Wokingham

Swallowfield resident Margaret Stead is a dedicated volunteer children’s storyteller at Wokingham Borough Council’s Spencers Wood Library. And on Monday October 29 she received official thanks for all her hard work for the local community from the Wokingham borough council Mayor Cllr Annette Drake.

Margaret has been a volunteer Wokingham storyteller for three years and as well as reading stories, she sings rhymes and helps the children take part in arts and crafts at the sessions held at the library in Spencers Wood every Monday. Margaret gave up teaching nearly four years ago and has been volunteering at Spencer Wood Library since then without ever missing a session.

After each main Wokingham council meeting, the Mayor usually presents flowers, or an alternative gift, to a person, group or organisation that has given good service to the community. Margaret was presented with the award this week after she finished her regular storytime for the children, whose ages ranged from from six months to five years.

Wokingham Mayor Cllr Annette Drake said “All the children were so attentive while Margaret read stories to them. She has huge enthusiasm - she used to be a drama teacher, and it shows! I am delighted to be able to show Margaret the council’s appreciation for her hugely valuable work.”

Receiving her plaque and basket of flowers from the Mayor, Margaret said: “I am surprised and delighted to receive this award. I enjoyed reading to children when I was a teacher and this allows me to continue doing what I enjoy. I get as much pleasure from reading the stories as the children do.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Parents of Wokingham children on the autism spectrum living in the Wokingham Borough are set to continue to receive additional specialist training thanks to a donation of £900 by Berkshire Autistic Society.

Wokingham Borough Council with its partners in the health service and the voluntary sector provide the National Autistic Society EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus training programmes. The EarlyBird training programme runs for three months and is open to any parents of a child with autism who is aged under five. The programme offers parents advice on how to understand their child’s autism, as well as how to manage problem behaviours and recognise possible trigger points.

The course also offers parents the opportunity to build on their existing skills and knowledge about autism. It provides support for parents once their child is diagnosed and before they start school.

Wokingham Borough Council also offers EarlyBird Plus which is a three month programme for parents with an autistic child aged between five and nine years old. This training programme encourages a teacher from the child’s school to attend as well as parents. The aim is to empower parents and school staff and to encourage a consistent approach between home and school by training parents and teachers together.

Cllr Annette Drake, Mayor of Wokingham Borough Council, said: “I would very much like to thank Berkshire Autistic Society for their generous donation which will allow the council and its partners to run additional training sessions this year. Both training programmes offer parents support and advice on how to understand their child’s autism. Advice on how to improve communication with their child is valuable to parents and I am very grateful to Berkshire Autistic Society for their support.”

Robert Pasterfield, project manager at Berkshire Autistic Society, said: “'EarlyBird makes such a positive contribution to parents and children that we are delighted to fund additional training in the Wokingham Borough.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A Wokingham ceremony to mark the start of work on the new £13.5 million Addington Special School will be held on Monday (October 29) when executive member for children services Cllr Frank Browne will join pupils, teachers and governors to watch at first hand the construction get under way of their new school.

Located on a site within the Bulmershe School campus, the new Addington Special School facilities will help the school to better meet the needs of its pupils - children with severe learning difficulties and children with physical disabilities.

The new Wokingham school facilities which will now be built in a single construction project rather than in two separate phases as originally envisaged, will include classrooms, specialist science, art, music, ICT and drama facilities, a gymnasium, hall and hydrotherapy pool, as well sensory suites, soft play area, physiotherapy, speech and language and medical areas.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham residents who’ve been bitten by the bird-watching bug can take to the lake without causing a stir next month. Dinton Pastures, one of the best sites in the country for viewing rare Bitterns, has a state-of-the-art new bird hide overlooking Lavell’s Lake, to be opened by Mayor Cllr Annette Drake in a special ceremony on November 5.

Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service has benefited from a grant scheme set up by DeFRA which, over the last few years, has seen the construction of 4000 square metres of reed beds to encourage the nationally rare Bitterns.

Because of the huge increase in visiting Wokingham bird watchers, the existing 20-year-old bird hide was no longer big enough. But this year the council secured a further £10,500 to construct a new bird hide, and the volunteer group Friends of Lavell’s Lake, who are contributing significantly to the practical management of the site, have also contributed over £5,000 to special projects which include the new bird hide. Access for disabled people has been catered for with three wheelchair bays inside the hide, a ramped access point, a tarmac footpath, a new bridge and disabled car parking bays.

Wokingham Borough Council

Citizenship, gun crime and the role of the family and parental discipline were just some of the hot topics debated at the Black History Month Question Time held by Wokingham Borough Council last Friday, October 19.

The council chamber in Shute End, Wokingham, was packed for the event, which was part of Wokingham Borough’s celebration of Black History Month and the audience raised a range of interesting issues with the panel. The lively debate included topics such as how to avoid demonising young people, the relevance of citizenship tests, drug and gun crime, the importance of the family and the right of Commonwealth soldiers to automatic citizenship. There was even a question on England’s Rugby World Cup final with South Africa.

The session was opened by leader of the council Cllr Frank Browne, who spoke on the aims and importance of Black History Month in the Wokingham borough.

Wokingham Cllr Browne said: “Black History Month is a great chance for Wokingham borough to celebrate its diversity and to increase understanding and appreciation of different cultures. The Question Time provided an excellent opportunity for some serious issues to be debated.”

The panel for the sessions comprised Adonis Daniel, criminal litigation advocate, Alexis Wright from the Commission for Racial Equality, Chief Inspector Tony Ismay from Wokingham Local Police Authority, Rajinder Sohpal from Reading Council for Racial Equality, Pastor Joel Thomas from the Church of God Worldwide Mission and Jeff Hinds from Wokingham Black and Minority Ethnic Forum, who was chairman. Also speaking was Reading magistrate Eve North MBE who has worked closely with the Citizenship Foundation.

Friday night also saw the opening of a Black History Month display in the Mall Gallery in Shute End, Wokingham, that features photographs from previous Black History Month events and an exhibition highlighting black and minority ethnic people’s contribution to scientific developments and inventions.

This year’s Black History Month is a partnership between Wokingham Borough Council, the Black and Minority Ethnic Forum and the African Caribbean Society of Wokingham and is being extended for a Taster and Performance Evening at Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley on Saturday November 17. The free event will give borough residents the chance to sample food from the Caribbean, Asia and Africa whilst getting into the rhythm of world music. It will run from 7pm until 10.30pm.

Wokingham Borough Council social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta said: “The Question Time was a great success – it was standing room only and the standard of debate was very high. I am sure the Taster and Performance evening will also prove very popular and will be a fun way to round off Black History Month. There is no need to book for this event – just turn up on the night.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Readers who know how to detect a great offer should get themselves to the Wokingham borough’s libraries next month.

