a distraction and allowed her to run away unharmed apart from a small scratch on her neck.

The incident happened in Wokingham between 2.30pm and 2.35pm yesterday (2/2/06).

DC Andy Beeney, from Loddon Valley CID, said: “This was a cowardly attack on a lone female and could have been worse if the victim had not had an opportunity to run away.

“Someone in Wokingham must know or have suspicions about who the offender may be and I would ask anyone with any information to contact me immediately, before he strikes again.”

The offender is white, aged 19-20, 6ft 1in – 6ft 2ins, skinny and a gaunt face that is unshaven. He spoke with a local accent.

He was wearing a black woolly hat with a baseball cap style peak .

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact DC Beeney via 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Young people from the Wokingham district quizzed a panel, made up of a range of people responsible for providing local services, at an ’Ask the Panel’ event held at Wokingham District Council’s civic offices on Monday February 13.

Around 20 young Wokingham people between the ages of eight and 18 years old put their views and questions to the panel consisting of members of the council including chief executive Doug Patterson, chairman of the Wokingham council Cllr Iain Brown and leader of the Wokingham council Cllr Frank Browne and representatives from the Reading Buses and Thames Valley Police.

Amongst topics discussed were local transport issues including the need for more bus services and cycle routes, the use of I.D. cards, development of a local youth café and community safety concerns.

This was the second ‘Ask the Panel’ event to have taken place since its launch last October. The question and answer sessions give young people the opportunity to have their opinions and ideas heard and thereby influence how Wokingham council and other service providers think when developing services for the community. With the success of the first two events, Wokingham District Council plans to hold similar events on the first Monday of each school holiday with the exception of the Christmas break.

Yan Couper-Harris, a pupil at Waingels College who attend the event, said: “I thought that the ‘Ask the Panel’ meeting was again very successful. There were a lot of good points raised and a lot of good answers given by the panel. I also thought we had some good discussions going on, especially on I.D. cards.”

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, leader of the council, said: “The ‘Ask the Panel’ sessions act as an important conduit for two way communication between those providing services and young people who live in the Wokingham district and use those services. These sessions are a vital way for council officials and other professionals to understand what issues concern young people, what they like about our services and what things they would like to see that are not already being provided. We were delighted at the number of young people who attended the latest ‘Ask the Panel’ event, especially as it was held on the first day of the half term break which is a measure of how much importance young people place on services available to them.”

Wokingham District Council

MINTI Club – New and Improved ‘Silly Science’ Workshop

Sunday 12th March
10.30 am – 12.30 pm or 1.00 – 3.00 pm.

Yes, it’s Silly Science time again! We’re turning the Museum into a laboratory! During the two hour workshop you’ll be able to make your own magnetic fishing game, make a Morse code transmitter and test out some cool experiments!!!

Make It ‘n’ Take It Club

In the Make It ‘n’ Take It Club (MINTI for short!) you’ll be able to take part in our two-hour workshops and make lots of different things to take home! The ‘Silly Science’ Workshop is the first MINTI Club Sunday Workshop this year.

> Every child attending a MINTI Club workshop gets a MINTI Club Reward Card. We’ll stamp your Reward Card at each workshop: collect 3 stamps for a MINTI Club certificate, collect 6 stamps and you’ve won a reward!

> Places are limited and booking is essential.

> Admission to Workshop: child £6, adults free (all children must be accompanied by an adult, younger children will need parental assistance with the activities).

> Activities suitable for 5 – 12 year olds.

For more details about workshops and family events or to book places please call the Education Officer on 0118 976 3375. To find out about other forthcoming MINTI Club workshops and family events check out our web site at www.rememuseum.org.uk

REME Museum, Isaac Newton Road, Arborfield, Berkshire
RG2 9NJ

At the meeting on Thursday February 23, 2006, Wokingham District Council set a council tax increase of less than 3% for the second year running. And, according to figures published in the national press*, the council’s increase is one of the lowest for any unitary authority in the country and joint lowest in Berkshire.

Wokingham council set its share of the overall council tax for 2006-07 at £1,036.23, representing a 2.94% or £29.61 increase at Band D. This is equivalent to a rise of just under 57 pence per week.

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, leader of the council, said: “I am delighted that the council has managed to set a sub-3% increase once again, making it I believe the joint lowest council tax increase in Berkshire and, indeed, one of the lowest increases for all the unitary councils in the country. Against a tough financial background with the lowest government settlement in six years, achieving a council tax increase of 2.9% is a significant accomplishment. The national average increase for all unitary councils is an estimated 4.5%.

“And we are committed to continuing the recent trends of 3.9%, 1.9% and this year’s 2.9% increases for future years as well. To this end, we have identified almost £3.7million of potential savings this year to keep the council tax increase as close to the rate of inflation as possible. And we will continue to ensure that our resources are clearly focused on our key services that you expect from us and to work in partnership with other organisations to provide other services.

“We are a £159million organisation, delivering a myriad of services to some 150,000 people. We need to ensure good quality services as well as value-for-money for local taxpayers. We are therefore committed to that difficult balancing act of protecting and enhancing where possible our key services, whilst continuing to keep a firm control on the financial pressures.”

In 2006-07, Wokingham council's top priority continues to be education, with almost £77million being delivered to schools in the form of dedicated schools grant (DSG) and a further £15million being ear-marked for children’s services (non-DSG).

Over £27million is to be spent on Wokingham community care services, with some £16million being budgeted for environmental services, including highway maintenance. And the council is set to embark on a £20million capital programme, with some £8.5million set to be spent on schools.

More than £0.3million is to go to Wokingham voluntary and community groups in the district, part of an overall package of support which equates to over £1.5million.

The average total council tax bill, which includes the police authority, fire and rescue service and parish or town council le