Wokingham

Wokingham Library users and staff alike will be celebrating this week (October 30 – November 4) as Wokingham library reaches its 10th birthday!

The current Wokingham library on Denmark Street first opened its doors to the public on October 28 1996. Ten years on, a series of special events are planned and all Wokingham district residents are invited to join the celebrations.

Wokingham District Council library staff have planned a charity birthday party to be held 10am-11:30am on November 3 at Wokingham library. The library will be serving tea, coffee and cake, kindly donated by Waitrose in Wokingham, and collecting donations in aid of Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance. Wokingham District Council Chairman Angus Ross, a key supporter of the charity, will be cutting a special 10th birthday cake.

Wokingham library will be hosting several other events as part of the celebrations:

* Under-5s birthday storytime – 2:15pm-2:45pm, October 31

* Kids Create Craft Workshops – 10:30am-12 noon, November 4

* Indian Dance Workshop – 12 noon-1pm, November 4

All events are free to attend and no booking is required.

There will also be a free children’s drawing activity, with children being asked to design a special birthday cake to help the library celebrate! Entry forms are available from Wokingham Library staff and should be returned by October 31, so that drawings can be displayed in the library.

Wokingham District Council

In line with new legislation about registering for elections, Wokingham District Council will be sending canvassers to properties who have not registered to vote, in a bid to help people make sure they are registered and able to vote at elections.

The new registration rules require electoral registration officers not only to send out a second registration form to properties who have not responded to the first one, but also to send out canvassers to non-responding properties. Some 60 canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the district who have not registered to vote between November 1 and November 17. All canvassers will carry official Wokingham District Council identification cards.

The canvassers will only visit properties where there has been no response from the earlier two forms sent by post – one of these was sent at the beginning of September and the second at the beginning of October. Currently 84% of properties have responded and just under 10,000 forms are still outstanding.

Wokingham Canvassers will knock on doors and ask for the information requested on the form, which includes the names of all those who currently live in the property, their nationalities, whether they are aged over 70, and whether they would like their names to be excluded from the edited electoral register. (The edited register can be sold to mailing companies. Credit companies have access to the unedited version). There is a tick-box for residents who wish to apply for a postal vote and, although residents need to be 18 or over to vote in elections, 16 and 17-year-olds can also be included on the form with their dates of birth. Providing the information on the form is a legal requirement.

Canvassers are required to return to a property if they are unsuccessful the first time they call. If they do not get a response a second time they will leave the form with an instruction sheet for the occupiers and a pre-paid envelope.

“If residents don’t register they can’t vote, and will lose their say in local politics,” said electoral services manager Alison Wood. “In addition the register is used by all the main credit companies as a check when anyone wants a mortgage, a loan or even a mobile phone. If they are not listed, residents may find it difficult to get approval for these kind of services.”

Wokingham District Council

Dozens of Wokingham district’s young high achievers are expected to attend an awards ceremony at Bearwood College, Sindlesham on Wednesday November 1.

The ceremony is part of ‘Celebrating young people’s achievements’, an initiative that was originally set up at Bulmershe Youth Centre.

Wokingham District Council’s youth service, together with young people, will be celebrating local teenagers’ achievements over the past year. Individuals and groups will receive certificated national and local awards for a diverse range of projects from kayaking to babysitting.

Last year, more than 80 young people attended a similar ceremony along with their parents and friends. This year, categories will include youth achievement awards at both bronze and silver levels, Duke of Edinburgh Awards from bronze to gold, leisure credits and special awards for dedication by individual young people.

Award winners will receive a commemorative certificate presented by senior Wokingham District Council members and other local dignitaries.

The event commences at 7pm and will include lively street-dance performances, DJ’ing by second in the world champion DJ Ollie Parris and displays from other youth projects. The event also includes a free buffet.

Nigel Shaw, head of the Wokingham youth service, said: “So often the feeling is that young people do nothing but ‘hang around.’ This simply is not true and over the past year so many young people have taken part in a wide range of activities for which they have received either local or national awards.

“In welcoming the young people to this event we are recognising that for many these awards haven’t come easily. Behind each award is a personal learning journey beyond the award itself. In addition to being a celebration of young people’s achievements, it also enables the district council’s youth workers to celebrate.”

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, Wokingham District Council champion for youth and leisure said: “The district council’s youth service organises many great activities for young people that are challenging and a good example of the council and young people working together. We are pleased to invite people to attend on Wednesday November 1. I would especially like to congratulate everyone who receives an award. I hope they continue to be inspired to take part in future activities.”

Wokingham District Council

Local Wokingham disabled people will be able to get to grips with a wide range of special equipment and useful information in Earley on Friday October 27 2006, at an exhibition for people with physical disabilities and special sensory needs.

The event will be held at The Crescent Centre, Warbler Drive, Lower Earley, from 12pm to 5pm. Companies from all over the country will be present. Refreshments will be available.

Wokingham Disability and Sensory Needs Partnership Board have booked more than twenty exhibitors, including R.N.I.B (Royal National Institute for the Blind), B.D.I.N (Berkshire Disability Information Network) and Ability.net.

Ability.net, an organisation specialising in assistive software and hardware, will give a special presentation at 2pm. This will include a demonstration of voice recognition software.

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for Wokingham social care services and housing, said: “Industry has come a long way in understanding the diverse needs of people with disabilities and special sensory needs. This will be a very useful event for everyone involved and a business opportunity for manufacturers to reach very discerning customers.”

For further information, contact Zoe Tomes, partnership development worker, Mobile: 0778 619 7626, email: zoe.tomes@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham District Council

Young people in Wokingham district met last week and agreed funding for seven exciting new youth projects, totalling over £20,000. Each project will be designed, organised and run by young people living in the Wokingham district. The following projects were given funding from the Youth Opportunities Fund Board:

Organising a charity Hallowe’en party for young people in Gorse Ride, Wokingham as part of a youth achievement award project.

Developing a DJ’ing provision for the youth-led performing arts club at Wokingham Youth Centre on a Monday evening.

A new street-art initiative at Centrepoint Youth Centre in Earley.

Young people in Shinfield known as the`wrong place, wrong time project’ to develop teambuilding trips and provide safe evening activities.

Development of a coffee bar at the Pavillion Youth Centre in Shinfield.

Development of a new youth achievement award scheme in Woodley.

Establishment of a street-art consortium in Wokingham that will develop artistic skills and promote artistic responsibility in the community for other young street-artists.

The Youth Opportunities Fund is a government initiative that has been running in the district since June when the funding board, made up of ten youth representatives, allocated £10,000 to deliver summer activities and diversion projects across the district to help improve facilities for young people.

The Youth Opportunities Fund Board currently has £60,000 in grant funding available to groups of young people who would like to develop new and exciting activities or projects for teenagers in the local area.

The entire project is designed by and for young people. Bids from adults will not be accepted. The board, which runs alongside Youth 10 and Members of Youth Parliament want to encourage more groups of young people to apply. Youth 10 is the forum set up by the youth service that meets in Silverdale Youth Centre, Woodley, to discuss improvements in local facilities for young people.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, Wokingham District Council champion for youth and leisure said: “It is encouraging that our local young people are so innovative and take opportunities to turn ideas into useful action. Wokingham is well situated to assist them with a bright future.”

Support is available to complete the short, simple application form that can be found at www.wokingham.gov.uk/youthzone. Any young person with an idea for a project, who wants to talk it through or get further information should contact Paul Blount, area youth work manager for Woodley on (0118) 944 0449.

Wokingham District Council

Local Wokingham doctors and other health care providers will soon be prescribing an official course of exercise for people with certain medical conditions including obesity, asthma, mild depression and arthritis, thanks to a new scheme set up in partnership between Wokingham District Council, Leisure Connection and Berkshire West Primary Care Trust.

