Wokingham

Saint Sebastian’s Primary School in Wokingham has been classed as ‘good’ in almost every area in its latest Ofsted inspection report.

The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the Wokingham school and looked at the following aspects: factors contributing to pupils' consistently good progress in years 1 and 2, how well leadership and management were leading improvements in pupils' writing across the curriculum, provision, and progress in science in years 3 to 6.

The school, located on Nine Mile Ride in Wokingham, has 113 pupils on its roll aged between four and 11-years-old. Inspectors were impressed with the school and said pupils achieve well ‘because of a good start in reception class, good teaching and an interesting curriculum.’

Inspectors noted the curriculum ‘promotes good progress for pupils and makes a very good contribution to their personal development’. The school puts a strong emphasis on English and mathematics, but areas including music and sport are equally important aspects of the curriculum.

Inspectors were impressed with the good links between subjects which add ‘meaning, relevance and enjoyment to pupils' learning’ and a good example of this was the school’s 'China week' and Egyptian week'. Opportunities for pupils to apply and develop their writing skills to other subjects are also improved. Inspectors noted that ‘pupils in year 4 produce clear reports of their design for a robot and created interesting news articles of well known tales.’

Music also plays an important role at the Wokingham school with over half of the pupils learning to play a string, a woodwind or a brass instrument.

Questionnaires were sent to parents by the inspectors and most of them were happy with the care and education of their children at Saint Sebastian’s. Parents commented: 'People feel part of a strong community', 'I am pleased with my child's progress' and 'There is a warm caring ethos'.

Teachers were praised for their good relationship with their pupils. Lessons are clear and teachers use questioning effectively to challenge pupils and check their understanding. Standards in year 2 have remained well above the national average in reading, writing, and maths, whilst standards in the current year 6 are significantly above in English, maths and science.

There have been improvements in the foundation stage, particularly in outside learning, and this has been credited to ‘good teaching and a wide range of stimulating activities which enable the children to make good progress in all areas of learning.’

The inspectors also noted the Wokingham school’s partnership with a school in Uganda. Pupils raise funds and send learning resources to support children’s education in Uganda.

There was also praise for the pupils enjoyment of school and ‘this is reflected by their high attendance and enthusiastic participation in all activities.’ Behaviour is also good at the school because of the clear expectations of staff and the positive relationships between adults and pupils.

Headteacher Colin Rouse said: “It is very pleasing that the school’s self evaluation is accurate and that all of our children receive the education they deserve. I am extremely happy that the skill and dedication of my staff has been recognised by Ofsted and that all stakeholders work together to make Saint Sebastian’s School the special place that it is.”

Wendy Woodcock, general manager Wokingham children’s services, said: “When pupils at Saint Sebastian’s Primary School leave the school they are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education. This is a very good inspection report and a real credit to the pupils and their parents, and the whole school community.

Wokingham Borough Council

Addington Wokingham Special School recently came under the spotlight by inspectors from the office for standards in education (Ofsted) and the results were outstanding!

The Wokingham school was awarded outstanding for every single category including overall effectiveness, effectiveness of the sixth form, effectiveness of the foundation stage, achievements and standards, personal development and well-being, teaching and learning, care, guidance and support, leadership and management and curriculum.

The special school in Woodley has 195 pupils on its roll aged between three and 19 years old and has specialist status in music.

Inspectors praised the school saying it is ‘an outstanding school because pupils make exceptional progress both academically and in their personal development. These achievements are supported by excellent teaching and by a curriculum which is well tailored to the differing needs of all the learners.’

It was clear to the inspectors that the pupils love coming to school and one parent’s comment said: ‘This school is ‘fab’ in every respect.’ The inspectors noted that many of the pupils ‘value their school and this is evident through the very good relationships they have with staff, their good attendance and the obvious pride they have in the school and their own achievements.’ Pupils even told the inspectors they liked working hard!

All pupils at Wokingham Addington Special School do well and their achievements are good, with many making outstanding progress. Those pupils who join in the foundation stage have an excellent start to their education and are well prepared for the next steps in their education. Older pupils in the sixth form also achieve highly. The school has good links with local colleges and almost all pupils leave sixth form for further education courses. The school was also praised by inspectors for the ‘excellent progress’ sixth formers make in their personal development owing to initiatives such as work experience, which is carefully adapted to their abilities.

Inspectors also noted the music provision. They were impressed that every pupil has the opportunity to join musical celebrations and some pupils perform in concerts with their peers from other Wokingham Borough mainstream schools. Many pupils are leaning an orchestral instrument. Those pupils with complex communication disorders are also supported through music therapy, which adds to their awareness of and confidence in interacting with others.

Inspectors also noted pupils’ good behaviour and they told inspectors that ‘everyone was friendly here’. Inspectors were also impressed with pupils’ excellent understanding of healthy eating and the value of exercise and had ‘exceptional opportunities to take part in physical exercise.’ Many of the pupils said that learning was fun!

Teaching was also praised and the report noted ‘teachers know their pupils very well and this enables them to plan challenging, well-paced and interesting activities for each pupil, so ensuring many of them make outstanding progress.’ There was also praise for the individual tuition received highlighting that pupils feel more confident to try new things.

The curriculum was also rated as outstanding and that it is ‘precisely adapted to the differing learning needs of the pupils’. The report highlighted the ‘specialist teachers and support staff provide a high standard of additional support to ensure all pupils can take advantage of the full range of activities. Pupils also have a good choice of activities outside lessons including lunchtime and after-school clubs.

Wokingham Borough Council

Four Wokingham oak trees and 30 metres of hedging were planted last week as part of a unique way to weed out anti-social behaviour in a Woodley residential area.

Wokingham Borough Council planted the trees and shrubs after listening to residents' concerns that a patch of land facing on to Crockhamwell Road was a hot-spot for anti-social behaviour, and needed to be filled in with vegetation, to stop the nuisance behaviour as well as screen noise from the busy road.

Neighbours from Penrose Avenue submitted a petition to the Wokingham council last autumn asking for the area to be landscaped. The site was previously a continuous tree belt, but a clearing was made more than 40 years ago for a temporary lorry park. Rhododendrons were planted but failed to grow, so a permanent gap was left.

