Wokingham

More than 200 people flocked to London Valley Leisure Centre last week to take part in this year’s Wokingham ‘Celebration of Age’.

The energetic conference was organised by the Wokingham borough’s older people’s forums in conjunction with Wokingham Borough Council, Age Concern Woodley, the Cultural Partnership, Leisure Connection and Berkshire West Primary Care Trust.

Held on Thursday October 23, this year’s focus was all about keeping active, making new friends and having fun.

Wokingham Visitors showed that life begins at 50 by getting involved in the many free activities put on during the day, such as table tennis, bowls, seated exercises, swimming, line dancing and aerobics. There was also the chance for people to try their hand at arts and crafts at a range of workshops including jewellery making, weaving and card making.

Transport to and from the event was put on for anyone who needed it and a buffet lunch was provided for all, helping to keep everybody’s energy levels up well into the afternoon.

Many local Wokingham organisations, charities and specialist services all keen to spread the word about what they do and the services they can offer comprised a packed marketplace of stalls and information.

Wokingham Borough Council deputy executive member for social care Cllr Bob Wyatt said: “This was our second annual Celebration of Age event and I’m pleased to say it was a terrific success. We had more people come along than ever before and the sports hall was full of keen go-getters taking part in the activities to prove that age is no barrier to keeping active and having fun at the same time.”

Bob added: “Hopefully all those who enjoyed trying new things will be encouraged to join one of the borough’s leisure centres or take up a new hobby or pastime as a great way to keep fit and healthy.”

The Wokingham borough’s Older People’s Forums meet monthly to discuss issues affecting older people, represent their views and talk about hobbies and interests. There are five in the borough: Twyford, Woodley, Earley, Wokingham and Finchampstead. For more information on your local forum group, telephone Amanda Gordon on (0118) 974 6850.

Wokingham Borough Council

National Occupational Therapy Week is from November 3 to 9 and Wokingham Borough residents will have a chance to find out more about the range of services available to promote personal health and wellbeing.

Throughout the Wokingham week, there will be an information stand and display about Occupational Therapy services in the main reception at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham. And on November 6, residents will be able to come along between 10am and 4pm to meet the borough’s Occupational Therapists (OTs) who will give demonstrations of equipment and talk about their vital role in helping people.

OTs work with disabled Wokingham children and adults with a wide range of difficulties including physical, sensory or learning disabilities and mental health problems. This includes giving advice on how changes in the home or workplace environment can help in many ways, from wheelchair ramps to stair rails and other home adaptations that help people live more independently.

Wokingham Adult disability team manager Lorna Willis said: “The event aims to raise the profile of Occupational Therapy and give the general public a better understanding of the advice and support OTs can offer. Hopefully lots of people will be able to come along to see demonstrations of equipment and learn more about the work of an OT.”

For more information telephone on (0118) 974 6800 or email: lorna.willis@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council is calling on the remaining 9,500 households in borough who have not completed their electoral registration forms, to encourage them to do so now or risk losing their right to vote. And over the next few weeks canvassers will door-knock eligible voters in the Wokingham Borough who have not yet registered to vote.

Alison Wood, Wokingham electoral services manager, said: “Unfortunately, this year we have received fewer responses than previous years. Residents should bear in mind that if they don’t register, they can’t vote (and a general election could be called at any time). In addition, as the register is used by all the main credit reference companies, they may find it difficult to get a mobile phone or a mortgage. Every household has a legal obligation to complete the form each year, even if their circumstances haven’t changed.”

Some 50 Wokingham canvassers, who have all received special training, will be visiting households in the borough who have not registered to vote between October 29 and November 14. All councils are legally required to recruit, train and send out canvassers, who will each carry identification with them. 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 was sent in October.

Householders can still prevent a personal visit by returning their form as soon as possible. Residents wanting more information or assistance should call electoral services on (0118) 974 6522 / 6523.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council community safety officers, community development officers and community wardens joined police at three roadshows to highlight the work being done to make Wokingham Borough an even safer place to live.

The roadshows were held in Woodley, Lower Earley and the Norreys estate in Wokingham with three main objectives:

• To increase public confidence in Community Safety Partnership and the police and highlight the work they and other agencies are doing.

• To encourage the public to play their part.

• To provide reassurance to residents.

Wokingham Community safety officers also took the opportunity to find out what concerns residents had and to hand out anti-social behaviour booklets that let residents know who to contact in case of problems. Among the issues residents raised were anti-social behaviour and burglary.

Wokingham Borough Council community safety officer Stephanie Nagiel said: “It was really useful to get out and talk to people about their local concerns and to be able to explain what is being done. Most people we spoke to said they felt reassured by having had a chance to meet police and council officers and were glad to get information from us. The anti-social behaviour booklets were very popular as they gave people a clear guide on who to go to if they need help.”

The local neighbourhood watch administrator for Thames Valley Police was also at the events with police volunteers to encourage residents to be involved with a neighbourhood watch scheme or community messaging, which proved valuable as more than 25 people registered an interest in taking part. Wokingham Borough Council neighbourhood managers also went to the roadshows to hear local people’s concerns.

As well as information and advice for residents, the council’s community wardens also offered face painting to local children.

Wokingham Borough Council

A new collection of Wokingham Arabic books is now available at Lower Earley and Woodley libraries and to celebrate their arrival Lower Earley Library is hosting an Arabic afternoon next week.

Visitors to the library will be able to see Arabic handicrafts and a poster exhibition as well as find out about the Berkshire Arab Community Association and sample Arabic sweets during the event.