Patients in the Wokingham district can now access facilities in three leisure centres in the district as part of a GP exercise referral scheme. Called ‘Active Wokingham’, the scheme is being launched at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on October 30 and gives patients the opportunity to exercise and make positive changes to their lifestyles, which will have long-term health benefits. The benefits of the scheme include enhancing patients’ quality of life and well being, reducing the use of medication and encouraging patients to become more responsible for their own health.

Instructors at Loddon Valley and St Crispin’s leisure centres, as well as the Wokingham Carnival Pool, are now qualified as exercise referral consultants and they will be on hand to give those patients who are referred by GPs an exercise programme tailored to their individual needs. The first appointment will last approximately one hour, followed by an equipment induction in the gym and personal exercise plan. They can use all the centres’ facilities including squash courts and swimming pools and can attend group fitness classes.

The district council will provide all GP surgeries in the district with details on the referral scheme for their patients. It is then the patient’s responsibility to contact the leisure centre they choose to attend and organise a fitness programme for 12 weeks. The cost to the patient is £25 a month for a 12-week period.

After being re-referred, they will be entitled to a £20 a month membership if they sign up to a 12-month contract.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “Exercise referral schemes are an excellent way for the district council to work with health professionals and fitness providers to help patients make positive changes in their lives to ensure long term health benefits.

“This scheme is for patients who have been referred by a doctor and advised to take some form of exercise which will benefit their health or medical condition. We all know that regular exercise is a great way to keep fit and healthy and the Active Wokingham scheme is an ideal introduction to sport and leisure activities provided by your local Leisure Connection centre.”

Janet Kent, senior health promotion specialist at Berkshire West Primary Care Trust said: “We now have enough evidence to support the claim that exercise assists good mental health. Gym sessions, cycling and walking can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Through the exercise referral scheme we hope to empower people into much better health.”

Leaflets containing details on scheme are available on Wokingham council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk or by calling (0118) 974 6254. Doctors can also give advice about the scheme.

Wokingham District Council

Classical music is for everybody – that’s the message from Wokingham District Council and Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), who held a ‘Creative Carnival’ this week (October 14) to give children a fun introduction to classical music.

APO is an amateur orchestra based in Reading, bringing classical music to a wider audience by encouraging newcomers to sample a live concert for free, and promoting contemporary music through a Young Composers' Award and adventurous programming.

The ‘Creative Carnival’ was a free educational project to give children aged seven to 11 a fun introduction to classical music. The programme involved arts and crafts activities, as well as sessions about the different sections and instruments of the orchestra based around the piece Carnival of the Animals by Saints-Saens.

The day allowed children the chance to explore the different instruments and also to be involved in composing a special 'new animal' piece which was performed in the concert at the end of the Carnival. During the concert children had the opportunity to sit within the orchestra to hear and see the music from a different perspective.

Wokingham District Council assisted in the management of the event, and council chairman Cllr Angus Ross attended on the day. He said: “Now that children and young people have such a wide range of contemporary music to listen to, it can make it more difficult for them to discover classical music. I am delighted that this workshop has brought orchestral music to so many who might otherwise never have had an opportunity to appreciate it. I hope many of them will be inspired to go on and enjoy more classical music in the future, perhaps playing with the APO.”

The APO’s primary aim is to give young amateur musicians the chance to play orchestral music to a high standard, without having to commit to a weekly rehearsal schedule. Instead, APO rehearses intensively for six weekends a year, two for each of their three annual concerts.

Wokingham District Council

A group of young people from the Wokingham district have been short listed from over 400 nominations for a national award for a knife amnesty project they launched earlier this year.

The Positive Images Award, organised by Children Now and Young People Now magazines as part of the Children and Young People’s Services Award, recognises a project that has promoted a balanced portrayal of children or young people in local or national media. Judges looked for entries where children or young people have taken the lead in planning and organising the work as well as delivering it.

In June 2006, a group of young people from the Wokingham district launched a district-wide knife amnesty. The message to their peers and older residents of the district was: ‘It’s not big and it’s not clever to carry a knife’. This message was so clear that over 330 knives were handed in during the month-long campaign, which coincided with a national knife amnesty.

The catalyst for the campaign was the setting up earlier this year of a group of some 15 young people from Wokingham in memory of two of their friends who died tragically last year. The Tribute Group had regular meetings with district council youth workers and the feeling amongst the group was they didn’t want anyone to suffer as they had done. They were concerned that their peers did not understand how dangerous knives can be.

Keen to arrange a local knife amnesty, the young people approached Wokingham District Council and Thames Valley Police to see if this would be possible. And as a result, the organisations backed the national knife amnesty in the district. However, this amnesty was different. Planning and publicity for the campaign was led by the young people, supported by the council and the police.

The young people were keen to attend assemblies at local secondary schools to talk about the dangers of knives. The young people contacted local secondary schools directly and gave presentations at three of the four schools in Wokingham to raise awareness of the dangers of using weapons of any sort. The young people wrote their own presentations.

Adam Couchman, aged 17, from Finchampstead, said: “By launching the amnesty, we aimed to raise public awareness to the fact that people do carry knives and knives do get used. Some people carry knives in self-defence, but half the time when they go to use them, it is not in a self-defence situation. Their knife could also be turned on them. You are no safer with a knife than you are without one. We hope to reduce the number of knives on the streets. Our main aim is to prevent what happened to us from happening to other young people in the district.”

Supporting the launch of local knife amnesty, Wokingham District Council sent out press releases, gaining extensive coverage in the local papers and on local radio stations. Meridian TV also picked up on the story and ran a highly positive piece during their prime-time evening news programme and two of the young people were interviewed. Despite being based in Manchester, BBC Real Story heard about the amnesty and spent an afternoon filming the young people and talking to them to find out why they had been so instrumental in organising this amnesty. It is hoped this story will be aired in the future.

An article written by Stephanie Dier, aged 18, from Wokingham also appeared in the district council’s youth magazine ‘Txt’. This is a magazine written by young people for young people and the article appealed to others not to carry knives.

The young people are planning to return to schools next term to raise awareness further. They are currently making a DVD which they hope will be highlight the problems of caused by carrying a knife and offer tips on street safety to young people.

Cllr Barrie Patman, the council’s executive member for community safety, said: “I would like to congratulate the young people for their hard work in making this knife amnesty such a success. They continue to raise awareness amongst their peers about the dangers of knives and I know they have ambitions to make all young people in the country aware of this. I wish them lots of luck at the award ceremony.”

Ch Insp Tony Ismay said: "I am delighted that the young people have been nominated for this award. They have worked tirelessly in preparing and delivering messages to secondary school pupils in the Wokingham district on the dangers of carrying knives and their commitment towards the knife amnesty I believe is reflected in the number of knives that were surrendered. I attended one of their presentations at the Forest School and I was extremely impressed with the message they put across. The young people are worthy candidates for the award and I wish them every success."

The awards have been judged by a panel of distinguished experts and professionals and a shortlist has been drawn up. Wokingham District Council has been shortlisted for the Positive Images Award along with Bridport Youth Assembly, Community Mediation Service North East Lincolnshire, Essex County Council, Shropshire County Council, Vale Young Carers’ Project and Genesis Community. The Children and Young People’s Services Awards will take place on Tuesday November 28 in London.

Wokingham District Council

A substantial rise in crime over the Christmas period in a road in Sonning has prompted Wokingham District Council to take legal action to restrict anti-social behaviour in the area.

For some years now Wiktor Moszcyznski of West Drive in Sonning has been putting up Christmas lights and musical decorations outside his property. Each year the display attracts thousands of visitors to the private, unlit road, causing a substantial rise in crime and anti-social behaviour as well as disruption, annoyance and harassment to the surrounding community.