November is crime month in the Wokingham borough’s libraries and readers who love a good mystery could join a competition to win £30 of Marks and Spencer’s vouchers. To enter the prize draw, library members must borrow four crime thrillers from any of the borough’s libraries during November. For each crime book they borrow, readers will get a stamp on a special bookmark - available at all the borough’s libraries - and, when they have four, they can hand the bookmark to library staff for their chance to win. The bookmarks also have suggested authors for thriller fans.

Wokingham Borough Council reader development officer for adults Heather Dyson said: “Crime thrillers and mystery novels are always popular and there are plenty to borrow at the Wokingham borough’s libraries. This offer is perfectly timed – with the long winter evenings arriving, it is a great time to stay in and enjoy a great thriller, or four. And that £30 voucher prize would really come in handy in the run up to Christmas.”

To be in with a chance to win, collect a bookmark from any of the Wokingham borough’s libraries and get the four stamps before Friday, November 30.

Wokingham Borough Council

More than 200 Wokingham bulbs are to be planted at the CResCent Resource Centre in memory of the late Gill Flanagan, a community development worker and a key player involved in the centre’s establishment.

CResCent’s volunteers and Gill’s colleagues from Wokingham Borough Council are taking part in the planting at the centre off Warbler Drive, Lower Earley, on Tuesday October 30 at 1.30pm.

As a Wokingham community development worker, Gill covered a number of areas in the Wokingham Borough for more than 20 years, focusing on Earley in particular. Gill worked tirelessly to motivate, encourage and involve local people and for many years headed up the project to develop the CResCent Resource Centre and was involved in its planning, identifying funding and its eventual opening in 2003. Gill sadly passed away in June 2007.

Wokingham CResCent Resource Centre Manager Lillian King said: “Planting will comprise daffodil bulbs all along the banks adjacent to the CResCent Resource Centre car park which are in clear view from Rushey Way. We hope come the spring the bulb planting session will brighten up the area with vibrant and attractive colours in memory of Gill who was also a keen gardener.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Members of the public and press are invited to attend a meeting of the Berkshire West Police Committee on Tuesday, October 30 in Committee Room 2 at Wokingham Council Offices.

From 4pm, members of Thames Valley Police Authority representing Berkshire West will receive reports on the budget, resources, performance, race and diversity and neighbourhood policing.

They will also have the opportunity to question senior officers from Berkshire West Basic Command Unit.

For more information, contact Thames Valley Police Authority communications officer Andrew Heath on 01865 846699.

To order a copy of the meeting agenda, contact Thames Valley Police Authority secretary Lin Richards on 01865 846780.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Improving practical learning opportunities for Wokingham pupils aged 14 to 19 years old and enhancing community learning in the borough are high on the agenda for Wokingham Borough Council. And, at its meeting tomorrow (October 25), the council’s decision-making executive is set to discuss a proposal to construct a new purpose-built learning centre in the Wokingham Borough.

The Wokingham council’s secondary education strategy, Future for Learning, highlighted the need to improve opportunities for pupils aged between 14 and 19 years old to learn more practical skills. And, as a result, over the past year the council has been working in partnership with Bracknell and Wokingham College and the Learning and Skills Council on proposals to establish a learning centre.

If plans are approved, Wokingham pupils would be able to take part in vocational courses including apprenticeship programmes, and learn skills in carpentry, electrics, motor vehicles, hair and beauty, childcare, business and retail to name just a few. They would also be able to study for the new diploma, a national qualification for 14 to 19 year olds, which will be introduced in September 2008. These new diplomas would allow young people aged 14 to19 to study vocational subjects such as construction and engineering, creative and media and IT alongside their GCSEs. The qualifications have been designed nationally by employers, working alongside educationalists, to produce a qualification that equips young people to develop the skills they will require to be successful in their working lives.

If approved the new Wokingham learning centre would also cater for adult learners and the wider community. They would be able to access a range of courses which will be located in one building. Adult learners in the Wokingham Borough take part in a range of courses either to achieve a qualification such as GCSE, NVQ or City and Guilds, or courses they take for their own interest and pleasure such as arts and crafts and languages. As the proposals are in the very early stages, exact details of what courses would be available to adult learners have not yet been decided.

The Wokingham council’s executive will be asked to support the proposals and allow for a feasibility study to be carried out. Once this has been completed and agreed by all partners, a further report would be considered by the executive in early autumn 2008.

At their meeting this week, the executive will also be asked to agree in principle for council-owned land at Winnersh Triangle to be used for this scheme and not sold for commercial use. A condition of this agreement would be that funding to build the learning centre will be realised through Bracknell and Wokingham College and the Learning and Skills Council. The new learning centre would be subject to planning approval.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Currently in the Wokingham Borough, some 40 per cent of students either go to colleges outside the borough or take up employment without further qualifications after they have sat their GCSEs. The proposal to develop a learning centre in the Wokingham Borough highlights the council’s commitment to improving opportunities for its young people and will provide a wider choice of courses to encourage young people to stay learning for longer.

“The learning centre would also enhance the lifelong learning opportunities for the wider community. This is an excellent example of good partnership working between the council, Bracknell and Wokingham College and the Learning and Skills Council.

“If the executive approve these recommendations it will be a significant further step in developing a new learning centre for everyone to enjoy in a central location within the borough.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Last night (October 21), Matthew Evans, assistant headteacher at The Forest School in Winnersh, Wokingham was awarded the national teaching award for enterprise.

The National Teaching Awards ceremony was held at The London Palladium yesterday with an edited version shown on BBC2 later that evening.

A crew from BBC London have visited The Wokingham Forest School twice in the last fortnight, filming footage of Matthew Evans, colleagues and students, in preparation for the National Teaching Awards ceremony.

On their first visit they met with students and colleagues at The Forest School, Wokingham. They filmed year seven pupils undertaking a hands-on enterprise activity, involving the building of a business, both theoretically and then practically – with scaled-down building materials. This is one of a range of enterprise activities offered by Central Berkshire Education Business Partnerships (CBEBP), whose managing director Mark Thatcher was on hand to oversee the event. He said: “ Matthew Evans has been in the vanguard of enterprise education. He has worked tirelessly to promote enterprise as a valuable part of the curriculum, not just in The Forest School, Wokingham or this county, but beyond.”

Students were also filmed using the specialist software designed by Matthew, entitled PET (Personal Enterprise Tool).

The BBC crew were then invited to the homes of two of the Forest’s most enterprising students, who left the school this summer with a thriving business venture. Seventeen year-olds Lloyd Pithers and Gray Faulkner spoke eloquently about their company Fish-Inn, which produces high-quality fish bait. The company was launched eighteen months ago following a ‘Dragons’ Den’ hosted by Matthew Evans and involving four successful company directors. Other ideas presented included personalised flash drives (which also went on to enjoy great success), sports equipment hire, customised cars and a school publishing company.

Lloyd Pithers said: “Mr. Evans told us the fish bait was a good idea and that if we put our mind to it we can do anything.” Gray Faulkner added: “He helped us so much. We would not be where we are today without him.”