In order to provide residents with an environmentally friendly and attractive noise barrier, the four oaks and hedging was planted earlier this month. It will also provide extra security for children living nearby as it will act as a natural barrier from the road and will reduce the space available for people to congregate and cause disturbance or act in an anti-social way.

A public bench near to the newly landscaped area has been removed by Woodley Town Council, also requested by residents, as it was used as a late-night meeting point causing noise, disturbance and disruption to neighbours. It has been relocated away from housing by the town council to Nightingale Road – where it will replace a bench that was damaged last year.

Jon Matthews, senior Wokingham arboriculturist, said: "The residents in the area told us they felt that some kind of landscaping needed to be done in the area to provide a noise barrier, extra security and act as deterrent to people congregating and causing disturbance.

"Woodley Town Council offered to move the bench that was there to a more appropriate spot so that we could plant the hedges and trees and now that the planting has been completed the road is tree lined - like many of the 'Green Routes' that the borough is renowned for."
Deborah Mander, town clerk of Woodley Town Council, said: "We were pleased to be able to respond to the views of local residents and to contribute towards what will hopefully be an improvement in their quality of life."

Barry Toms, who submitted the petition on behalf of local residents for shrub and tree planting on the land, added: " Penrose Avenue residents who signed up to request filling a gap in the nearby tree belt are delighted that work has been completed.

"Wokingham Borough Council has been sympathetic to the residents' request and the gap restoration has progressed swiftly.

"It will be interesting to watch the 're-greening' of this space over the coming years."

Wokingham Borough Council

Children can discover a world of creepy crawlies, bugs and beasties this summer with a range of Saturday morning events held at some of the borough’s most treasured country parks.

The Junior Rangers’ Wildlife Watch Group meets once a month to get to grips with nature and discover what wildlife lives in the Wokingham Borough’s parks and nature reserves.

Over the next few months the group of eight to 12-year-olds will be pulling on their wellies during a great pond exploration, spotting bats and glow-worms at dusk and taking part in a beetle bonanza.

Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service organises the events for youngsters, usually on a Saturday morning. All children aged eight to 12 are welcome to attend. Activities that are now available for parents to book their youngsters a place on include:

· Pond Exploration at Tufty’s Corner, Dinton Pastures on Saturday May 10 from 10am to 12noon. Children will be able to take a look at the fascinating underwater world of Tufty’s Corner and find out about water creatures, like pond-skaters and beetles.
· The Night Walk event at California Country Park will be a special Friday evening session giving youngsters the chance to explore the park at twilight, look for bats, spots moths and even glow worms on Friday June 16 from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. A barbecue will also be available for people who bring their own tasty treats to cook.
· The Beetle Bonanza will help children understand the bizarre world of the creepy crawlies at Dinton Pastures on Saturday July 19 from 10am to 12noon.

Lynn Yardley, countryside ranger, said: “The Wokingham Borough has an abundance of wildlife for youngsters to discover and so the junior ranger events are the perfect way for children to get to grips with nature and explore just what a great environment we have on our doorstep.

“The group offers children the chance to ask members of the countryside service questions about all the creatures and plants they discover and so not only is it great fun, but educational too.”

The events cost £2 per child per session. The meeting point for the Pond Exploration and Beetle Bonanza is the Emmbrook Room at Dinton Pastures Country Park Hurst. Young discovers on the hunt for bugs and beasties during the Night walk should meet at California Country Park, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead. Places for all the events can be booked with the countryside service on (0118) 934 2106.

Wokingham Borough Council

Innovative schemes to find pets that have gone walkies on their own, has earned Wokingham Borough Council’s animal warden an award for outstanding service to the community.

Mandy Dorman who came up with the pioneering pet text scheme Dog and Bone earlier this year, was recognised for her exceptional dedication to finding new ways of tracking down wayward pooches, as well as reuniting them with their owners.

Wokingham borough mayor Cllr Annette Drake presented Mandy with an award for outstanding service last month - each month the mayor rewards a local person or group that has provided an exceptional service to the local community.

Mandy was nominated for her text-based scheme, Dog and Bone, which was launched in January. It’s believed to be the first text pet-tracing system in the country and works by dog walkers in the borough registering their name, mobile number and general area they live with the council. Text messages are sent out to the network of registered volunteers when a dog has gone missing. The idea is that dog walkers are more likely to be out and about where a missing dog could be hiding, enabling escaped dogs to be returned safely to their owners much more quickly.

Mandy’s idea has been so well received that other local authorities are now interested in adopting a similar scheme.

However it isn’t just the Dog and Bone scheme that earned Mandy the award, she also received it for her innovative use of the council’s website where she posts photos of found dogs online, making it easier for owners to track them down.

She was also praised for the new out-of-hours collection service for Wokingham stray dogs, which provides a stray dog drop off point, which was a police responsibility until Sunday April 6, yet due to a change in law, is now a requirement of local authorities. Mandy has gone one step further to help the cause by providing an out-of-hours collection service, whereby stray dogs in a contained area and reported by a member of the public, are collected by the council.

Mandy was nominated for the award by Wokingham environmental health manager, Peter Haikin, who described her ideas as ‘ testing examples of how to use modern communication technology to bring services directly to customers.’

Mandy said: “Dog and Bone is a simple idea that seems to be catching on really well. It’s nice to be recognised for doing something new and different by the mayor, and of course receiving the award is a great honour. I just hope my ideas help more dogs to be reunited with their owners as soon as possible.”

Cllr Annette Drake, Wokingham Borough mayor, added: “It was an honour to present Mandy with an award for outstanding service to the community. Her innovative ideas are making sure there are fewer stray dogs on the loose, but best of all, reuniting much missed family pets with their delighted owners.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A salesman who sold a top of the range car over the internet, without disclosing a credit report in relation to the vehicle, has been prosecuted by Wokingham Borough Council under the Trade Description Act.

The council successfully prosecuted Jhalman Singh Rai, 42, at Maidenhead Magistrates’ Court on Friday (April 18) after he sold a Range Rover HSE TD6 for £24,800 over internet auction site eBay, under the trade name of Heathrow Diesels, in April 2006.

Rai advertised the car as full HPI clear on the website despite having two different credit reports on the vehicle – one made in February 2006 showing it was clear of any credit and the second made later in March 2006 showing it did have credit secured on it. HPI checks are a way of telling if vehicles are stolen, have been written off or have outstanding finance secured on them.