In the period between April 1, 1999, and March 31, 2000 - before the light and musical display developed into the spectacle it has been in recent years - one offence was recorded in West Drive. Between April 1, 2004, and March 31, 2005, 52 offences were recorded in West Drive, 33 of these between November 15, 2004, and January 15, 2005. These figures exclude follow-up crimes occurring in other areas – for instance credit cards and cheques stolen from cars parked to see the lights and then used fraudulently at a later date.

This rise in crime and the increase in noise and light levels in the road prompt a substantial number of complaints to both Wokingham district council and the police each year. The resulting increase in police patrols to specifically address crime and harassment issues, and neighbourhood work by Wokingham council community wardens, costs some £7,455*, causing a drain on resources during this period and leaving less money to be spent on other areas.

Both Wokingham council and police encourage cooperation between neighbours and have tried on numerous occasions to resolve the issue informally. Residents of West Drive understand that the lights raise money for charity each year and have offered to contribute an equivalent amount to the named charity. The council has also offered to find an alternative, more suitable location for the decorations, where visitors have easier access and are able to park safely to enjoy the display. These offers have both been rejected.

Therefore the Wokingham council today (October 20) applied for an injunction from Reading County Court to prevent Mr Moszcyznski from behaving in an anti-social manner which includes stopping him from putting up an external light display. Trial of the matter would not have been possible until April 2007 and therefore both parties agreed to find a constructive alternative to the expense and delay of a trial. After negotiation, Mr Moszcynski agreed to give detailed and extensive undertakings in respect of his future behaviour and actions in West Drive.

He is not permitted (apart from the exceptions listed below) to attach any light or Christmas decoration to the exterior walls or roof of the property; erect any Christmas or other decoration which causes a noise or which is animated on the exterior of the premises or the drive and garden of the premises; encourage members of the public to visit the property by advertising or publicising in any form of media the occurrence of a Christmas or other light display at the property; intimidate, threaten, abuse, harass, distress or alarm any resident of West Drive Sonning, including the making of threatening telephone calls.

The undertakings do permit Mr Moszcyznski to put up four seven-foot inflatable decorations (without music or lights) and eight rows of lights and two small moulded decorations. The undertaking will last for three years.

Deputy chief executive Paul Turrell said: “The council has tried every avenue it can to resolve this issue informally. The Wokingham district sees some fantastic light displays at Christmas and, on the whole, they are a credit to our residents. This one instance, however, causes a massive increase in the crime rate, puts an unnecessary strain on both police and council resources, and disturbs a normally peaceful road for a period of some three months each year.

“Having had all offers to resolve the issue some other way rejected, the council was left with no choice but to go through legal channels. I am glad that Mr Moszcyznski has now given an undertaking to the court that he will considerably scale down the lights and I hope that this will allow Sonning’s residents to enjoy their Christmas without the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Wokingham District Council

Parents and children in the Wokingham district will be discovering a whole new world of stories and rhymes this autumn, with a new schedule of free storytime sessions at Wokingham district libraries.

Storytime is for children aged under five, and is an opportunity for parents and young children to enjoy spending time in the library together. Each storytime event involves listening to stories, singing songs and rhymes and doing a craft activity.

There are special storytime themes each month. October has a spooky theme, with creepy stories and craft activities. November’s theme is funny rhymes, which includes different rhyming stories and making animal nursery rhyme pictures. December events have a winter theme, with seasonal stories and the chance to make winter pictures.

Storytime is held weekly at the larger libraries, with themed sessions once a month:

* Woodley – 2.15pm-3pm, every Thursday

* Lower Earley – 2.30pm-3.15pm, every Thursday

* Spencers Wood – 4pm-4.45pm, every Monday

There are themed storytime sessions once a month in all other libraries, as follows:

* Maiden Erlegh – 2.15pm-3pm, November 21, December 12 (Tuesdays)

* Winnersh – 10.15am-11am, tomorrow (October 21), November 25, December 16 (Saturdays)

* Twyford – 2.15am-3pm, November 21, December 12 (Tuesdays)

* Wargrave – 1.45pm-2.30pm, November 20, December 11 (Mondays)

All storytime events are free to attend and there is no need to book. For more details please contact the relevant library or visit our website www.wokingham.gov.uk/leisure/libraries

Wokingham District Council

A Wokingham resident who has dedicated many years to Wokingham Hockey Club, Wokingham Methodist Church, as well as being a school governor at two of the district’s schools, has received official thanks for all his hard work for the local community from the district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross.

After each main council meeting, the chairman usually presents flowers, or an alternative gift, to a person, group or organisation that has given good service to the community. To mark the council meeting in September, a gift was presented to Mike Coke at a presentation on Wednesday September 27. Mike was nominated for this award by Methodist Minister for Wokingham Rev Bryan Coates and by Cllr David Chopping.

Mike joined Wokingham Hockey Club as a player back in 1980 and he has been playing and supporting the club ever since. Over the years, Mike has held a number of committee posts at the club and has been heavily involved with youth hockey. He has also coached the ladies’ team.

The club praised him and said: ‘He is always ready to take on any task or pick up where someone else had started a project but couldn’t finish’. As a director of a building supply company, Mike obtained much of the equipment needed to convert the old bungalow into what is now the clubhouse, which is used by all members of the club.

Despite the hockey club taking up much of his time, Mike also found time to volunteer as a school governor. He is a long serving governor at Hawthorns and Addington schools. He has been a community governor at Hawthorns Primary School in Woosehill since August 1996 and has also held the position of vice-chair and chair of governors. He has been a governor at Addington School in Woodley since July 2003.

A member of the Methodist Church in Wokingham for over 30 years, Mike has taken on the role of clerk of works for their extension project and aims to achieve the goal of completion in time for the Wokingham Winter Carnival later this year.

Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Angus Ross said: “Mike has dedicated an enormous amount of time to Wokingham Hockey Club and has also volunteered many hours as a school governor, playing an important part in the lives of many of the district’s pupils. Being a governor is demanding, but worthwhile. He has also been heavily involved in the Methodist Church’s new extension which will come to fruition very soon. I am very pleased to be able to thank him in this small way for all his hard work and to recognise his contribution to this local club and to the district’s schools.”

Mike Coke said “ I was very pleased and honoured to have been selected for this award. I very much enjoy making a small contribution to children’s education. It has been a fantastic privilege to be the project manager for the new church community centre.”

Cllr David Chopping said: “Mike’s commitment is unbelievable. He once umpired four matches in a row – over five hours of patience, understanding and coping with hyped up sports people!”

Rev Bryan Coates, Methodist minister for Wokingham, said: “I would like to echo the thanks of the chairman Cllr Ross. Mike has devoted his time, energy and expertise in liasing with the contractors on behalf of the church to see the new development through and we are all enormously grateful.”

Wokingham District Council

A round of applications for the Small Sparks grant scheme fund will open next week (October 23) and it is a way of enabling local people with learning disabilities to get actively involved in the local Wokingham community by undertaking small projects that are important to them.

Run in partnership between Wokingham District Council, Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board and Wokingham District Voluntary Sector Forum, who lead the project, Small Sparks aims to provide a practical way of involving people with a learning disability in their local communities.

Small Sparks has been run successfully in other areas across the country, and some projects which have been funded have included a dance event, a cultural event, a community chocolate challenge and a community swap night including CDs, books and DVDs. These projects have ensured people with learning disabilities have engaged with other members of their local community in a shared event or activity.

Individual grants up to £250 will be awarded for some 14 projects. The council along with the Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board and Wokingham District Voluntary Sector Forum, is looking forward to receiving applications from people with learning disabilities who live in the Wokingham district. The closing date for submitting an application form is November 20.

The Small Grants scheme is generously funded by Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board and a national project called ‘In Control’. All projects need to involve the local communitiy and funds cannot be used for a project or group that is already up and running. Mentors will be on hand to help anyone who needs assistance to apply or to make a reality of their project.

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for Wokingham social care services and housing, said: “The Small Sparks grant scheme aims to improve opportunities for people with learning disabilities and supports them in leading full and active lives and overcoming discrimination.