On their second visit the BBC brought along Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden to hold a question and answer session with the sixth form. Students were sworn to secrecy by the BBC for maximum impact, causing the unassuming Ms Meaden to worry that the students might not recognise her. She need not have worried as she received the warmest of welcomes from a very appreciate audience. She answered a range of questions and then posed for photographs. On leaving she asked who she would see first on Dragons’ Den, prompting a flurry of hands in the air, and then delighted them further by asking if they would be there to face her or to take her chair!

Matthew had been looking forward to Deborah’s visit, knowing how much the students would enjoy it, but was completely oblivious to the very special reason behind her visit – to present him with his award. He was very surprised, but was as delighted to share the moment with his students as they were to be present.

Genuinely surprised when Deborah pulled the award from her bag, Matthew told the students: “This is in recognition of your hard work, and that of the staff who teach you, who do a tremendous job and we should be really pleased to receive this recognition.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Suffolk Lodge Residential Home for Older People in Wokingham will be celebrating the 100th birthday of one of its oldest resident’s, Doris Waldron, on Monday October 22.

To mark the occasion, a special birthday party is being held for Doris in the company of friends, four generations of family and Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor Cllr Annette Drake.

Guests will tuck into a special tea including birthday cake and Doris will be presented a bouquet of flowers by the Mayor.

Doris has lived in Wokingham all her life and has been a resident at Suffolk Lodge for more than five years.

When she was younger, Doris helped set up the third Wokingham brownies group which had meetings in a tin hut behind Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street and she was a Brown Owl for many years.

She was a pupil at St Paul’s School, off Oxford Road in Wokingham, before working at the offices for Wokingham laundry in Broad Street, where she met her late husband, Albert, who was working at a local butchers at the time. They married in 1940 and she continued working at the laundry until her daughter Ann was born in 1942.

Suffolk Lodge Manager Christine Mitchell, said: “Doris enjoys taking part in activities with other residents, such as playing bingo and board games and outings organised by Suffolk Lodge, including going to see shows. She also likes to attend the church service held here every Sunday.

“Doris is a very likable lady. All the residents here, together with staff, will be joining her for the party. We wish her a very happy birthday indeed.”

Mayor Cllr Annette Drake said: “I would like to congratulate Doris and wish her a very happy 100th birthday. It’ll be a pleasure to join her with friends and family in the celebrations on this momentous occasion.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Local Wokingham handyman Rob Gofton spent 20 years working in offices, building a very successful career, yet never being totally satisfied at work. "I used to spend all week looking forward to the weekend," he explains, "So I could forget about the 'office job' and get on with all the DIY projects I loved doing. Then one day I realised - you only get one life, and it's crazy to waste it doing a job you don't really enjoy".

So Rob now mixes work with pleasure by turning his favourite hobby into his job: he set up "Theoddjobman.biz" as a handyman service for people in his local area who either don't share his love of DIY, or simply don't have the time to get to everything on their "to do list".

Based in Emmbrook, he now offers a wide range of handyman services, from painting and decorating to gardening, to customers in Emmbrook, Woosehill, Wokingham and Winnersh. "I can turn my hand to most things", he says, "And love the variety. But if there's something that I don't have the necessary skills or experience to tackle, I always say so. Quality is critically important to me, so I'd much rather pass work onto somebody better qualified, than do a sub-standard job".

While most of his work to date has been painting and decorating, he's also tackled larger projects such as fitting a new bathroom and laying a patio, and smaller ones like painting fence panels. "Life's great now," he adds. "I'm doing what I enjoy doing, and getting paid for it. OK, I'm not earning as much as I was, but I'm my own boss, I decide when I work and what projects I take on, and I get to spend more time with my family. You only get one life, and I'm loving it!"

Rob can be contacted by 'phone (01189 789852), mobile (07872 628182) or email (help@theoddjobman.biz). His work is fully insured, and he's happy to provide a free quote on any job, however small.

The Odd Job Man, Wokingham

Safe and sustainable Wokingham journeys to school will be top of the agenda when teachers, governors, pupils and parents from across the Wokingham Borough gather in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead tomorrow (Wednesday October 17) for the launch of the Berkshire School Travel Excellence Programme (STEP).

Over recent years, many schools within Wokingham borough have developed school travel plans in order to address health, safety and environmental problems associated with high car use for school travel. Other schools are in the process of developing their travel plans or are yet to start.

STEP is an exciting new initiative for state and independent schools which aims to reduce the use of cars and promote walking and cycling to school. It will recognise and reward participating schools for the hard work they have put into school travel plans and encourage, advise and support others to develop theirs.

Wokingham Borough Council and the five other Berkshire local authorities – Windsor and Maidehead, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Reading and Slough Borough Councils – are working together on this initiative. It is being offically launched at a conference taking place at the town hall in Maidenhead on October 17.

On the agenda for the conference are up-to-date guidance and best-practice case studies based on issues relevant to Berkshire schools. There will be talks on school travel plans, walking buses, walk to school initiatives and how STEP can help schools set these up. A new award scheme will also be launched to recognise those schools effectively tackling travel issues and promoting safe and sustainable travel.

Wokingham Borough Council’s healthy school advisor Rosie Webb will also be giving a presentation about links between the healthy schools programme and school travel plans. Rosie said: “By developing a travel plan a school is showing its commitment toward the health and well-being of its pupils and staff. Travel plans are recognised within the national healthy schools programme and many of our schools have achieved or are working towards healthy schools status.”

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, said: “The council is committed to reducing the number of car journeys to and from schools. As a result, many of our schools have been working hard to develop effective school travel plans. For those schools that do not have travel plans in place, I very much hope they will enlist the help of STEP.”

Eddie Dolan, transport planning and school travel plan advisor, said: “As school travel plans have been developed we have seen a number of initiatives and improvements at schools including walking buses and cycle shelters encouraging more children to walk and cycle to school.”

A competition is also being held for schoolchildren to design a STEP logo and the winner will be announced at the conference. They will also be presented with a mountain bike kindly donated by Caversham-based A W Cycles.
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Wokingham Borough Council

A new scheme has been launched in Wokingham LPA to protect all places of worship and their halls and outbuildings from thieves and vandals.

Worship Watch Wokingham has been set up so that information about incidents and crime can be shared by different groups.

Insp Jim Weems, the Deputy Commander of Wokingham LPA, says that on average there are two crimes a week involving places of worship in the borough.

But he hopes that this situation can be improved through this new initiative.

He said: “This is all about awareness. If we can tell the different groups exactly what is happening in the area they can look to improve their own security.

“People find it hard to believe that people can stoop so low as to attack churches and other religious buildings but it does happen. Through improving awareness and working in partnership through Worship Watch, we believe we can tackle the problem.”

Worship Watch will work in a similar way to the Neighbourhood Watch schemes which have proved to be very successful throughout Wokingham.

Groups which sign up to it will receive updates through the Thames Valley Police Community Messaging scheme and will be able to feed information back into the police.

Rev David Wilbraham, the Thames Valley Police Force Chaplain said: “The rich variety of our communities is enhanced by the ways in which the differing faiths serve not only their own groups but also the wider community.