When the car was sold to the consumer, a woman who lived within the Wokingham Borough, on April 15, 2006, Rai presented her with the first credit report omitting to mention the second one, which showed it was not HPI clear.

It was only in November 2006, when the car was removed from the customer’s driveway by police, after a dispute with the creditor’s bailiffs, that the woman found out the car was not considered full HPI clear.

Wokingham Borough Council received a complaint about Rai in March 2007 and so trading standards officers started to investigate.

While being questioned Rai acknowledged that a second report did show the car was not clear of credit, but claimed it was the fault of the creditor – saying they had put the charge on the credit report accidentally and he’d been assured it would be removed.

However Rai did not check the charges had been removed and subsequently provided the Wokingham consumer with the original credit check report made in February 2006, failing to mention the second credit report.

The Wokingham council’s trading standards team prosecuted Rai under section 1 of the Trade Description Act 1968. The case was heard at Maidenhead Magistrates’ Court where Rai pleaded guilty to two charges: firstly of applying a false trade description and secondly of supplying goods of a false description.

In sentencing Rai, Magistrates praised Wokingham Borough Council for doing a “thorough job in bringing prosecution”. Full costs of £2,238 were awarded to the council and Rai was also fined £1,350 and £650 for the offences.

Alonso Ercilla, trading standards officer who oversaw the case, said: “Falsely describing a product and selling it on without providing the most accurate and up to date information can have devastating repercussions for consumers – which is why it is a criminal offence.

“I’m pleased the court saw that the council was right in bringing about the prosecution of Mr Rai and that he has been fined for his negligence as a trader.

“I hope this serves as a warning to anyone else who is trading illegally, that as a council we will prosecute those who are not abiding by the law.”

Susanne Nelson-Wehrmeyer, the council’s head of governance and democratic services, added: “This case demonstrates that the council is always prepared to take tough action and prosecute in the criminal courts when it is necessary to do so”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s children’s centres team will be boarding the Mobile Information Centre (MICE) vehicle during April and May to take the latest news on the borough’s centres for families with children aged under 5 to the heart of local communities.

The roadshow begins at Woodley town centre on Friday April 25 and visits a number of venues across the borough over the course of five weeks, completing its tour in Market Place in Wokingham on Tuesday May 27. Staff will be on hand to offer advice and information about the borough’s seven children’s centres, which aim to bring services closer to families with young children. In addition, staff will also be asking local families what kind of additional services they would like to see in their local children’s centre.

Caroline Norris, Wokingham children’s centres programme manager, said: “By taking information about our children’s centres on the road it will be a great opportunity for local families to find out more about the borough’s centres, what’s on offer and what they can do for them.”

Some £3.7million has been allocated to Wokingham Borough Council from the SureStart programme, and children’s centres aim to help deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support. All children’s centres in the Wokingham Borough are different, as they meet the needs of the local community, but all offer a range of different services. For a full list of the borough’s children’s centres, visit:
www.wokingham.gov.uk/childrens-centres

Wokingham Borough Council

With the National Year of Reading now in full swing, libraries in the Wokingham Borough will be the places to be in May, with author visits, children’s activities and book discussions among the attractions.

On Friday May 9, Wokingham Library will hold a Managing Your Money workshop from 10am to 1pm, when residents will be able to pick-up money saving tips and find out about useful online money saving websites.

Berkshire Family History Society, Berkshire Record Office and Wokingham History Group will be on hand to offer expert advice to people trying to trace their family history at Wokingham Library from 10am to 3pm on Saturday May 10. And experts from the Berkshire Family History Society will be at the same library to offer advice during another drop-in session from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday May 27.

The library will also have a visit from local author Katherine Cowan, who will be discussing her book, Catch Yourself On, from 10.30am to 12 midday on Thursday May 15. And Wokingham Library’s monthly evening book group meets on the first Thursday of every month and so its May meeting is on Thursday May 1.

Reading Cafes, where library members can drop in to book discussions, will be held at Twyford Library on the second Tuesday of each month from 1.45pm to 3pm and Spencer Wood Library on the fourth Thursday of each month from 10.30am to 12 midday. Free refreshments will be available at the cafes.

For teenagers, Wokingham Library’s manga club will meet from 4.45pm to 5.45pm on Thursday May 15. Manga is a cartoon art that developed in Japan and has become popular among teenagers.

For children and families, Twyford, Woodley, Wokingham and Lower Earley libraries will all be holding Chatterbooks family storytime for five to nine-year-olds and Wokingham, Woodley, Lower Earley libraries will be holding baby rhymetimes and Lower Earley Library will be holding a dad and baby rhymetime during May.

And Get Arty craft sessions will be run at Woodley, Lower Earley and Wokingham libraries and Storytime sessions for under-fives and their parents will be run at Woodley, Lower Earley, Wargrave, Wokingham, Arborfield Container, Twyford, Spencers Wood and Maiden Erlegh libraries.

There will also be Doctor Who-themed half-term fun at all the borough’s libraries, which will have free Doctor Who activity and craft packs as well as the chance to win prizes in a quiz all about the time-travelling adventurer. These will be available at all the borough’s libraries from Saturday May 24 to Sunday June 1.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Reader Development Officer for Adults Heather Dyson said: “There really is something for everyone in the Wokingham Borough’s libraries next month and we are delighted to be offering such a range of tempting reasons for people to come into our libraries.“

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s Community Safety team will be out and about explaining how to report anti-social behaviour this summer.

The Wokingham team will be holding Community Safety Roadshows across the Wokingham Bborough in June, where Community Wardens, Police Community Support Officers and council officers will be on hand to help residents with any community safety issues.

The aim of the roadshows is to let as many people as possible know how to report anti-social behaviour to the appropriate authority. Council officers will be handing out copies of the Wokingham Borough Anti-Social Behaviour Directory booklet that provides contact details for people wanting to report anti-social behaviour.

Wokingham Borough Council community safety officer Stephanie Nagiel, who is organising the roadshows, said: “We want to let as many people know what we are doing to tackle anti-social behaviour and also to make sure they know who to report it to.”

