Wokingham

With just under a week to go, local residents are being reminded there will be an extravaganza of wild winter fun on Saturday January 27 at The Forest School in Winnersh, Wokingham.

The free event is being organised by Wokingham District Council’s early years and child care team, together with Winnersh Parish Council and the Winnersh neighbourhood action group and there will be an array of performers and displays for the local community to see.

The festival welcomes people of all ages and will include Indian dancers, wolves, a rodeo reindeer, stilt walkers, face painting, inflatables, choir singing and a simulator ride. Vouchers to use the simulator ride, and other activities, will be given to children and their parents in return for completing a short survey about what services they would like to see in Winnersh and what they think of the services that are provided to them currently.

Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross and Winnersh Parish Council chairman Cllr Judith Wilkins will officially open the festival at 12.15pm. Cllr Ross said: “I hope that many residents from Winnersh will come along to the festival to find out what is happening in their local community. As well as the fun activities there will also be an opportunity to view displays on a range of topics from teenage pregnancies to what the youth service has to offer local youngsters. There is something for everyone!

“It is good to see the district council working in partnership with the town council and local neighbourhood action team. It promises to be a great day!”

Coinciding with the festival, Winnersh Library, within the grounds of The Forest School, will be open until 4pm. Anyone who joins the library on Winnersh Festival day will be given two free DVD rentals. Other events at the library throughout the festival include:

-Winnersh Gaming Club taking place from 10.30am to 1pm

-Jo Jingles children’s music club taster sessions from 12.45pm to 1pm and 2.30pm to 2.45pm

-Family storytimes at 1pm and 3pm.

Also on hand will be learndirect who will be offering advice, information and course demonstrations on skills and learning opportunities to visitors over 16 years old.

Wokingham District Council offers the learndirect service through the district’s libraries. The main centre is located in Wokingham Library, with three outreach centres around the district at Winnersh, Lower Earley and Woodley libraries, plus services at Whitegrove library in Bracknell. Tutors are available on selected days to offer advice to learners, particularly to those who may find it difficult to get to the main centre in Wokingham. Learners are able to undertake their work online 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.

Wokingham District Council