“Sadly, from time to time, their buildings and resources become the target of criminal and disruptive behaviour.

“I would commend Worship Watch as an effective scheme that enables the faith communities and Thames Valley Police to work in partnership as we together serve our neighbourhoods.”

Christine Seal, the Wokingham Worship Watch co-ordinator, says it is important that thenew initiative is multi-faith.

She said: “We need all the different faiths to come together and work with us in this scheme. The more people that sign up to the initiative the stronger it will be.

“In three major Church Watches across the country crime against places of worship was reduced by up to 60 per cent over a few years and we will be looking for similar success.”

Any religious group wanting to sign up to Wokingham Worship Watch should contact Christine Seal via 0118 918 1644.

* Simple security advice for places of worship

• Look at your place of worship as a criminal would. What could you easily steal? Have you a photograph and detailed description of your valuable items? Are they marked with your postcode so that the police can return it to you if they recover them? A security marker pen is included.

• Have you carried out a general risk assessment in relation to your workers, volunteers, and building security?

• Put security as a fixed item in your budget. Every place of worship needs extra security and to increase it over a few years will ensure that when the time comes for you to suffer from crime you will have done everything practical to limit the offence. Remember that security lighting and other features can make your place of worship more welcoming.

• Have you spoken to your neighbours and asked them to ring the police if anything suspicious happens? Reassure them the police will not mind if it turns out to be a false alarm. Invite them into your place of worship on regular occasions to tell them how much you appreciate them keeping an eye on the building for you.

• Allow your building to be used by other groups if necessary. A busy building is far less likely to suffer crime than an empty one.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Wokingham Residents are being urged to fill in and send back their electoral registration forms now that normal postal services have resumed.

In line with last year’s new legislation about registering for elections, Wokingham Borough Council will once again this year 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. And electoral services staff at the council are urging residents, who may this week have been deterred from sending forms through the post, to send their forms back to the council as soon as possible and avoid a visit from a canvasser.

Some 60 canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the borough who have not registered to vote between November 1 and November 16. All canvassers will carry official Wokingham Borough Council identification cards.The canvassers will only visit properties where there has been no response from the earlier forms sent by post – one of these was sent at the beginning of September and the second is being sent to non-responding properties during the week beginning October 1.

“If residents don’t register, they can’t vote, and will lose their say in local politics,” said electoral services manager Alison Wood. “The register is also 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 kinds of services. Those residents who send the form back by post will save themselves from being disturbed by a canvasser. And residents whose details are unchanged from last year can also register online by following the web link given on the form.”

Providing the information on the form is a legal requirement. Any resident wanting to know more about electoral registration or about the canvassers should call electoral services on (0118) 974 6522/6523.

Wokingham Borough Council

It’s speed networking time for Wokingham social enterprises and community businesses across the borough this week. On Thursday October 18 from 6.30pm to 9pm, Wokingham Borough Council and Social Enterprise Berkshire will be offering an opportunity to find out about support and services available to social enterprises locally, and to develop business contacts.

The free Wokingham speed-networking event, with buffet provided, is open to anyone interested in social enterprises. Social (or community) enterprises are similar to other businesses, because they trade goods and services and strive to make a profit. However, profits are reinvested into the community, rather than being for private gain. These enterprises also exist to fulfil social aims and to benefit their community.

Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Annette Drake will be opening the event and executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King will also be attending. Cllr King said: “I am delighted to be able to offer social enterprises in the borough an opportunity to meet and share ideas. Social enterprises are an extremely valuable and growing section of the business community and the council seeks every opportunity possible to encourage the work that they do. I would also like to thank Social Enterprise Berkshire for organising the event.”

The networking evening will take place at the council’s Shute End offices and is being funded and organised by Social Enterprise Berkshire. To book a place please contact Jess Clausen on (0118) 901 5799 or email: jess@seberkshire.org.

Wokingham Borough Council

Every adult Wokingham matters! That’s the message from Wokingham Borough Council’s children’s services and Wellington College as the first state and independent sector learning partnership is launched today (Wednesday October 10).

In what is believed to be the first partnership of its kind in the country, Wokingham council will be working with Wellington College in Crowthorne to ensure that all children’s services staff are able to deal with issues that are common in the workplace such as stress, excessive workloads and change management. Over 70 members of staff from the council and Wellington College will attend the launch and will hear from keynote speaker Dr Alex Linley from the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology.

Over the past five years, the council has developed a number of initiatives, which promote Wokingham staff’s well-being in the borough’s schools. This has now been extended to all staff within children’s services.

Staff from Wokingham children’s services – including members of the schools’ workforce (teaching and support staff) – have attended a range of workshops over the past five years. The workshops are available in situ for schools and/or at centralised training venues, and address the needs of schools and departments such as time management and dealing with stress. Staff have also requested workshops on improving work-life balance and confidence building. There is also an ongoing series of workshops to encourage staff to positively engage with change. Basic counselling and listening skills are also offered to staff who want to further enhance their communication skills in relation to pupils and colleagues, reinforcing an emotionally healthy culture in schools and workplaces.

The Wokingham council was also the first local authority in the country – in partnership with Worklife Support - to provide a unique programme of well-being support for its headteachers. Other programmes of well being support are now being offered to headteachers. The council also continues to support headteachers and other school senior managers to their challenging roles.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s website is working well – and Wokingham residents are more likely than any other unitary authority’s residents to use the website as their main source of council information.

A summary of statistics from the audit commission shows that out of all the UK unitary authorities, Wokingham has the highest percentage of residents who use the council’s website as their main source of council information. At 24 per cent, Wokingham’s result is also in the top ten when compared with all other authorities in addition to unitary councils (387 of them in total, including district, county, metropolitan and London boroughs).

The website is growing and evolving all the time, and two new features will be coming later in the year – an improved interactive map service and a special youth website designed by young people.

Wokingham Website manager Nick Spencer said: “It’s very encouraging that people are using the website more and more to access the services they need. It shows that our programme of continuous improvement is bringing good results – but does not mean our work is done. There will always be more improvements we can make and I hope that we can continue to develop the site in line with users’ needs. We are working with customers and asking them questions to make sure the website is developing to meet their needs.”

Residents also said the most popular way for them to find out about council services in Wokingham was through council leaflets and newsletters (44 per cent). This also places Wokingham Borough Council in the top quartile of all local authorities, suggesting that the council is succeeding in producing printed information that people find useful and easy to read.

The council’s publications include special newsletters for tenants, young people and businesses in the area, as well as its twice-yearly newsletter to all residents, Wokingham Borough News, and an array of helpful leaflets on topics ranging from community safety to country parks.