“The district council recognises the importance of people with learning disabilities becoming activists in their local communities. This is real money, and if anyone with learning disabilities has any good ideas for a community project, then we want to hear from them!”

Chris Cowap of Wokingham District Voluntary Sector Forum said: "The Forum is very pleased to be supporting this innovative scheme. People with learning disabilities are amongst the most marginalised in society and these grants will help in funding projects that allow them to be more involved in their local communities."

Rod Clay, co-chair of the Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board, said: “This is a really exiting development for people with a learning disability and as a Partnership Board we are very happy to be supporting the project. Our main aim is to support people with learning disabilities to be active citizens and this project will help to make this a reality.”

Guidance explaining the application process, the criteria that individuals with learning disabilities must meet to qualify for a grant as well as application forms, is available on the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk or from Chris Cowap of the Wokingham District Voluntary Sector Forum on (0118) 984 6883.

Wokingham District Council

Leisure Connection in partnership with Wokingham District Council will be trialling a scheme to continue the swim school programme through the October half term (October 23 to 28). Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley and Carnival Pool in Wokingham will be continuing the weekly SwimSchool lessons without a break for the half term week.

This extension of the Wokingham lessons will mean that the public sessions between 4pm and 8pm from Monday to Friday during half term will have restricted use of the pools. Lanes for the public will be limited at these times. Monitoring usage figures and feedback from users during the half term holiday will help Leisure Connection to decide whether the trial has been a success and whether to run SwimSchool during future school holidays or return to the existing system.

There are in excess of 40,000 pupils on SwimSchool programmes across the UK, with around 3,500 pupils participating in the programme within the Wokingham district. In a recent survey of parents with children attending SwimSchool, the majority said that they would prefer their children to continue their lessons through the holidays.

The SwimSchool programme is linked to the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) who have advised that lessons need to run regularly for children and young people to obtain maximum benefit. Champion for youth and leisure Malcolm Bryant said: “I am pleased that the SwimSchool programme is so popular in the Wokingham district and I feel it is important to trial this change to the half term programme. Wokingham District Council is always keen to promote schemes that encourage young people to take part in sporting activities and commit to keeping active and healthy. If we find that it does not impact too much on the existing half term use of the pools, it will be extremely beneficial to all the SwimSchool pupils to be able to continue their training without an enforced break in lessons.”

For full details of the half term programme and the restrictions, contact Carnival Pool on (0118) 977 0007 or Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on (0118) 931 2066.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive is to consider making changes next year to some of its social care charging policies following a recent review.

“In the face of severe under-funding from central government for adult social care nationally and to bring us in line with national government guidance, we have no alternative but to change the way we charge for some of our social care services,“ said Cllr Debbie Lewis, lead member for social care finance.

Three service areas have been reviewed: residential, respite care and day care services. And at next week’s meeting of the Wokingham executive on Thursday October 26, councillors are being recommended to make no changes to the current day care and to adopt the following changes to the charging policies for:

* Residential services - to charge residents up to the full actual cost of providing residential care received at Suffolk Lodge in Wokingham and Fosters Older People’s Home in Woodley, instead of having a charging limit subsidised through council tax.

Based on a nationally-set scale, these charges are subject to assessment of each resident’s financial ability to pay. And residents who have fewer assets or income would have no change to their charges other than a small annual rise.

If given the go-ahead, the new charges would be phased in over two years starting from April 2007 for Suffolk Lodge residents and over three years for Fosters’ residents. New residents at both homes would be charged the full actual cost when they take up residence, starting from April 2007.

* Respite Care – to charge people up to the maximum of the full actual costs of providing respite care at both Wokingham council-run homes and those operated by private providers, instead of having reduced rates subsidised through council tax. These charges would be on a sliding scale according to the person’s ability to pay. A full financial assessment of each person’s means to pay would be carried out before any changes are made.

“If approved, these changes would bring us in line with national government guidance and reflect the cost of providing these services, helping to ensure that Wokingham council tax is spread as widely and fairly as possible,” said Cllr Lewis.

The council does not currently charge for day care services. And following the recent review, councillors are being recommended to maintain the existing policy, with nobody being charged for day care.

Wokingham District Council

Local Wokingham residents, businesses and organisations have just over a month to get their nominations in for a competition to promote good design and sustainable development within the Wokingham district.

Sponsored by Wokingham district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross, the competition invites anyone to nominate a single building or extension or larger development for one or more of the six categories that show the building is well designed. The categories are:

* single house or house extension
* development of two or more houses
* commercial development
* community development
* rural development and conservation award for development in a conservation area or on a listed building

Wokingham District Council looks to promote environmentally-friendly construction, including the use of renewable materials, energy sources and high-spec insulation. There will be a further award made to the nomination which highlight the best example of this.

Cllr Angus Ross said: “Good design will improve the quality of life within the Wokingham district and help make growth sustainable. I am delighted to be sponsoring this competition to promote better-designed buildings that fit into their local context around the district’s diverse towns, villages and countryside. Developers must be encouraged to respect our district’s character and heritage and I hope this will persuade them to do so.”

The development nominated must be located in the Wokingham district and must have been completed since January 2000. There is no entry fee and interested people can download the entry form from the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk or by calling Sonia Lawlor on (0118) 974 6004. All nominees must provide a photo and, if possible plans, plus a statement supporting the nomination. Current owners of the building or development must also be notified. Closing date for nominations is Thursday November 30.

Judging will take place during the winter, with the panel comprising two professional architects – Andrew Plumridge, architect from Peter Scott and Partners and Geoff Noble, head of design review at SE Regional Design Panel - Cllr Angus Ross and the council’s historic environment champion Cllr Annette Drake. Cllr Ross added: “I am grateful for the commitment of my fellow judges and we are looking forward to reviewing the entries over the winter.”

The winning entries will be announced and prizes awarded at a special ceremony at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham on April 3, 2007. Cllr Ross said: “I am hoping that many people will attend this high profile special ceremony and a special glossy brochure will be produced to show the best design in the district since 2000.” A display of the winning entries will also be on display in the Mall Gallery for a further week.

Wokingham District Council

The hijab to housing development, recycling to respect and diversity to declining birth rates were just some of the issues debated in a busy Wokingham District Council chamber last Friday (October 13).

There was also considered debate over the future of Wokingham district’s schools and whether there will be a black Prime Minister in 2020.

Question time came to the Wokingham district as part of the council’s Black History Month celebrations, and saw some 40 people - young, old, black, Asian and white - descend up the civic offices in Shute End Wokingham to join in lively debate with the conference keynote speakers on a whole range of black and minority ethnic issues.

Organised by the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum Wokingham, in partnership with Wokingham District Council, the question time conference also covered the achievements and contributions of black and minority ethnic communities and was chaired by Jeff Hinds, former long-standing organiser of the Reading Community Carnival and founder member of the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC).

The panel comprised MEP Nirj Deva, Thames Valley Police superintendent Stephen Kirk, Dr Prem Sharma, Reverend Beverley Browne and Alexis Wright from the Commission for Racial Equality.

The event was hosted by Cllr Bob Wyatt, co-chair of the BME Forum Wokingham, who said: “The conference promised an interesting and lively debate on a range of subjects – and it certainly didn’t disappoint, with panelists and delegates exercising their freedom of speech. It was a wonderful evening with a wide divergence of views which certainly put the panel to the test. It was good to see everyone coming together to enhance democracy.

Jeff Hinds said: “"Once again this forum produced most captivating questions and answers from the panel and it proved to be very informative."

Black History Month is a celebration of Caribbean, Asian and African and world cultures past and present, which is being held for the third year running in the Wokingham district. It provides an opportunity for young and old people from all backgrounds to learn more about the cultural heritage of black and minority ethnic communities.