The roadshows will be at:

Market Place, Wokingham from 10am to 2pm on Thursday June 5
Council offices, Shute End, Wokingham from 10am to 2pm on Thursday June 12
Woodley Shopping Centre from 10am to 2pm on Friday June 13
Asda, Lower Earley from 9am to 12 midday on Friday June 20
Sainsbury’s, Winnersh from 2pm to 5pm on Friday June 20
Waitrose car park, Twyford from 10am to 2pm on Friday June 27.

Wokingham Borough Council

Anybody curious about their ancestors – whether first time family historians or experienced researchers – should head to Wokingham Library on Saturday May 10 for a family history event.

Wokingham Visitors can drop in at any time between 10am and 3pm to discuss their research and get useful one-to-one help and advice from members of Berkshire Family History Society, staff from Berkshire Record Office and local historians from The Wokingham History Group. The day's theme is Making the Connection.

Derek Trinder, chairman of the Bracknell and Wokingham Branch of the Berkshire Family History Society explained: “This event is meant for everyone - it's not just for people with Berkshire ancestry. Wherever your ancestors came from, to research your family tree successfully you have to understand what different records can tell you and you need to know how to link this information together.

“A very significant change this time is newly available access to the collection of records from Ancestry on the library's computer terminals. Now you can search for specific family members, see images of actual records and, in many cases, find even more of those elusive ancestors. And with the Record Office and Wokingham History Group involved too, it means that people will be able to join up the strands of family history, social history and local history and get a real grasp of the lives that their ancestors lived.”

Informal teaching sessions will cover topics most relevant for anyone just starting their research. The sessions are free – although places should be booked at the library on the day:

10.30am to 11.15am Copy certificates – what will they tell you?
11.45am to 12.30pm: How to start your family history research
1pm to 1.45pm: Making sense of a census
2.15pm to 3pm: How to start you family history research

A basic understanding of how to use the internet will be useful for those who take part.

Staff from Berkshire Record Office will be on hand to explain how some national records for England and Wales can be consulted in Reading and will also advise on many key documents that can only be seen by visiting the country's archives and record offices.

For those interested in local history or in tracing house history, members of Wokingham History Group will highlight ways to begin research using copies of local documents, maps and other materials. They can also help with local enquiries about the Wokingham area.

Wokingham Borough Council

Summer 2008 will be packed with arts and cultural festivities for Wokingham borough residents to enjoy.

The Wokingham Discover Culture festival runs through the summer and is sponsored by The Cultural Partnership. It will take the Hands-on-Arts Pavilion to fayres, fun days and carnivals across the borough as well as supporting the Cantley Proms and Theatre in the Park and organising a visual art exhibition for children and young people.

This year’s Wokingham Discover Culture festival continues to work in partnership with community events to create a summer season of culture for the Wokingham Borough’s residents.

The festivities begin at the Wokingham Lions’ Wokingham May Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday May 5, where the ever-popular Discover Culture Hands-on-Arts Pavilion will make its first appearance of the year. The pavilion, sponsored by Ready Steady Store, offers people of all ages the chance to enjoy creative arts workshops and family-friendly demonstrations. Among the free opportunities on offer will be the chance to learn traditional weaving, puppet-making and performance and print-making.

The Hands-on-Arts pavilion will also be at the Crowthorne Carnival in Morgan Recreation Ground on Saturday July 5; Earley Fun Day, organised by Woodley and Earley Lions Club, in Events Field Kilnsea Drive in Lower Earley on Saturday July 12 and Spencers Wood Carnival in Clares Green Road on Saturday September 13.

From Tuesday July 1 until Friday August 29, the Mall Gallery in Wokingham Borough Council’s Shute End offices in Wokingham will host the Arena for the Arts 2008 exhibition. Arena for the Arts showcases the artistic talent of the borough’s young people. This year’s exhibition will explore the theme The Natural Earth.

An evening of musical favourites performed by the Lewisham Concert Band is on offer at the Cantley Prom, which is again being promoted by The Cultural Partnership. The proms is a chance to enjoy a picnic in the ground of The Cantley House Hotel followed by an evening of music that will culminate in a rousing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

The Cantley Prom is on Sunday July 20 from 5.30pm for picnics concert at 7.30pm. Advance tickets are £20 for adults, £17.50 concessions and £7 children and can be booked online at www.cantleyproms.co.uk or by phone: 0118 978 9912.

On Friday August 22, Distraction Theatre Company will bring its thrilling and swashbuckling new comedy The Three Musketeers to Dinton Pastures for the Theatre in the Park evening. The performance, organised by the borough council’s Countryside Service, will be at 8pm and ticket are priced £10 for adults, £8 for group bookings of six or more and £7 for under 16s and students. A pre-show summer buffet will be available for £10 per person and all tickets can be booked in advance by emailing: countryside@wokingham.gov.uk or calling 0118 934 2016.

The Cultural Partnership is a community group that champions arts, sports, heritage and leisure for people of all ages in the borough and is supported by Wokingham Borough Council and local businesses.

The Cultural Partnership’s chairman Gwynneth Hewetson said: “Discover Culture, now in its fourth year, is growing and adding new events each year – we are taking the Hand-on-Arts Pavilion to Crowthorne and Spencer Wood carnivals for the first time and that is an exciting development. We hope that by working with community events we can bring more arts and more fun to the whole community.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Finding your Fairtrade chocolate fix just got even easier in the Wokingham Borough. Wokingham Borough Council’s popular interactive online maps now show the locations of stores across the borough that offer Fairtrade items for sale.

The interactive maps at www.wokingham.gov.uk/maps allow visitors to look at different layers of information on the maps of their local area, including schools, local nature reserves and rubbish and recycling collection days. The newest layer is Fairtrade outlets – and it shows every shop in the borough that is listed in the Wokingham Borough Fairtrade Directory.

Researched and produced by the Wokingham Fair Trade Campaign (WFTC) the directory lists the shops and cafes in the Wokingham Borough where residents can find Fairtrade items, and also lists which products are stocked in each outlet. So whether it’s fruit, jam, biscuits or tea a shopper is looking for, they can use the council’s maps to plan their Fairtrade shopping.