Deputy leader of Wokingham council Cllr Simon Weeks said: “We have had excellent feedback on our website and also on many of our publications for residents. We are always aiming to be as approachable as possible and closely monitor the ways people find easiest to communicate with us, so that we can make all our services as accessible as possible. I am pleased to see that residents are finding our website and printed resources so useful.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Budding bards from across the Wokingham borough and beyond celebrated National Poetry Day on Thursday October 4, congratulating the winners of Wokingham Library’s poetry competition, and enjoying a special session of readings and workshops at the library with award-winning local poets Susan Utting and Allison McVety. More than 20 people gathered in the library to share their poetry and read aloud favourite poems, and the winners of the competition were presented with their prizes.

First prize, £25 in book tokens, went to Martin Haslam of Wokingham for ‘The Dream Gift’. Second prize was won jointly by Gill Learner of Reading for ‘Night Comers’ and Wendy Klein of Pangbourne for ‘Some Midnights’, who won £10 each in book tokens. A number of other poets were highly commended, including Jean Jennings from Reading with ‘Shop of My Dreams’, Norman Pope from Henley with ‘Come Forth’ and Gill Learner with ‘3am’. The winning poems are now on display in Wokingham library.

The two special guests who presented the prizes are both well-known local poets. Susan Utting currently teaches poetry at Reading and Oxford Universities. She was Community Laureate for the Arts Council's Year of the Artist 2000/2001 and spent a year as Creative Writing Fellow at Reading University’s School of English and American Literature. Published collections include Something Small is Missing (a Poetry Business prize winner) and her latest collection Houses Without Walls. This year she was the winner of the Peterloo Poetry Prize.

Allison McVety’s poems have appeared in several journals including The North, Rialto, Smiths Knoll, and Poetry News, and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3. She has recently completed an MA in Poetry at Royal Holloway University of London where she was awarded the pfd poetry prize. She also won the Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet Competition this year.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “National Poetry Day is a lovely event and a good way to make more people aware of the rich world of poetry that is out there to be discovered. This popular competition has really proved how many talented poets there are in the Wokingham borough.”

Note:
More from reader development officer Heather Dyson on (0118) 974 3712 or from executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King on (0118) 974 977 2397.

Wokingham Borough Council

Tomorrow (Tuesday October 9) a new disability changing room will be unveiled at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre thanks to £25,000 investment from Wokingham Borough Council.

The leisure centre on Rushey Way in Lower Earley recently introduced new disability swimming sessions. The sessions proved popular but feedback received from members highlighted an issue with the changing areas – it was taking them too long to get changed for their session as the current changing rooms were not easily accessible to those with a disability. And as a result, the Wokingham council made improvements to one of the current changing facilities, funded by developer contributions known as S106 money.

The new changing room meets the Disability Discrimination Act requirements and includes a larger changing area plus a shower, a seat, a specialist changing bed and toilet facilities all of which are suitable for both men and women.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “The council is trying to bring better facilities to the residents of the borough. We hope this new facility will be more accommodating for the disabled members of our community.

“Swimming is a great way to get fit and remain physically active. I am pleased that Leisure Connection, who run Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on the council’s behalf, offer disability swim sessions. The pool has special equipment to help those with a disability into the pool, and now we have specially adapted changing rooms making the sessions more accessible. Why not come along and join in the fun? ”

Wokingham Borough Council

Following the severe weather back in July, many areas in the Wokingham Borough suffered extensive flooding. And Wokingham Borough Council is today launching a flood recovery grant for those affected in the borough with money received from central government.

During the freak weather in July, almost a month’s average rainfall fell in just a few hours. The Wokingham council was made aware that approximately 297 properties in the borough suffered flooding and of those around 141 properties were flooded internally. As a result, the council has recently been awarded some money from the government and £30,000 will be made available to local residents who were affected.

Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, said: “July saw unprecedented rainfall and subsequent flooding in the Wokingham Borough. The flood recovery grant money allocated from central government is not very much, but it is additional money that will help make a small difference to those residents affected – most of whom have had a very difficult time over the summer trying to cope with the aftermath of the floods. All applications will go into the pot and will be divided up equally after the closing date.”

Any resident can apply for a grant if the living areas of their home were affected by floodwaters between July 17 and 29. An application form and question and answer document outlining the criteria are available on the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/flooding or by calling Jane Harvey on (0118) 974 6008.

Wokingham Residents will need to provide evidence of water damage in the form of photographic evidence and / or receipts for urgent or immediate repair work. The grant will cover living areas only and will not include damage to sheds, cellars, garages or gardens or items stored within them. The closing date for applications is November 9. After the closing date assessments of each application will be made and if approved equal payments will be made to the applicants.

Under this flood recovery grant scheme, businesses are not eligible to apply. However businesses should contact their local chamber of commerce or South East Development Agency (SEEDA) for support. There is also general business advice and flood advice available from Business Link on 0845 600 9006 or by visiting their website at: www.businesslink.gov.uk.

Wokingham Borough Council

Older people in the Wokingham borough will be looking on the bright side of ageing this month.

The borough’s older people’s forums are hosting a celebratory conference as part of national Age Week in conjunction with Wokingham Borough Council, Berkshire West Primary Care Trust, Leisure Connection and Age Concern.

In the past, the annual Wokingham conference has been a chance to take part in discussions on issues affecting older people, such as housing, but this year’s is a fun celebration of age and will include food tasting, Tai Chi, badminton, bowls, swimming and even ballroom dancing. The ballroom dancing session will be taught by Alan Waite, father of Strictly Come Dancing’s Ian Waite. And all those who attend will receive a meal deal voucher entitling them to a free sandwich, cake or piece of fruit and a drink!

Karen Jackson, head of Wokingham disability and older people’s services, said: “The idea of turning the annual conference into a celebration came from the older people’s forums who wanted to highlight the positive aspects of age. There is a perception that old age is about ill health and decline, but that is completely wrong. In the Wokingham borough older people are incredibly active and play an important role in the community and this conference will highlight that.”

Everybody is welcome at the conference, which will take place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Rushey Way, Lower Earley, from 10am to 4pm on Thursday October 18.

Champion for older people Wokingham Cllr Bob Wyatt said: “I am delighted this year’s conference will be a celebration of age. It is important to look at issues that affect older people, but it is also important to recognise that old age is not just about problems it is about opportunities and this conference is an exciting opportunity to show that.”

Beverley Thompson, sports development manager, said: “The conference will allow older people to sample a range of activities. Physical activity not only enhances our health but can also prevent and alleviate the effects of many common illnesses, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and asthma. There is no need to book, just come along!”

There are five older people’s forums in the Wokingham borough: The Northern Parishes, Woodley, Earley, Wokingham and Finchampstead.

Wokingham Borough Council

Children in the Wokingham Borough won’t have time to get cold at half term this autumn – the Spring In2 Action programme from the sports development unit at Wokingham Borough Council has something to get everyone warmed up!

Wokingham Activities include a play-scheme at Robert Piggott Junior School for children aged 4½ to 11, with creative activities for all, football with a coaching team from Reading Football Club, golf camps for both primary school golfers and older golfers aged 12 to 14, as well as the ‘Sporty Kids’ scheme for two to five-year-olds and their parents or carers, and mini-soccer for four to eight-year-old football fans. All courses are run by criminal records bureau checked coaches and are aimed at children of all abilities.