Question Time was followed on Saturday night (October 14) with a fun-filled taster and performance at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley. Over 100 people enjoyed the cultural evening, sampling food from the Caribbean and Asia whilst getting into the rhythm of world music.

And to bring the celebrations to an end, AJ’s Calypso Tent will bring a carnival atmosphere to the Oakwood Centre on Headley Road in Woodley on Saturday October 28. Admission is by ticket only and these are on sale for £7.50 from the Oakwood Centre on (0118) 969 0356 and from AJ’s Caribbean Scene on 07930 907354.

A number of well-known artists including Notting Hill Carnival’s very own Brown Sugar, Dame Polly Falconer, Dave Batson, Rev B, Cereal and Music Man, to name just a few, will be performing. MC for the night is Wokingham’s BME Forum member Jeff ‘De Admiral’ Hinds.

Helping Jeff Hinds to coordinate the events are the district council’s social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta and policy manager Josie Wragg.

Wokingham District Council

Organisations across the county have learnt how to plan for their businesses to continue to operate in the event of a major emergency, after Wokingham District Council joined forces with neighbouring authorities to organise exercise ‘Bright Star’.

Organised by the Berkshire Regional Continuity Forum (which is made up of the six Berkshire unitary authorities and local businesses), the event took place at Bracknell Leisure Centre on September 20 and offered the chance for businesses from across the county to learn how they might operate in the aftermath of, for instance, a major snowstorm or flooding.
Participants learnt how they should consider the issues involved with maintaining services during an emergency and how stretched other key organisations, such as the NHS, emergency services and local utilities could be.

Cllr Barrie Patman Wokingham District Council, executive member for community safety, said, “Events like this give us opportunities to think ahead, planning for an emergency whilst we have the time and presence of mind to consider all the options.

“Feedback showed that participants were very pleased with the day and I look forward to similar events in the future.”

Membership of the Berkshire Regional Forum is free and open to any business in Berkshire. For more information about the forum, email emergency.planning@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Wokingham District Council

Earlier this month libraries in the Wokingham district supported National Bookstart Day (October 6) to help ensure young children don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience a love of books from an early age.

And this year, National Bookstart Day focused on parents spending quality time with their babies, encouraging their involvement in stories, songs and rhymes as an excellent way to bond with their child from a very early age.

The highlight of the week was the visit of baby signer Samantha Tan to Wokingham Library. The signs and rhymes session was attended by 11 parents along with their babies and toddlers aged between six months and two years old. Samantha taught parents basic signs to use with their baby and also signs to use with favourite nursery rhymes such as Old Macdonald and Twinkle, Twinkle.

Bookstart is a national programme, funded from over 20 children’s publishers, Red House Books and central government funding from Sure Start. It encourages parents and carers to spend more time enjoying books with their babies. In April 2006, the Bookstart scheme was extended in the Wokingham district to include packs for toddlers and three year olds as well as for babies. Since then over 2,000 Bookstart packs have been gifted to children aged from birth to three years throughout the district.

Emma Minns, Wokingham District Council’s Bookstart coordinator, said: “I was delighted to invite Samantha Tan to give an introductory session to local parents on how to communicate with their babies and toddlers through using basic sign language. It was a fun session and everyone really enjoyed themselves.”

Wokingham District Council’s executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “I hope events like these really encourage parents with babies and young children to make the most of the facilities on offer at their local libraries. Books help young children build language skills, giving them confidence and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.”

Wokingham District Council

Event: Advice on home safety for older people
When: Friday October 20, 2006 10am to midday
Where: Shinfield Parish Hall, School Green, Shinfield

Wokingham Falls Prevention group, dedicated to providing advice on home safety for older people, has organised a public event at Shinfield Parish Hall for this coming Friday October 20, 10am to midday at Shinfield Parish Hall.

The Falls Prevention group, a joint initiative between Wokingham District Council and West Berkshire Primary Care Trust, will cover a variety of health matters from how to prevent falls, to healthy eating, good exercise and blood pressure. Occupational therapists will be on hand to give specific advice.

This session is just is part of a full programme of events in local venues set up by the group.

More information is available from Karen Arding, prevention occupational therapist, on (0118) 974 6954.

Wokingham District Council

Who said Wokingham young people can't go into politics? The Wokingham district is looking for its next member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP) to replace current MYP Michael Burgess when his term ends in February.

Forest pupil Michael took up the reins in February 2006, and Wokingham District Council’s youth service will be holding elections in December to find the next MYP for the Wokingham district. Interested candidates have until Monday October 23 to get their registration forms in!

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in their views and needs. It is an independent, national charity that has a rolling programme of activities across the year. This includes an annual sitting, regional meetings and regular dialogue with politicians.

At a local level, the successful Wokingham candidate will represent the voice of young people from across the district when meeting with councillors and officers from Wokingham District Council as well as partner agencies who provide facilities and services to young people. As a part of the local youth forum the elected MYP will also form part of a panel that grants money to other young people for projects and improvements to their local community.

Paul Blount, Wokingham area youth work manager for Woodley said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for any young person who is motivated to make a difference and have a say in how things could be improved. Michael has done an excellent job and I have seen his confidence grow immensely. He is not afraid to let decision makers know the thoughts of young people and as well as commenting on the ideas of others, has developed some superb ideas of his own.
Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for Wokingham youth and leisure, said: “If you think you have got what it takes to represent young people across the district and you could spare some time to make a real difference to your community, then why not find out more about standing as a candidate in the next youth elections. All candidates will be given help and support in putting together their campaign. This is a wonderful chance for a young person to develop their confidence and skills.”

For more information on the work of the UK Youth Parliament or if you have any questions regarding Wokingham district youth elections, please contact Paul Blount, area youth work manager for Woodley on (0118) 944 0449 or 07710 862409 or email: paul.blount@wokingham.co.uk Further information and registration forms can also be found on the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/children-youth-education/youth-zone

The Wokingham district youth elections will take place in the first week in December.

Wokingham District Council

Event: A workshop for Wokingham parents who are concerned about bullying issues
When: Wednesday November 15, 2006
Time: From 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Sindlesham Baptist Church, Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham

Every year more than 20,000 children contact ChildLine about bullying issues. Children describe bullying in various ways, such as being teased or called names, being hit, pushed or kicked, being ignored or left out, being picked on and having things taken from them. The good news is that there are steps that parents and carers can take to help stop and prevent bullying.

This Wokingham workshop, organised by the Wokingham Effective Parenting Partnership, which is a partnership between statutory and voluntary agencies in the Wokingham district, is aimed at mothers, fathers and other carers who are concerned with bullying issues and looks at ways in which they can offer support to their child. The topics explored include:

* How to increase your child’s confidence and self esteem
* How to teach children practical and social skills to help themselves
* How parents should approach the school with their concerns
* How to help prevent bullying

The cost of the Wokingham workshop is £5 per person, or £7.50 per couple (free to all on income support). Places are limited, so you are advised to book early. To reserve a place on this workshop, contact Bianca Morrison, parenting project co-ordinator or Jane Fletcher, parenting project assistant on (0118) 944 5340 or email parenting.project@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham District Council

There are still places available for Wokingham young people to join the ‘Motorvation’ course, Wokingham District Council’s annual free pre-driver training event.

Owing to high demand, an extra date has been added at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre, Hurricane Way, Woodley on Tuesday October 24.

The day-long course for Wokingham 16 and 17-year-olds aims to raise road safety awareness before they even get behind a steering wheel. All aspects of driving theory are covered, using mock tests and video footage. The course culminates in a driving lesson for all participants.

With four one-hour, hands-on, intensive workshops, the day will teach Wokingham participants about:

* Road safety - This session will cover what causes road traffic accidents and why so many young drivers, particularly young men, make up increasing statistics regarding serious injury and death on roads. Discussions will cover drink driving, speed, driving whilst tired, using mobile phones, seat belts, driving without insurance, obtaining and keeping a driving licence.