WFTC directory co-ordinator Andrew Mickleburgh said: “The directory is a valuable shopping tool for anyone in the borough who likes to buy Fairtrade food. And with shoppers becoming more and more careful to make ethical choices when shopping, it is becoming a very popular little guide. It is available as a booklet from the WFTC, as a searchable database on the WFTC’s website - and now it is also on the council’s excellent interactive maps. I am delighted that the council is helping us to give shoppers this information in such a user-friendly format. It’s now even easier for shoppers in the borough to make ethical choices if they want to.”

By buying products that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark, consumers know that developing-world producers receive a fair and stable price for their produce, which covers their production costs and includes a premium to be reinvested either in the business or in social and environmental schemes among the community.

GIS technician Claire Tokeley said: “Our interactive maps are a popular tool and we are always adding to them – largely through the suggestions of our users. In response to public request, information layers recently added include civil ceremony venues, local community skips, and parish and town council offices. Showing Fairtrade outlets helps those users who are concerned about shopping ethically. I’m especially pleased that we have been able to work in partnership with a local voluntary group to provide this information.”

Wokingham Borough Council

We are holding our annual Summer Fayre at The Masonic Hall, Reading Road, Wokingham on Saturday, 14 June 2008.

Opening time is from 1.00 pm.until 3.00 p.m., 50p entrance fee.

Stalls will include raffle, nearly new, tombola, cakes, plants, bric-a-brac, clothes stall, books, toys.

All funds raised will greatly help and assist the many animals we have in our care and the moment and the many more that will be expected in. Your support is very much appreciated.

Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre, Wokingham

Members of Wokingham Borough Council’s Villages Youth Project’s Africa ‘08 group are organising a family fun day on Monday May 5, to raise money for their visit to Cape Town, South Africa in August.

The event will take place between 12 noon and 4pm at Wokingham Youth Centre on Reading Road and entry is only £1 per family (two adults and two children) or 50 pence per individual. There will be a barbeque and a number of stalls, games and activities including face-painting. During the afternoon, youngsters can take part in activities such as a tug of war against the council’s youth workers! In addition, there will be a stall where, for a small fee, youngsters will have the chance to soak a youth worker of their choice.

The Africa ’08 Project is in its second year and gives the borough’s young people, aged between 15 and 19-years, the chance to learn about both British and South African cultures and history. During the trip the young people will take part in workshops with youngsters from the townships, to share experiences about growing up. They will also visit key landmarks such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Council of Equality, which abolished apartheid. And during the visit to South Africa the young people from both countries will put on a similar event to share local traditional games and activities.

Louise Morris, Wokingham neighbourhood youth worker for the Villages Project, said: “The trip to Africa is reliant on funding so not only is the family fun day really important for this reason, but it also gives the young people, who have organised and co-ordinated the whole event, the chance to give something back to the community.”

All monies raised from the event will continue to add to the funds for the Africa ‘08 Project.

Wokingham Borough Council

New diplomas in ‘creative and media’ and information technology (IT) are set to be taught in Wokingham Borough schools from next year, after Wokingham Borough Council was given the green light by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

From September 2009, students across the Wokingham borough will be able to study for the new diploma, a national qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds. These new diplomas would allow young people to study vocational subjects – ‘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.

Wokingham council had to go through a rigorous application process in order to be given the go ahead by the DCSF and only those able to demonstrate their ability to provide the highest quality courses were successful.

Over the coming months the council will be working with local secondary schools as well as local colleges to further develop plans to deliver the ‘creative and media’ and IT diplomas in Wokingham Borough’s schools from September 2009.

Wendy Woodcock, general manager Wokingham children’s services, said: “Diplomas offer a number of opportunities for young people to combine academic and practical options. Whilst studying for the diploma there will be a strong focus on developing English, maths and IT skills as well as preparing them for their future employment. I am pleased that many students will now be able to study for the diploma in the Wokingham Borough from 2009.”

Over the next five years, Wokingham Borough schools will introduce other diplomas including construction, engineering, hair and beauty and retail, so that in all, 17 will be available to pupils by 2013, both at the equivalent of GCSE and A levels.

Wendy Woodcock added: “In order to bring about this change, the borough’s schools and local colleges are working together in partnership with the council to combine their resources, to ensure that every student will be able to access any of the diploma programmes. It is an exciting time for education.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service is offering local youngsters the chance to take full advantage of the activities on offer at Arborfield Youth Club by joining the club.

Located on Swallowfield Road in Arborfield, the Wokingham youth club runs on Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9pm and is open to 13 to 19-year-olds. Arborfield Youth Club is currently accepting new members. The first night is free of charge with a £1 entry fee for subsequent sessions attended by young people.

Louise Morris, youth worker said: “We are currently organising an action group comprising young people to help us plan new activities and develop resources for the club. It means members will be able to ‘own’ their club and have a chance to decide on and organise activities that they want to do. Current members have been putting together an arts project looking at the different types of art from jewellery-making to street art, as well as participating in wood craft sessions. If you are interested in taking part, why not come along and join in the fun!”

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for youth and leisure, said: “Wokingham Borough Council’s youth clubs provide friendly, safe environments for young people to go to. And for a small fee, they can make new friends, meet old ones, and take part in a huge range of fun activities.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Thirteen-year-old Eloise from Wokingham is a member of the performing arts group based at the borough council’s Wokingham Youth Centre and she attended the African dance workshop in early March. And impressed by her talent, Eloise was invited to perform as a dancer the very next evening in the show Okan' Nijo (meaning ‘one’) which was showing at South Hill Park as part of its tour.

And last Wednesday (April 2), Eloise performed once again, but this time it was at the Bloomsbury Theatre in central London. The venue is extremely popular with theatre-lovers and regularly plays host to a variety of household names. The theatre company who created the show, Sakoba Dance Theatre, have gained great critical acclaim in the past, with praise coming from The Guardian and The Stage amongst others.

Eloise, who attends The Emmbrook School, said: “I was a bit excited and a bit nervous. I have gained so much confidence from doing the performing arts workshops at Wokingham Youth Centre."

Richard Ferguson, Wokingham area youth worker manager, said: "This is a great example of how youth workers encourage young people and support their personal development. Our aim is to encourage active participation in order to increase opportunities and this is what Eloise has achieved. We are encouraged by her drive to take on this fantastic chance to debut on a major stage. We are very proud of her."

The dance workshops at Wokingham Youth Centre is organised by Cyril Sansum, the performing arts coordinator. The recent dance workshops have been African-themed to allow the borough’s young people to gain more of an understanding of the culture before their exchange in July, when they will meet young Africans who have settled in Ireland.