Sports development manager Beverley Thompson said: “The launch of the Spring In2 Action Programme has been a great success for us this year. We aim to give children the chance to try out new sports or improve their skills at sports they are familiar with.”

Champion for Wokingham youth and leisure Cllr Malcolm Bryant said: “Yet again there has been some tremendous work by the sports development unit, carrying out our policy of encouraging more sport throughout the borough and particularly for our youngsters in school. Their work over the last two years has been incredible and each year sees a big increase in the borough’s young people taking part in sport and leisure.”

There are a limited number of places on all the courses so please book early to avoid disappointment. There is also a 10 per cent discount offer for the second child in the same family booked on to any course. For further information visit www.wokingham.gov.uk , call (0118) 974 6264 / 6254 or email sportsdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

Former cabinet minister, broadcaster and journalist David Mellor was the guest speaker at an elegant night of fundraising to officially launch this year’s Mayor’s charity in the Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham Mayor Cllr Annette Drake is dedicating her year in office to raising money for a new charity, Building for the Future for Wokingham Borough’s Disabled Children and their Families, which aims to raise enough money to purchase a community-based building for children with disabilities and their families in the borough. The Mayor held a banquet on Friday September 21 at Bearwood College in Sindlesham to launch this new charity.

Building for the Future is an umbrella group of five charities that already work with disabled children and their families locally: Peapods, Friends of Ryeish Green Bungalow, Mencap, Wokingham Autism Spectrum Partnership and Friends of Bridges. The charity’s vision is to provide a state-of-the-art building to cater for children’s individual needs as well as for community groups.

Fundraising is already in full swing, with almost £3,000 already collected from generous donations with a further £2,000 raised at the banquet.

Wokingham Cllr Drake said: “People have been so generous already, which is no surprise, as this is obviously a very worthy cause. Many parents with disabled children have told me that there is a need for a dedicated centre in the Wokingham Borough – and the parents are those who know best. I am optimistic that we will change this dream into reality. The banquet was a wonderful evening and I would like to say a big thank you to all those who helped me launch Building for the Future – not least Bearwood College for providing the venue, Lancaster Land Rover for auction and raffle prizes and Cherubs for the flowers and many others that have donated gifts and pledges.”

The charities involved are:

· Peapods: a support and action group for children with physical disabilities in the Wokingham borough
· Friends of Ryeish Green Bungalow: a group that supports the work of the Ryeish Green Bungalow, which offers highly specialised respite care for children with learning disabilities and additional ill health and/or profound physical disabilities
· Wokingham District Mencap: the local branch of Mencap, a national charity that campaigns for better rights for disabled people and offers support and advice
· Wokingham Autism Spectrum Partnership: a group of professionals from health, education and care that coordinates services for people with autism in the borough
· Friends of Bridges: a support group for the Bridges Resource Centre in Woodley, which offers short-breaks for children with disabilities and other facilities.

Anybody who wants to support Building for the Future can contact the Mayor’s secretary Ann Marie Bonwick on (0118) 974 6004.

Wokingham Borough Council

Growing interest from green-fingered residents, community groups, pub landlords, businesses and shopkeepers meant the Wokingham Mayor’s colour and cheer gardening competition boasted an impressive crop of winners. And all the winners attended a special prize-giving ceremony on September 18.

Organised by Wokingham borough council mayor Cllr Annette Drake, the annual council-run competition had something for all Wokingham borough’s gardeners. The competition was sponsored by the Times’ Series and supported by Foster Wheeler Ltd and Millgate Homes.

Now in its ninth year, the competition has gone from strength to strength and aims to reward gardeners who work hard to brighten up their local community. Mary Jenno and Bob Mould from the Wokingham Horticultural Association joined Cllr Annette Drake to judge the competition.

Winner of the Best Summer Display Front Garden was Tim Downes of Barkham Road in Wokingham. The judges noted ‘his garden is a delight to passing folk. It is well laid out with plants of varying heights and coordinated colours. The bright border next to the pavement is especially eye-catching.’

Coming a close second was Patricia McNab of Little Glebe in Sonning and the judges applauded her garden stating ‘her garden is a riot of colour and her front hedge is immaculately trimmed.’ And in third place was Sally Woolford of Broadwater Road in Twyford.

Winner of the Best All Year Round garden was Kathy Bateson of Limmerhill Road in Wokingham. The judges said the garden ‘invited the onlooker to stop and enjoy the variety of leaf forms as well as the flowers. It’s a garden with many varied, unusual plants for seasonal interest.’ Scooping second place were Mr and Mrs Richardson of Hilmanton in Lower Earley and judges praised their garden’s features ‘for its mixture of conifers and perennials with bright splashes of summer colour.’

Triumphing for the fourth year running, The Swan at Three Mile Cross clinched top prize for the Best Pub Frontage. Judges said the pub won ‘hands down’ and said: ‘The Harrisons really make a fuss of their plants. Where else can you see a Wisteria growing in a pot? How often do you find roses in the middle of a host of other pot plants? The variety of the summer plants for hanging baskets and tubs was excellent and they were in very good condition despite rain and wind!’

Wokingham Borough Council mayor Cllr Annette Drake said: “After the ceremony Tim Downes told me he received a letter from a regular passer-by who had been visiting her mother in Wokingham. She said that she had been cheered up by his colourful front garden. This is why I am delighted these awards give recognition to all the residents that spend many hours working hard and showing they care about their local area.

“The competition this year was truly outstanding despite the appauling weather! It was a marvellous experience to see such professionalism in the borough’s gardens and was a close call between the finalists. The standard of entries were very good and it gave the judges a very difficult task to pick the winners.”

At the winners’ ceremony in September, prizes of garden vouchers and engraved shields were presented along with a bottle of champagne for those in first place.

Wokingham Borough Council

There is an outbreak of jungle fever at the Wokingham borough’s libraries this week for National Bookstart Day. The theme of this year’s events is Jungle Party, and the borough’s libraries have been celebrating with a week of jungle-themed fun that will culminate on National Bookstart Day (Friday October 5) with a morning of wild stories and activities for under-fives and parents.

The programme leading up to National Bookstart Day has included several fun sessions at different libraries, and there is more to come on Thursday October 4:

•Storytime at Woodley Library, 2.15pm to 2.45pm
•Storytime at Lower Earley Library, 2.30pm to 3pm

On National Bookstart Day itself at Wokingham Library, the fun starts at 10.30am with a jungle bounce and rhyme, then from 11am to 11.30am there will be slippery snake crafts and from 11.30am to 12 noon there will be roaring jungle stories. There is no need to book and visitors are welcome to bring their own jungle animals to join in!

Bookstart is an independent charity that aims to ensure all children have an early introduction to the wonderful world of books. It delivers a pack of books to all children at about eight months old and then further packs between 18 and 30 months and again to pre-school children at three years old. National Bookstart Day is held each year to promote and celebrate the charity’s work with events held at libraries around the country.