* 'Honest Arry’s’ - Buying a second hand car. This workshop is divided into two halves, the first looking at what types of car to purchase, the second on inspecting a vehicle offered for sale. It covers finding the vehicle identification number, spotting cut ‘n’ shuts and recognising when a vehicle has had heavy use or been involved in an accident.

* First at the scene of a crash - This workshop is delivered in partnership with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and aims to raise awareness of how an accident can affect the lives of not just those involved, but also friends, family and the wider community. The session looks at how the emergency services are affected, what it is like for them to drag bodies from wrecked cars and how they cope with informing relatives. The session also offers basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get rapid help to victims.

* Drink awareness - This workshop covers a number of issues related to drink driving. PC Les Eke covers peer pressure and driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. Special goggles are used to simulate the effects of being over the limit and illustrate why it is a good idea to stick to soft drinks or leave the car at home.

The final, most popular part of the Wokingham Wokingham day is a driving practical in which every participant gets a chance to drive a dual-control vehicle in a controlled environment.

Katie Webb, road safety advisor from Wokingham council consultants Mouchel Parkman, said: “The course we held in August was very successful, so I am pleased we have been able to put on this extra date. We’re aiming to start people off with good habits at an early stage and encourage a generation of well-informed and safe road users.”

‘Motorvation’ is just one part of Wokingham District Council’s ongoing programme of road safety education, through consultants Mouchel Parkman. One in three newly qualified drivers are involved in an accident during their first two years of driving. Since the New Drivers’ Act 1997, over 41,000 new drivers have had their licences revoked. In the Wokingham district, 24% of speed related injury collisions involved drivers between the ages of 17 and 21.

The course is free and runs from 9am to 4pm, but needs to be booked in advance. For more information or to book a place, contact Mouchel Parkman’s road safety adviser Katie Webb on (0118) 936 7301 or email katie.webb@mouchelparkman.com.

Wokingham District Council

Following on from the success of Learndirect Wokingham, the service is being rolled out from October 25 to Winnersh Library in the Wokingham district making it even easier to join one of the hundreds of courses on offer.

Also, in collaboration with Bracknell Forest Borough Council, the Learndirect service is now available at Whitegrove Library in Bracknell and later this year at Crowthorne Library.

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 Council won the contract to deliver the Learndirect service and Wokingham Library was chosen as the base because of its excellent location and facilities. The council is leading the way across the country by hosting Learndirect in its libraries and the service has gone from strength to strength, with record enrolments.

And as a result of this success, two learndirect outreach locations were established in Woodley and Lower Earley libraries in February 2006. The service has proved so popular with local learners that a third learndirect outreach is set to be opened in Winnersh Library. Wokingham District Council has also won the contract to supply Learndirect services to Bracknell Forest Borough Council – the first outreach location recently opened at Whitegrove library and a second outreach location will be opened by the end of the year in Crowthorne Library.

Learndirect outreach allows local learners to try out learning packages and get more details on the courses on offer. Tutors are 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, either at a very low cost or, in many cases, free.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “It is fantastic news for our local residents that we are able to roll out the Learndirect service even further across the district. The success of the main centre in Wokingham has been instrumental in developing the service further in Woodley, Lower Earley and now Winnersh. There are so many courses on offer, many of which are free, to our residents. I hope that by providing more outreach centres, it will encourage even more people to enrol on courses.”

For more information on the Learndirect service at the Wokingham centre or any of the outreach locations, contact Wokingham Learndirect enquiries on (0118) 978 8069.

Wokingham District Council

As the winter approaches, Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s trading standards, Thames Valley Police and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services are jointly offering a free safety test for electric blankets and home safety in order to reduce the risk of fires.

Wokingham district residents are also being offered the chance to have their blanket tested by experts free of charge and meet with the Thames Valley Police Crime Reduction Adviser. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Home Fire risk van will also be on hand to offer advice.

The free testing will take place on the October 19 and 20 and is available by appointment only. Any Wokingham residents who have an electric blanket and would like it safety checked are welcome to book an appointment by calling (01344) 352583.

Event: A free safety test for anyone with an electric blanket, to reduce the risk of fire in the home.
When: October 19 and 20, 2006.
Where: Bracknell Sports Centre, Bagshot Road, Bracknell.

Wokingham District Council

Visit the mall art gallery at Wokingham District Council’s civic offices this month for a real multi-cultural experience. A stunning display of art and media, produced by children and young people from the Wokingham district, adorns the walls in celebration of Black History Month.

There are vibrant pieces of artwork, depicting images of a range of different cultures, including a Mali mud painting produced on woven cotton, and a beautiful oil painting of a young African woman. There is also a fascinating bilingual digital storytelling project displayed on a computer screen, which was produced by Highwood Primary School pupils at a two-day workshop led by South East Grid for Learning. The aim of the project was to encourage speaking and listening skills, teach exciting new ICT skills and value the first language of pupils for whom English is an additional language.

This free exhibition will run throughout October, so there is plenty of opportunity to take a look. Don’t miss it!

Event: Black History Month art exhibition
When: October 9 to October 30, 2006
Where: The Mall Gallery, Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham

Wokingham District Council

Over 50 people from local reading groups recently (September 27) attended an evening at Wokingham Library to hear a talk by author and former Wokingham resident Guy Pringle.

A self-confessed ‘bookaholic’, Guy was the founder member of the Wokingham Day Book Group, which meets in Wokingham Library once a month. Guy is a well-known figure in the world of books and publishing. He is the editor of newbooks magazine and also helps publish the children’s book magazine TFK.

Heather Dyson, Wokingham district council’s customer services manager, said: “Guy is a champion of reading groups and I am delighted that he was able to give such a thought-provoking and amusing talk to so many members of the district’s reading groups. He talked about his own favourite books and encouraged the audience to talk about theirs, which promoted lively discussions! I hope author visits will become a regular feature on the libraries’ calendar.

“Reading groups have become increasingly popular in the Wokingham district and the council is pleased to be able to offer a range of facilities to encourage groups to read and discuss books in more detail. Often members read a book they would not normally have chosen for themselves, but actually end up really enjoying it. That’s what is great about the groups! They are also an excellent way to meet new people and learn more about what the library has to offer.”

The Wokingham district’s libraries currently have some 32 book groups affiliated to them, including one group for the visually impaired. Customers are able to borrow a set of books, both fiction and non-fiction, modern and classic, to stimulate discussions in their book club.

Anyone interested in joining a reading group, setting up their own group locally or borrowing multiple sets of books from the library can contact Angela Borland at Wokingham Library on (0118) 978 1368.

Wokingham District Council

A second under 18s night has been organised at a Wokingham nightclub after the first event was hailed a success.

The second Wokingham Kaos night at The Chameleon nightclub will take place during half-term week on Thursday October 26.

Kaos was first organised last month by Winnersh Neighbourhood Officer PC Emma Johnson and the club’s management as a way of giving youngsters a cool place to hang out in the evenings. The idea had earlier been suggested at a Winnersh Neighbourhood Action Group meeting.

Wokingham PC Johnson said: “I was delighted with the way the first night was received. I think it was a real success – we reached full capacity, there was no trouble at all and the parents picked their children up on time.

“The young people seemed to love it and they kept asking me when the next one was going to be.

“The youngsters have got behind this idea and I think the second night will prove just as popular as the first.”

The strictly no alcohol night is aimed at 13-17 year olds and is backed by the local schools, Wokingham District Council and the area’s youth workers.

PC Johnson added: “People often complain about youngsters hanging around on street corners, but rarely come up with solutions to the problem.

“Kaos gives them somewhere cool to hang out and have a laugh with their mates and their parents don’t have to worry about what they are up to.”

Tickets will be priced at £3 in advance and £5 on the day and are available from the club itself and schools throughout the area.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

The season got off to a flying start for Wokingham Hockey Club this September as they received the nationally acclaimed ‘Clubs First’ accreditation from England Hockey.