Wokingham Borough Council

Young people in the Wokingham Borough will be given a crash course on how to drive safely so they can avoid collisions on the road, later this month.

A one-day Wokingham workshop to give teenagers, aged 15 to 19-years-old, the ‘Motorvation’ to drive safely will take place on Wednesday April 16 at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre.

Statistics show that nationally three young people die every day on the roads and that a third of all new drivers will have an accident within their first two years of passing their test. To help young drivers in the Wokingham Borough, and those looking to take their test in the next few years, the Motorvation course will offer a range of practical advice and information on how to minimise the risk of accidents when they are behind the wheel.

The Wokingham workshop will cover a range of topics, including:

· Hazards facing new drivers,
· The legal requirements of driving a vehicle on public roads,
· The impact on family, friends and the community when a young person is involved in a road accident
· Issues that can arise when buying a second-hand vehicle

Advice on motorway driving will also form part of the day, with some practical information from the Highways Agency.

The event has been organised by Wokingham Borough Council in conjunction with the Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Highways Agency.

Participants will also be able to learn basic first aid skills and how to help people in the event of a road accident as well as examine how drink and drugs impair a driver’s capability as well as the impact they have on passengers.
Rob McDonnell, senior Wokingham traffic management engineer, said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help, including the opportunity to experience what it’s like to drive a motor vehicle in a controlled and safe surrounding – the first chance 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 be achieved if we demonstrate just how fragile human beings are.

“On average a car weighs about a tonne and can kill a whole family in one fatal hit, road users need to appreciate that to own a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility.”

Young people aged between 15 and 19 can attend the workshop at the Hurricane Way centre, which will run from 9.30am to 4pm, by booking a free place. Places can be reserved by calling (0118) 974 6472.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Children can discover the natural treasures of Dinton Pastures as part of springtime trail around the park, which will include worm hunting and nurturing giant eggs!

The country park in Hurst is offering youngsters the chance to take part in the Spring Trail, organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service, on Wednesday April 9, where they will be able to explore Dinton Pastures by following a trail around it and completing activities along the way before earning a tasty treat at the end.

Tasks along the way will include incubating giant eggs and hunting for worms to feed hungry chicks. A variety of questions with a spring theme will also be testing young minds before they reach the end of the trail – where a surprise treat awaits them.

Lynn Yardley, Wokingham countryside ranger, said: “This is a great opportunity for youngsters to get out and about during the school holidays and have some fun while learning all about nature.

“There will be plenty to do including worm hunting as well as many questions and puzzles to get children thinking all about spring time. Plus there’s a treat waiting at the end of the trail too!”

Maps for the spring quest will be available from 1pm to 3pm from the park’s café garden. Children of all ages are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. There is a £2 fee per child for the trail.

More information on the Spring Trail and other events run by Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service is available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/countryside or by emailing countryside@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

The second annual Wokingham Food and Drink Festival is gathering momentum with over 30 producers and exhibitors already on board promising something for everyone! Each will be bringing their own skills and produce from the Wokingham Borough, nearby counties and around the world.

And to top it off Jimmy’s Farm – as seen on the TV hit show - has also agreed to attend this year’s food and drink festival.

Brian Newman, town centre manager, said: “This is really a great coup for Wokingham as Jimmy’s Farm will be selling their top quality and medal winning produce. I am also delighted Kitchen Angels, caterers for many of the top entertainment events and several television stars, have agreed to attend at least one of the days to pass on some of their cooking ideas, with some very active demonstrations.

“There are even more reasons to visit Wokingham’s Food and Drink Festival this September as it will be bigger and better than last year. Whilst there is still plenty of time for exhibitors to let us know they will be joining us, space is filling up fast and early applications are advised. We would love even more local traders to take part, and I hope many will get in touch soon to reserve their space.”

Some of the exciting exhibitors confirmed so far include Snowdonia Cheese, Pilgrims Choice, Cornish Fayre, Toasta Bags, Geeta’s Indian Foods and Spices, Johnson’s Toffees, Ye Old Yogurt Shoppe, Tapio Foods, Farmer Gosdens Ice Cream, The Magic Knife Company, Gourmet Med, Spanish Wine Company, Premier Goats Cheese and Produce, The Polish Beer Bar and Butler’s Farm Foods.

Brian Newman has also secured one of the big names of the food world – The Festival of Food – for this year’s Wokingham event. The Festival of Food is a roadshow that visits many of the most prestigious festivals in the UK with a marquee packed with fare from top producers, cooking demonstrations and samples to taste. Among the exciting exhibitors it will bring to Wokingham will be quality cheeses, sausages and toffees as well as an authentic Indian cooking demonstration.

Traders Wokingham Motors, TradeMark Windows and Conservatories, Cantley House Hotel, A.B Walker & Son, Brown Brothers and N Power have also confirmed they will be attending the festival.

Mark Ashwell, chairman of the Wokingham Town Centre Steering Group, said: “The Wokingham Food and Drink Festival proved such a success last year, despite the weather, and I am delighted it’s returning. We hope to have even more exhibitors this year and I would encourage all local food businesses to sign up for this exciting festival.”

Businesses wanting to take part in the Wokingham Food and Drink Festival can find an application form on Wokingham Town Council’s website: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk or can call Brian Newman on 0118 974 0889.

Wokingham Borough Council

Children in the Wokingham Borough won’t have time to get bored during the school Easter holidays as the Spring In2 Action Programme from the sports development unit at Wokingham Borough Council has something for everyone!

Over 300 Wokingham children will take part in range of activities over the next fortnight (April 7 to 25). Activities include a goal keeping camp for the borough’s budding Marcus Hahnemanns and David James’ taking place at Cantley Park in Wokingham, where youngsters will learn basic skills such as shot stopping, catching and saving, footwork and an introduction to diving. They will also learn positioning and how to deal with crosses.

A play-scheme at Robert Piggott Junior School for children aged 4½ to 11, will offer creative activities for all plus there is a football course for youngsters aged five to 14 at Cantley Park in Wokingham with a coaching team from Reading Football Club, teaching them new skills plus the chance to take part in competitions for prizes.