Executive member for community development Dianne King said: “Wokingham Library has been decorated with a variety of animal drawings in honour of the occasion. It is worth going along just to see them! And activities like these can really spark children’s interest in books at an early age. I’m delighted to see such a lively programme for the week.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Family learning is about to become even more fun in the Wokingham Borough – with free taster sessions for library members aged five to 11 years old and their parents next week as part of Family Learning Week (October 6 to October 14).

The sessions are:

•Discover craft taster, Thursday October 11, 3.45pm to 4.30pm at Lower Earley Library. An opportunity for parents to share creative activities with their children.
•Discover French story time, Monday October 8, 3.45pm to 4.30pm at Wokingham Library. An interactive story session in English and French.
•Discover stories together, Tuesday October 9, 3.45pm to 4.30pm at Woodley Library. A creative session where parents and children build stories together.

Reader development officer Elizabeth McDonald said:” Anyone who would like to join in these fun sessions should call the library to book their place. And if you’re not a member, don’t worry, you can still come along. Just join the library today! It’s free and it’s easy to do, call the library to find out how!”

Executive member for Wokingham community development Cllr Dianne King said: “Learning together is a great way for parents and children to spend time together and discover new things. And the library is the perfect place to start – I hope lots of people will take advantage of this excellent opportunity.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Caribbean, Asian and African culture from the past and present will be celebrated in the Wokingham borough during October’s Black History Month.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum is marking the month with a series of events that will give people of all ages the chance to discover more about the cultural heritage of minority ethnic communities.

The fun will start on Saturday October 6 with AJ’s Calypso Tent in the Oakwood Centre in Headley Road, Woodley, where the two time and reigning Calypso Monarch of London Brown Sugar (a regular at the Notting Hill Carnival) will lead the entertainment. Brown Sugar will be joined by AJ’s all-star cast including Rev B, Sweetfoot and De Admiral. Admission will be £5 and Caribbean-style refreshments will be available. For more information contact The Oakwood Centre on (0118) 969 0356 or AJ’s Caribbean Scene on 07930 907354 or visit www.ajscaribbeanscene.com.

This will be followed by an exhibition in the Mall Gallery in Wokingham borough council’s Shute End offices that is to be launched on Wednesday October 10.

On Friday October 19, Wokingham borough council will host a question time session in the council offices in Shute End on the theme of Citizenship. The panel will be chaired by Jeffrey Hinds of the Black and Ethnic Minority Forum Wokingham and the panel will include criminal practice lawyer Adonis Daniels, Rajinder Sohpal from Reading Council for Racial Equality and Alexis White from the Commission for Racial Equality in London.

And, this year’s Black History Month will extend into November, when Woodley Baptist Church in Hurricane Way hosts a tasting and performance night to offer a chance for residents to really appreciate the flavours and sounds of different cultures. The entertainment will be provided by traditional Indian, Chinese and African dancers as well as a steel band and their will be Asian, African and Caribbean food to sample. The event is on November 17 from 7pm to 10pm and is free and open to all.

Executive member for Wokingham community development Cllr Dianne King said: “It is important that everybody realises these are inclusive, community events for everybody to enjoy. And I hope that many residents will take this opportunity to join in the celebrations and have some fun whilst at the same time learning about many different cultures.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A group of new teachers in the Wokingham Borough have been welcomed to the profession at two special ceremonies held at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley. Nearly 100 new teachers started their careers in the Wokingham Borough this month and were given a warm welcome at the ceremonies, organised by Wokingham Borough Council, on September 19 and 20.

The newly qualified teachers (NQTs) were introduced to Wokingham Borough Council, which will be supporting them during their careers at the borough’s schools. This year 62 NQTs have so far registered to teach at secondary schools, and 34 NQTs have registered at 23 primary schools. Another two are beginning their careers at independent schools.

During their induction period, the Wokingham NQTs will develop their teaching skills with support from their colleagues and from officers at the council, and will become integrated into school life working to new professional standards for teachers brought in this month. Support services are available and each teacher is given a senior member of staff as an induction tutor or mentor.

The ceremonies were a chance for the new teachers to meet other NQTs, as well as advanced skills teachers from across the borough and key officers at the council. They heard presentations on curriculum and school development, as well as what to expect from a Wokingham classroom.

Executive member for Wokingham children’s services Frank Browne said: “I am pleased to welcome all the newly qualified teachers who have joined us this year. Most NQTs in the borough choose to stay in Wokingham after their NQT year and I hope that the support we provide encourages this. Good teachers make lasting differences to children's lives, and the council is committed to attracting high-quality teachers to the Wokingham Borough to help us maintain our position as one of the top education authorities in England. Every one of these new teachers is highly valued. I wish them every success in the future.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Every day three young people die in traffic accidents on Britain’s roads - and one in three newly qualified drivers will be involved in an accident within their first two years of driving.

But young drivers in the Wokingham Borough will have a ‘Motorvation’ to be safe this autumn. They can learn how to minimise the risks associated with their first few years behind the wheel thanks to a workshop provided by Wokingham Borough Council and their highway consultants Mouchel Parkman, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue and the Highways Agency.

On October 24 from 9am until 3.45pm, Motorvation workshops will be held at Woodley Airfield Youth Centre, Hurricane Way, offering information and practical advice for young people learning to drive or newly qualified.

The day will cover the hazards facing new drivers, the legal requirements when using a motor vehicle on public roads, the effect on family and community when a young person is involved in a traffic-related incident and the issues that can arise when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. There will also be a presentation from the Highways Agency about motorway driving, which is a new addition to the Motorvation programme.

Wokingham Road safety officer Katie Webb said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help. They include an opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to operate a motor vehicle in controlled safe surroundings - the first opportunity that many participants will have to drive a real car.

“There are also photographs and video footage of road traffic accidents in the workshops which can be a little shocking. Life is precious and needs taking seriously, this can only be achieved if we demonstrate how fragile we as human beings are. A car weighs on average one tonne and can wipe out whole families in one go. Road users need to appreciate that to own a motor vehicle is to be handed a huge responsibility.”

Wokingham Participants also learn basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get help to victims as soon as possible if they are first at the scene of an accident. And the session on second-hand cars helps participants learn to find a car’s Vehicle Identification Number, spot cut n’ shuts, recognise when a vehicle has been involved in an accident, recognise heavy use and make better judgements on what is a genuine safe vehicle.

Another session looks at how drugs affect driving, both for a driver and a passenger, and the problems of peer pressure whilst driving. This workshop suggests solutions for coping in situations where passengers are difficult to control.

Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Keith Baker said: “This workshop will equip the participants with the necessary confidence and awareness that could help save a life in the event of an accident. But I hope it will go further than that and prevent some of these accidents from happening in the first place, by raising young people’s awareness of what is involved with being responsible for a car and its passengers. I urge young people who want to drive to get in touch and take advantage of this excellent workshop.”