The club was awarded with the certificate by England player Lisa Wooding, Wokingham council chairman Cllr Angus Ross and MP John Redwood at a special ceremony, where Lisa Wooding showed her medal from the Commonwealth Games to the young players as an inspiration to keep training!

The ‘Clubs First’ award is a national recognition for clubs that are working towards a safe, effective and child-friendly hockey environment. It includes the Sports England CLUBMARK, which prioritises clubs for funding from County Sports Partnerships.

The club’s youth development officer Michele Morris said: “We work hard to maintain a good environment for the kids, and this award demonstrates that to everyone.”

Cllr Angus Ross said: “Wokingham Hockey Club thoroughly deserves recognition for the high standard of training they provide and the amount of enthusiasm they instil in their younger members. I hope Lisa’s Commonwealth medal inspires them all to aim even higher!”

The club also recently celebrated their newly refurbished club house, which members worked hard to improve during the summer. Anyone interested in joining the club should visit www.wokingham-hc.co.uk for more information or call (0118) 978 0087.

Wokingham District Council

The new sixth form centre and two-storey teaching block, a key part of the expansion of Maiden Erlegh School, officially opened its doors in September. And to celebrate, headteacher Dr Peter Thomas, chair of governors Huw Jones and Wokingham District Council’s executive member for children’s services Cllr Frank Browne, attended a special ceremony on Thursday (October 12) to mark the occasion.

The new facilities house a Wokingham sixth form centre for 450 students, together with the English, media studies, sociology and religious education departments. Phase two of the expansion also saw the creation of a new business studies centre and additional drama, music, ICT, science and textiles facilities. Every pupil in the school will benefit from these new, state-of- the-art facilities.

The school in Silverdale Road, Earley, has been heavily oversubscribed for many years and Wokingham District Council has funded the £7.5million expansion and refurbishment project. The project has seen improvements made to the lower school, an extension of the dining area, alterations to the former sixth form area, remodelling of the assembly hall and additional general teaching classrooms. The final phase will see the construction of a single-storey science and mathematics block with four additional classrooms for general teaching. Work is already underway for the construction of an all-weather sports pitch.

The construction work of phase two has been co-ordinated by the district council’s property services team and builders ROK completed this phase on time.

Headteacher Dr Peter Thomas said: “These new facilities are already having a significant impact on teaching and learning at the school and teachers and pupils are thoroughly enjoying the airy and spacious new teaching accommodation. I am grateful to Wokingham District Council for this investment in the school, which will provide education facilities fit for the 21st century.”

Huw Jones, chair of governors, said: “I feel extremely proud of the development of Maiden Erlegh School and would like to acknowledge the staff and the district council working in partnership. We look forward to the final phase of the building being completed by summer 2007.”

Wokingham District Council’s executive member for children’s services Cllr Frank Browne said: “I am delighted to join Dr Peter Thomas and Huw Jones in officially opening this magnificent building. The development of phase two of the project is a major boost for the school and local community, providing state-of-the-art facilities.”

Wokingham District Council

Organised by Wokingham District Council’s youth service, a new performing arts session for young people, aged 12 to 19 years, offers them the chance to take part in a variety of dance styles, such as jazz, tap, modern and street, as well as singing, drama and all aspects of performing skills. The project is run by a management group of young people and supported by Wokingham district council’s youth workers.

Members of the management group Hannah Crowhurst, aged 14 and Jess Wood, aged13, both from Wokingham, said: “It’s a lot of fun and a really friendly crowd. Nothing is compulsory but members have to be committed to performing arts. It’s run by young people and for young people and it works really well. It’s open to everyone aged 12 to 19 years, so if you are interested you should come down and find out what we’re about.”

The project also boasts a new lighting and sound system, which will be put to good use at a cabaret evening on November 25 and a performance of Cinderella in January.

When: Monday evenings
Time: 7pm to 9:30pm
Where: Wokingham Youth Centre, 35 Reading Road, Wokingham

More from Cyril Sansum, performing arts co-ordinator at Wokingham Youth Centre on (0118) 978 3610.

Wokingham District Council

This Friday (October 13) sees the start of the Wokingham district’s celebrations to mark Black History Month.

Black History Month is a celebration of Caribbean, Asian and African cultures past and present, which is being held for the third year running in the Wokingham district. Organised by Wokingham District Council’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum, three events will take place providing the opportunity for young and old people across the district to learn more about the cultural heritage of black and minority ethnic communities whilst having plenty of fun, too!

On Friday, five key-note speakers will take part in a conference and question time session at the council chamber, civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham. The panel comprises MEP Nirj Deva, superintendent Stephen Kirk, Dr Prem Sharma, Reverend Beverley Browne and Alexis Wright from the Commission for Racial Equality.

The panel will join local members of the BME Forum and members of the public to discuss issues including an exploration of what Britain will look like in 2020. The audience will also put the panel to the test and it promises to be a lively discussion. It starts at 7pm and is free to attend. Places are limited and interested Wokingham residents should contact the council’s social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta on (0118) 974 6790.

Nirj Deva is the MEP for Berkshire, Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. First elected in 1999 as an MEP, Deva is spokesman for overseas' development and co-operation. Deva was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka into a political family but was raised in Britain. He was the MP for Brentford and Isleworth from 1992 to 1997 and during that time served as parliamentary private secretary in the Scottish Office and was a member of the select committees on the parliamentary ombudsman (1993-1997) and education (1994-1996).

Superintendent Stephen Kirk spent 12 years policing Slough where he worked with many diverse communities. He has carried forward this experience within the force training department and has taught diversity to many officers. He has worked as a superintendent for three years at Reading and for the past 11 months as local police area commander.

Dr Prem Sharma is a retired vet and chartered biologist. He has worked as permanent secretary for the government of Nigeria and was project director for the World Bank funded agricultural fund in Saudi Arabia. He is chairman of the India Development Trust of which he was a founder patron and member. He is also the chairman of the patient panel at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Born in Trinidad, Reverend Beverley Browne is the president and founder of the New Anointing Apostolic Ministries in Oxfordshire. As well as being a singer and songwriter, he travels extensively and has spent time as a school governor in Oxfordshire. Alexis Wright has worked in race equality for the past eight years. Currently working for the Commission for Racial Equality, she has particular interest in working with young people. She has a degree in peace studies and international relations.

And after the success of last year’s event, there will be a taster and performance evening on Saturday October 14 at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley. The church is hosting a cultural evening where local people can sample food from the Caribbean, Asia and Africa whilst getting into the rhythm of world music. This free event runs from 7pm until 10pm.

To bring the celebrations to an end, AJ’s Calypso Tent will bring a carnival atmosphere to the Oakwood Centre on Headley Road in Woodley on Saturday October 28. Admission is by ticket only and these are on sale for £7.50 from the Oakwood Centre on (0118) 969 0356 and from AJ’s Caribbean Scene on 07930 907354.

A number of well-known artists including Notting Hill Carnival’s very own Brown Sugar, Dame Polly Falconer, Dave Batson, Rev B, Cereal and Music Man, to name just a few, will be performing. MC for the night is Wokingham’s BME Forum member Jeff ‘De Admiral’ Hinds.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: "I am proud that Wokingham District Council’s BME Forum continues to embrace the opportunity to highlight and celebrate Black History Month. Black History Month is a vital part of our diverse cultural calendar and is invaluable in keeping arts and culture alive in our district and I hope that many of our local residents will take part in the celebrations.”

Coordinating the celebrations are Jeff Hinds, former long-standing organiser of the Reading Community Carnival and founder member of the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC), and the district council’s social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta.

Wokingham District Council

A local Wokingham centre for disabled children has been highlighted for its good service in a report published by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

Wokingham District Council’s Bridges Resource Centre in Woodley recently received an unannounced inspection from the CSCI. In their report, the inspectors praised the centre for meeting the needs of the young people. They also acknowledged improvements in services as well as the centre’s capacity to develop even further.