Netball camps for youngsters aged 10 to 14, will be taking place as well as a tennis camp for those aged between five and 10 years old. Both these courses are being held at Cantley Park in Wokingham. During the week long course, young tennis players will learn the rules of tennis and fair play as well as how to develop their agility, balance and co-ordination. All courses are run by criminal records bureau checked coaches and are aimed at children of all abilities.

Wokingham Sports development manager Beverley Thompson said: “Spring In2 Action Programme offers children across the borough the chance to try out new sports or improve their skills at sports they are familiar with. We continue to encourage our youngsters to get active and take part in sport and we hope there is something for everyone on offer during the school holidays. It promises to be lots of fun!”

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham borough’s young people will show off their talents this month (April) when 11 acts take part in a multi-cultural charity youth event being organised by local youth group Aum Shakti.

The event has been almost one year in the making, starting last May, when the group, which is based in Lower Earley, successfully bid for £1,100 worth of funds from the youth opportunity fund, in order to host the event at Bearwood College on Friday April 25. Street dancing, singing, beat boxing, poetry and musical recitals and Bollywood folk dancing are just a few of the acts that will perform on the night.

Within the Wokingham Borough, the youth opportunity fund is run by the borough council’s youth forum known as Y10. The youth opportunity fund, financed by central government, is used to deliver more things to do and places to go for young people aged between 13 and 19. Placing trust in young people from Y10, they have the responsibility to decide what activities are needed and how the funds will be allocated in the Wokingham Borough.

Aum Shakti youth group put together a proposal to host the event, outlining how they planned to pull it all together and this was presented to Y10 last year. And in May 2007 Aum Shakti youth group learnt they had been successful and it is was all systems go to start turning the plans into reality. They quickly created flyers and posters advertising the auditions, which were circulated to schools and youth clubs throughout the borough.

They held auditions in January and there was a good take-up with 18 acts performing. The judges, comprising two of the youth group Hina Bhatti (18) and Aashish Kachwaha (16) plus Wokingham borough council’s arts development office Jane Clark, had a tough time on their hands to short-list the acts to 11. They developed criteria in order to judge all acts fairly. The 11 acts are now busy perfecting their performances. Other volunteers have also been recruited to work behind the scenes on the night.
The youth group have selected Peapods as their chosen charity. It is a locally based charity that supports families of physically disabled children, and will receive all profits from the night. Tickets are on sale now available by emailing aumshakti@hotmail.co.uk or by calling 07932 278482. They are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. On the night there will also be a raffle.

Aum Shakti youth group have also approached a number of local companies to seek additional financial support for the event. Kaushal Jewellers in Reading have donated a pair of 22 carat earrings for the raffle, and Reading-based Ayurveda Retreat have donated beauty treatments. Elite Interfaces from Reading have also sponsored the programme along with Valpee Printing and many more local sponsors. The youth group has been supported by the Hindu Society Reading.

Aashish Kachhwaha from Aum Shakti youth group said: “We are very excited and are looking forward to bringing local young talent to the forefront!”

Wokingham Borough Council’s arts development office Jane Clark, said: “Aum Shakti youth group have worked very hard over the past year to pull this event together and have developed a very professional approach to it. It promises to be a great night showcasing many youngsters’ talents and I hope that many local people will come along. Tickets can be purchased in advance and all monies raised will go to a very worthwhile local charity – Peapods.

“It is good to see Y10 also helping to support this event. Y10 organise the entire local grant scheme and do a good job in supporting many local projects, which ultimately benefit many of the borough’s young people.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A Wokingham campaign designed to filter out bogus get-rich schemes and fake prize draws has uncovered more than 30 potential scams circulating in the Wokingham Borough alone.

Wokingham Borough Council took part in the national Scamnesty Campaign earlier this year, where residents were asked to drop off anything they thought could be a scam-mailing into confidential Scamnesty bins.

The Wokingham council’s trading standards team found that out of all the leaflets and mailings dropped into the bins, there were potentially 33 scams in circulation across the borough. These have now been sent to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for investigation.

Scam mailings can be sent by post, email, telephone or even by text and usually take the form of bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures. Scammers usually target elderly or vulnerable people with these fake claims.

The leaflets gathered will provide the OFT with valuable information about what scams are circulating in what areas and who is responsible for the scams.

Alonso Ercilla, trading standards officer for the Wokingham council who led the Scamnesty campaign in the Wokingham Borough, said: “Postal, email and telephone scams are very cruelly designed to get vulnerable people to part with their money and so I’m pleased that through the Scamnesty campaign we have been able to give the OFT evidence about potential scams that have been operating in the borough.

“Anyone who does receive, what they think might be a scam mailing should send it in to trading standards so that we can collect evidence, investigate scammers and take appropriate action.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Work has started to create a puffin crossing near Wokingham Lambs Lane Primary School after members of the community asked for extra road improvements to be built in, to safeguard residents and schoolchildren.

Wokingham Borough Council has been working on finding a suitable location for a pedestrian crossing on Basingstoke Road for the past year with the school and Shinfield and Swallowfield Parish Councils. An appropriate point near the Beech Hill junction was agreed and so work started to install a new puffing crossing at the end of March 2008.

The borough council has already improved road safety for schoolchildren attending Lambs Lane Primary School by installing a zebra crossing on Back Lane, and it is hoped this new puffin crossing will make routes to school safer for all children.

There have been four recorded accidents on the road according to the latest figures available, which run from May 2004 to May 2007, three of which were classed as “slight” accidents and one in June 2006, which was a “serious” accident, where a child was injured crossing the road from behind a parked car.

Vikki Roberts, Wokingham roads manager, said: “I’m pleased that alongside Lambs Lane Primary School and Shinfield and Swallowfield Parish Councils we have been able to find a spot for the new crossing, which will help create a safer route to school for pupils at Lambs Lane Primary School.

“Wokingham Borough Council has worked hard to ensure that residents, parents and the community’s concerns about road safety in the area have been noted and acted upon – which is why the puffin crossing on Basingstoke Road and the zebra crossing in Back Lane have been agreed. I look forward to seeing the new puffin crossing being completed to make the Basingstoke Road safer for everyone who uses it.