Anyone aged 15 to 19 years old can attend Motorvation. To book a ticket contact road safety officer Katie Webb on (0118) 936 7301 or at katie.webb@mouchelparkman.com

Wokingham Borough Council

In line with last year’s new legislation about registering for elections, Wokingham Borough Council will once again this year 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 to send second ‘reminder’ registration forms to properties who have not responded to the first one, and then to send out canvassers to non-responding properties. Some 60 canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the borough who have not registered to vote between November 1 and November 16. All canvassers will carry official Wokingham Borough Council identification cards.

The canvassers will only visit properties where there has been no response from the earlier forms sent by post – one of these was sent at the beginning of September and the second is being sent to non-responding properties during the week beginning October 1.

“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 kinds of services.”

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. Providing the information on the form is a legal requirement. Any Wokingham resident wanting to know more about electoral registration or about the canvassers should call electoral services on (0118) 974 6522/6523.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council and the Diocese of Oxford have launched a six-week consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Arborfield Newland and Barkham CE Junior School and The Coombes Infant and Nursery School.

The Wokingham council’s decision-making executive agreed in July to consult on the proposal to close the two schools and create a new voluntary-controlled primary school on the same site. The proposal and consultation upon it is made jointly with the Diocese of Oxford.

A consultation document setting out more details relating to the proposal has been published and is available on the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/currentconsultations. The formal consultation period closes on Friday November 2.

As part of this process there will be an opportunity to raise questions or comments at a public meeting for parents of children at both schools and members of the local Wokingham community. This meeting will take place on Thursday October 4 at 7pm at Arborfield, Newland and Barkham CE Junior School in School Road, Arborfield. Consultation meetings will also take place with governors and staff of each school.

A report setting out the response to the consultation will be considered by Wokingham council’s decision-making executive in November and by the Diocesan Board of Education. If the decision to reorganise these two schools is taken by the council and the Diocese, there would be a requirement to publish statutory notices and a further six-week period of public consultation in December 2007.

A final decision on the amalgamation will then be taken by the executive in February 2008. If the proposals are agreed, pupils could be benefiting from the amalgamated school by September 2008.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Amalgamation could bring significant benefits to the schools and would allow them to carry on their excellent work and go from strength to strength. It is important that everyone with an interest in these proposals responds during the consultation period.”
Leslie Stephen, director of education at the Oxford Diocese, said: “We've been working closely with the local authority and the schools over a period of months on this proposal. Now it's time for the local community to have their say. We welcome their comments and views.”

Wokingham Borough Council

From that first look in a shoebox full of old family papers to detailed trawls through ancient archive collections, researching your ancestry is a fascinating pastime. And anybody interested in it will want to come down to Wokingham Library on Saturday October 13 between 10am and 2pm for Family History for All – Berkshire Family History Society's open day.

This free Wokingham event, part of the 2007 Archive Awareness campaign – a national initiative – provides a chance for all those interested in family history to get one-to-one help and advice from members of the Society and staff from the Berkshire Record Office. There will also be displays, demonstrations of research techniques, a bookstall and free charts and other materials. Everyone is welcome, whether new to family history or a seasoned researcher.

Wokingham People can drop-in to the event at any time to seek advice but they can also take part in three informal teaching sessions that run during the day. Places for these should be booked in advance if possible, as places are limited. Those taking part need to be familiar with the internet too:

· At 10.30am: Making a start in the archives
· At 11.45am: Which websites do I use first?
· At 1pm: Searching sources before 1837

To book a place at one of the sessions call (0118) 978 1368. Owing to heavy demand at past open days, and to allow as many members of the public as possible a chance to take part, people will initially be invited to book at one teaching session only, although they can also add their names to a waiting list for other sessions.

Wokingham Library first teamed up with the Berkshire Family History Society to stage advice days in 2003. Since then their popularity has led to more sessions being organised.

Derek Trinder, chairman of the Bracknell and Wokingham Branch of the Berkshire Family History Society, said: “These are fantastic events for helping people to discover a little bit of their own history. The added presence of our friends from the Berkshire Record Office will make this one even better. Local family historians will find something of interest from their visit – whatever their level of experience. And it really does not matter whether the ancestors you are trying to trace lived locally or not, because Society members have research interests right across the UK. They can advise on most of the general problems that every researcher will meet from time to time.”

The Berkshire Record Office at Coley Avenue in Reading holds original material for the Royal County of Berkshire dating back to the 12th century. Among its wealth of historic documents are baptism, marriage and burial registers from the 16th century onwards, other town and village records and some non-parochial registers. Collections also include Berkshire census returns, probate records, land and estate papers, school and workhouse details, maps, directories, poll books and electoral registers. At present, few of such records can be found on the internet, whether as transcriptions or as digital images.

The Record Office also holds some material relating to the whole of England and Wales. This includes indexes of births, marriages and deaths from 1837 forward and details of wills and administrations (from 1858).

Wokingham Library has a dedicated family history PC, microfiche and microfilm readers, specialist family and local history sections and numerous computer terminals offering fast internet access.

Executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: ”Wokingham Library is a treasure trove of information on a variety of subjects – not least family history. Open days such as this are a great opportunity to explore some of those resources as well as get expert advice.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A group of gifted and talented pupils from Hillside Primary School in Lower Earley donned lab coats and safety glasses when they visited a high-tech food laboratory, Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) to gain an insight into food manufacturing.

On Friday September 21, 20 Wokingham pupils from year five and six met scientists, technologists and food experts from project sponsors RSSL to work on a food design project which aims to help pupils understand key aspects of food safety and nutrition, and the environmental impact of global food distribution and packaging. During the eight-month long project pupils will also gain other useful experiences, such as learning how to manage project budgets and finances.

During the visit the Wokingham pupils received a talk from Jane Staniforth, head of food business development, before having a tour of the food laboratories where RSSL routinely investigates and analyses food and drink products, and helps companies with new product development.

Each team will have approximately £75 to design their product including the packaging.
Over the coming months, pupils will be working on the project, with the help of volunteers from RSSL who will visit the school every fortnight. They will sponsor all the materials and resources for the project as well as prizes for the winning groups.

Pupils will work in groups of two and three to design a food product as well as producing a video diary and a community video or leaflet which discuss the ‘human footprint’ of designing food products and packaging.

Headteacher, Andrew Griffin said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the pupils at Hillside. RSSL have been fantastic this year, supporting the school through different projects. Their support for food design project will allow the pupils at Hillside to develop a range of new skills and gain a rich understanding of food design, packaging and issues associated with food design and marketing.

“We hope the children develop their own entrepreneurial skills but they must also understand their responsibilities as business people to the consumer and to the community.”

Commenting on the Wokingham initiative, Jane Staniforth of RSSL said: “We wanted to do something really special to mark RSSL’s 20th birthday, and we feel we have done this by creating an exciting and informative food development project that children can literally get their teeth into. Hillside Primary School was a natural partner for this project given that we already know the staff and pupils at the school so well.”

Wokingham Borough Council