Bridges is a specialist resource centre in Woodley offering services for disabled children and young people and their families, including short break care, weekend clubs, activity trips and a range of activities.

The government’s policy Every Child Matters, highlights national and local priorities for children’s services, and provides a framework for CSCI inspections to ensure children’s services are judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to well-being in childhood and later life. These outcomes are: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a contribution and achieving economic well-being.

As part of a rigorous inspection, surveys were also conducted with Wokingham members of staff, social workers and parents, which were sent prior to the inspection to gauge services provided at Bridges. Judgements for most aspects of the service were awarded a grade three which states that all standards were met and were good. Bridges was awarded a grade four – where standards exceed expectation – for the policies and procedures in place for the treatment provided to ensure the complex health needs of the young people are met and good health is promoted.

Inspectors recognised that health promotion is an integral part of Bridges’ philosophy and information is readily available to the young people. Staff encourage young people to speak out and it was apparent to the inspectors that young people were offered choice and their opinions taken into account. The centre promotes the success of individual children and this is demonstrated with an ‘achievement notice board’ in the entrance to the centre for everyone to see.

The inspectors praised Bridges for the relationships between young people and those who care for them and said: ‘Relationships continue to be a strength of the home and a good variety of activities are organised, in line with the young people’s wishes and abilities’. The inspectors also praised the centre for holding regular reviews of care plans to ensure everyone is updated as each young person progresses.

The inspectors outlined that young people at Bridges ‘received individual support to ensure they reach their full potential and their education is promoted as being valuable in preparing them for adulthood.’ Some young people now attend a ‘focus group’ each week, jointly run with the district council’s youth service, which teaches life skills and also enables them to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Wokingham Young people were praised for making a positive contribution and the inspectors noted a number of ways they have been able to influence their own care and how the centre is run. Communication with young people is conducted in a number of ways including pictures, words and symbols. Specialist equipment enables the young people to access information and facilities available to them.

Bridges provides a respite service and a survey returned from parents said they were pleased with the centre and they stressed they felt involved in how their child would be looked after whilst at the centre. Staff were also praised and the report noted ‘a team of experienced and competent staff provide the services and care the young people need.’

Bridges' manager Neil Williams said: "I am delighted that the hard work of the team in developing Bridges' services and involving the children and their parents has once again been recognised by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. This successful report is down to continued commitment and is thoroughly deserved by everyone.”

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I very much welcome this independent report on the standards at Bridges Resource Centre and I am delighted they have been judged as ‘good’ by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Unannounced inspections are very demanding as the inspectors undertake rigorous assessment and I would like to congratulate the staff on their hard work and commitment which has resulted in a positive assessment of this important facility.”

Wokingham District Council

Local volunteers who come into their own in an emergency have received recognition in the second round of bursary awards from Wokingham District Council’s community resilience team.

At a special presentation on Tuesday September 26, representatives from SEBEV Search and Rescue (formerly South East Berkshire Emergency Volunteers) and WRVS received the second Adrian Harris Bursary, funding a place at the Emergency Planning College in Easingwold.

Adrian Harris was emergency planning officer at Wokingham council from February 2001 until April 2005 when he sadly died after a five-year battle with cancer. The community resilience team at the council decided to form the bursary fund in his name, in line with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 which sets up a working partnership between local authorities and the various voluntary agencies involved in a major incident or emergency.

Wokingham council receives a grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, designed to encourage mutual support between local authorities and voluntary agencies for the benefit of the community. The bursary aims to meet that challenge, allowing the recipients to attend training courses at the Cabinet Office’s Emergency Planning College in Easingwold, Yorkshire, equipping them with the knowledge they need as responders to an emergency.

Council chairman Wokingham Cllr Angus Ross, who presented each of the recipients with their bursary certificates, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these people who offer such valuable voluntary support and assistance in emergency situations.

“This bursary is a very worthwhile way to remember a colleague and I know that the recipients will benefit greatly from attending the college at Easingwold.”

Recipients of the bursary were Carole Rose of the WRVS and Neil Tamsitt of SEBEV Search and Rescue. Carole will be attending ‘Managing the Care of People in an Emergency’ and Neil will be attending ‘Business Continuity Management’.

Any member of a voluntary agency in the Wokingham district is welcome to apply for the next round of bursaries from April 2007. Details are available from assistant community resilience officer Deb Brown on (0118) 974 6473.

Wokingham District Council

The sun shone in Wokingham on Wednesday, October 4 2006 as Waverley School in Finchampstead opened its doors to a crowd of excited children and parents, to launch its brand new nursery provision. Children played on the bouncy castle and toys, while parents were given the opportunity to view the excellent facilities at this independent school.

The demands of modern life are having a significant impact on the requirement for wraparound childcare. Waverley School has acknowledged this need and is providing extended nursery education from 8.00am – 6.00pm, 51 weeks a year. It has also introduced flexible sessions and is utilising the government education grant to offer real choice and flexibility to parents.

The day started with a tour of the school, by children who were dressed as their favourite book characters. Walker Bear of Walker Books also treated both visiting children and current pupils to a surprise appearance, while music was provided by by year 6 pupils

Parents were shown a display from the successful Wokingham Summer Holiday Club, supported by Holmes Place Health Club, which ran for the first time in July this year. They were also offered the opportunity to sign up for October Half Term at a discounted rate.

Wokingham Cllr Angus Ross, who officially announced Waverley’s new nursery provision said: “ I am delighted to have been asked to visit Waverley today to assist with the launch of the new nursery provision, which will be of great benefit to the community. I remember the school when it was originally based in Crowthorne and although I was aware of the original planning of the site, I have not had the opportunity to view the facilities on offer, until now”.

Lesley Moore, Director of Schools and Nurseries at CFBT, added: “Waverley School recently became part of CfBT Education Trust, a leading educational charity that provides education for public benefit worldwide. Already well equipped, CfBT’s investment in Waverley School has facilitated its development, providing even greater opportunities for pupils and parents.”

Waverley Way, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 4YD

Some thirty Wokingham people from the voluntary and community sector attended a workshop run by Wokingham District Council on Tuesday September 26 to learn more about its annual revenue grant funding scheme (2007/08).

The Wokingham workshop invited representatives from voluntary and community organisations to find out more about the Council’s application process for revenue grants and they had the opportunity to ask questions, as well as learn about other possible funding opportunities available to them.

Community and voluntary organisations now have until October 31, 2006 to apply for a grant. Bids will be welcomed from community and voluntary organisations from across the Wokingham district, which provide a range of services, from giving advice or looking after people’s welfare, to sport, culture, social services, education or leisure services.

And this year, applying is even easier! There is a new application form and electronic bids will also be accepted. For those bids for £500 or under there is a shorter application form to be completed.

Each year Wokingham District Council allocates a specific amount of its budget to support voluntary work in the district. Decisions will be reported to the voluntary groups early next year and, if successful, they will receive their grant at the beginning of the next financial year.

Executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “I am delighted that many people from the voluntary and community sector attended the workshop to learn more about the process and to see what grant funding is available to them. The district council recognises the importance they play in our community. They provide a valuable service often complementing services provided by the council and share the same community ambitions as we do.

“The council does have a limited budget and we have to make the very difficult decisions on how it can best be allocated. Applications for projects or activities have to benefit residents in the district. “

Guidance explaining the application process and the criteria that groups must meet to qualify for a grant as well as application forms are available on the council’s website (www.wokingham.gov.uk - under community and living) or from Sue Roberts in the council’s strategy and partnerships unit on (0118) 974 6016 or by email: sue.roberts@wokingham.gov.uk. Further information is also available from Community Voluntary Action (CVA) Wokingham District on (0118) 984 6884.

Wokingham District Council