Work to complete the crossing will take several weeks but it is expected to be finished and in full operation in the next few weeks.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council has been able to allocate reception year school places to all its pupils. Of the 1769 total number of Wokingham Borough applications received by the deadline, 96 per cent of applicants have received the offer of a place at one of their preferred schools.

However, this is an exceptionally large year group, with 227 more places offered than last year. This means that 67 applicants have been offered a place at their nearest available school, although it was not one of their named preferences.

The council is concerned that some children have been offered places at schools some distance from their home and is actively seeking ways of reducing this number by investigating whether additional capacity could be created in some schools.

The numbers could also be alleviated by the fact that each year there is considerable change between the initial and final allocation of places as some families accept places in other boroughs. Parents have until April 21 to confirm their acceptance of the offered place.

Wokingham Families that have not been offered a place at one of their preferred schools are able to join the waiting lists for those schools, and also have the right of appeal to an independent panel.

Chief executive Susan Law said: “The vast majority of children have been allocated their preference but we acknowledge the difficulties for families of those who need to be diverted or have children at a different school from their siblings. We understand how difficult this could be for some families and are working hard doing all we can to secure appropriate places for these children, including double-checking school capacity.”

Every parent has the right to appeal if they are refused a place at any of their preferred schools. Appeals are heard by independent panels made up of lay people and decisions are legally binding on both the school and the LEA. Members are appointed to these panels by the borough council, and are independent from the council and schools in questions.

Wokingham Borough Council

In a bid to stop people from chasing their tail if they find a stray dog in the Wokingham Borough, from April 6 the Wokingham Borough Council is offering a collection service for stray dogs that are found outside of office opening hours.

New laws will be introduced from Sunday April 6, removing the duties of the police to have stray dogs reported to them. Instead local authorities are required to provide a stray dog drop-off point.

The changes have been brought in under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, and require all councils to have a local contact and drop off point for stray dogs, regardless of the time of day or night. In addition to that, Wokingham Borough Council is offering an enhanced service whereby a stray dog, which is in a contained area and is reported by a member of the public, will be collected.

The number to call to report a stray dog out of office hours (5pm to 8.30am Monday to Friday, weekends and bank holidays) will be 0800 212 111. During office hours (8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) the person to call will still be the council’s animal warden via the main switchboard on (0118) 974 6000.

Any dog that poses a danger to the community or other animals, especially livestock, will still be the responsibility of the police. Thames Valley Police can be contacted on 08458 505 505.

Mandy Dorman, Wokingham Borough Council’s animal warden, said: “In certain circumstances stray dogs can be a danger to the public, for example they may be very nervous and wary of strangers, or they can run out in front of cars. There is also a greater risk of them fouling on pavements, parks and the highway.

“We’ve always had policies in place for dealing with stray dogs during office hours and this is just an extension of that to cover evenings, weekends and bank holidays. It is a legal requirement that anyone who finds a stray dog must report it as soon as possible, therefore from April 6 the number to call between 5pm and 8.30am, at weekends and bank holidays is 0800 212111. During the week from 8.30am to 5pm the number to call is 0118 974 6000.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Work on a major improvement scheme to upgrade junction 11 of the M4 and surrounding roads in Shinfield will start in April after the government released £62.05 million of funding for the project on Wednesday (March 26).

The scheme will upgrade the motorway junction as well as surrounding roads, including the Mereoak roundabout and part of the A33 Swallowfield bypass in Shinfield, which will eventually bring major benefits to road users as well as people living in Shinfield and Swallowfield, once work is completed in summer 2010.

Features will include extra junction capacity and dedicated facilities for public transport, pedestrians and cycles.

Wokingham Borough Council has been working in partnership with the Highways Agency and project leader Reading Borough Council for several years, to secure a plan to upgrade the junction and surrounding roads.

Contractor, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure, was appointed to carry out the work by Reading Borough Council on March 17, on behalf of the project and The Department for Transport released funding for the scheme on Wednesday March 26.

The project includes constructing a four-lane motorway junction with two new strategic road bridges around the existing motorway junction. The existing road bridges will be retained, with one used for pedestrians and the other for cyclists.

Two new signalized junctions south of the M4 at Mereoak, Shinfield, will also be constructed replacing the existing Three Mile Cross roundabout. A comprehensive landscaping scheme will also be created to complement the scheme.

Nearby residents living in Shinfield and Swallowfield and local businesses, community groups and key stakeholders will be kept regularly updated throughout the works.

Preparations for the major road improvement scheme started late last year when a noise barrier on the Basingstoke Road was built in November. Vegetation clearance also took place throughout February in preparation for the work to begin.

Tony Street, specialist projects officer, who is Wokingham Borough Council’s lead engineer on the project, said: “The funding confirmed yesterday by the government signals the start of work to upgrade junction 11 of the M4 after many years of planning.

“This will eventually bring some much-needed relief to the hugely congested roads in Shinfield that suffer daily from traffic jams, as well as providing a safer and greatly improved junction for everyone.”

Wokingham Borough Council

On Thursday April 3, the achievements of over 600 young Wokingham people in a variety of areas will be recognised at a special ceremony being organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service. Awards will be presented to young people completing courses in first aid, babysitting, moped training and anti-bullying to name just a few. Many will also receive recognition for their participation in nationally accredited awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and the Youth Achievement Award, as well as their involvement in local initiatives such as the youth parliament and the Berkshire Award.

Around 300 Wokingham people are expected to attend on the evening and those in attendance will be treated to a varied showcase of acts featuring young people. The council’s youth workers will also take to the stage throughout the night to offer more detail about the activities and projects of the past year and what has been achieved locally. As well as singing and dancing acts, there will also be a number of short presentations accompanied by slideshows or DVD footage, many showing a behind-the-scenes look at the young people’s experiences whilst participating in various projects.

Nigel Shaw, head of Wokingham youth service, said: “Young people can achieve so much in one year and it is important to acknowledge and recognise their efforts.” Mayor Cllr Annette Drake, who will be attending the evening, said: “Awards such as these bring out the very best in young people and I am proud that we have so many participants this year. The evening will be their chance to shine and receive a proper acknowledgement for all that they’ve achieved over the past twelve months. I would like to congratulate them all on their individual successes.”

Each of the Wokingham young people, whether they are able to attend on April 3 or not, will receive both a certificate and a colour programme to keep for posterity.

Wokingham Borough Council