The Wokingham Arabic book collection, which has been donated by the Berkshire Arab Community Association, will include fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children, including Alice in Wonderland and Tales from 1001 Nights. There are also histories, health books, poetry collections and novels for adults and even a translation of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

The borough’s libraries now stock collections in Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Urdu as well as Arabic.

Wokingham Borough Council collection development officer Sarah Barrett said: “It is great to be able to work with the Berkshire Arab Community Association to expand what we are offering and to serve another part of the community. We are also delighted that Lower Earley Library is celebrating the arrival of these books and hopefully many people will go along.”

Wokingham Borough Council

The first phase of a Wokingham project to transform a neglected piece of land into a community garden has been completed.

Wokingham Borough Council’s community wardens Gemma Herbert and Jennie Cox are working with residents to turn a patch of grassland in Drovers Way, Woodley, which was regularly used by fly-tippers from an eyesore into an attractive garden. The project was launched with the help of the Woodley junior wardens in April when they helped clean up the area and now the improvements have started in earnest with a new bench, bin and footpath installed.

The second phase of the Wokingham work will involve digging out the flower beds and borders and the final phase will be the planting later in the year. The wardens are planning to involve as many local residents as well as schools, businesses and residential homes as possible.

Wokingham Community warden Gemma Herbert said: “It is great to see the improvements taking shape and we feel this project has really got up and running well. The next stage will be preparation but when we start planting we will be contacting everybody in the area to get them involved. We see this as not just about making physical improvements but also about building community spirit in the area by involving lots of people – and so far it has been very positive.”

Wokingham Borough Council

An innovative way to stop Wokingham drivers speeding on potentially dangerous stretches of road will be deployed by Wokingham Borough Council for the first time this month.

Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) are warning signs that are triggered by speeding vehicles travelling over a set limit and are used to encourage drivers to slow down. They are large, static and quite expensive and so the number that can be deployed is limited. A mobile VAS carries out the same function but is considerable smaller and more flexible. In the Wokingham borough, a pair of mobile VAS will be deployed for week-long periods at locations that fit certain criteria, such as a history of personal injury accidents.

Wokingham Borough Council already places permanent VAS on roads that meet specific criteria but the mobile VAS will allow greater flexibility and will be used in areas that do not meet the full criteria for a permanent installation.

The Wokingham mobile VAS will first be placed in Butts Hill Road, Woodley for a week before moving to Mereoak Lane in Shinfield as part of the junction 11 improvement project. Locations have been chosen with the help of town and parish councils and approved sites have been set for the next two months. In the future, town and parish councils will be able to request sites, although these will have to meet the criteria and be approved by the borough council.

The criteria for mobile VAS deployment are:

• The location does not meet the criteria for a permanent VAS

• There is a history of personal injury accident in the vicinity

• A speeding problem has been demonstrated by speed surveys

• Member, town and parish councils have voiced concerns over vehicle speeds

• Residents have concerns over vehicle speed

Wokingham Borough Council

A total of 35 drivers were stopped in a three hour Wokingham crack-down on speeding and irresponsible driving on Monday October 13 with many caught breaking the speed limit just metres from a primary school.

Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officer, Julie Pillai, has joined forces with the police on a speed enforcement check scheme to stop drivers from breaking the speed limit and to educate them about the dangers of speeding.

On October 13 the Wokingham team stopped 35 motorists in three hours – out of these 21 were stopped in Longwater Road, Finchampstead, between 8am and 9.40am. The speed limit on the road is 30mph but 12 people were found to be travelling at a speed between 36mph and 39mph, while nine people were travelling between 40mph and 49mph. The nine people travelling over 40mph were issued with fixed penalty notices of £60 and three penalty points, while the other 12 were spoken to about their speed.

A further 14 people were stopped between 10am and 11.15am on Nine Mile Ride (near to Johnson Drive) for speeding – many motorists were caught travelling above the 30mph speed limit on the road, which runs past Nine Mile Ride Primary School.

Out of those stopped, 12 people were travelling between 36mph and 39mph, one person was travelling between 40mph and 49mph. One person was stopped for having no seatbelt on.

A similar Wokingham exercise was carried out on Friday, October 10, in Finchampstead Road (near Washington Gardens), Barkham Road and Keephatch Road. The team stopped 49 people on Friday morning, 46 were travelling over the speed limit and three were wearing no seatbelt. One of the drivers was found to be speeding between 50mph and 59mph in Finchampstead Road – almost double the 30mph speed limit.

Julie Pillai, Wokingham road safety officer, said: “Over the course of two mornings 84 motorists were stopped for either speeding or not wearing their seatbelt. This is quite a high figure considering we were only out for a few hours and many of the drivers were well over the limit – worryingly one person was travelling at almost double the speed limit in a built up residential area.

“The joint project with the police enables us to punish those drivers speeding excessively with a fine and educate those travelling just above the limit about what danger they are putting themselves, other motorists and pedestrians in. It also enables us to educate people who think that it is okay to not wear a seatbelt. I hope that through this type of education more motorists will think twice about their behaviour before getting in the car.”

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, said: “Speeding is not acceptable however speeding in areas which are residential and near schools is appalling. I’m pleased that by working with the police we are able to educate drivers breaking the law and can encourage them to think about their bad habits in future so that Wokingham Borough can continue to be a safe place.”

PC Tom Thomas, who was part of the team that carried out the speed enforcement checks, added: “This is a priority for the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Action Group. We will continue to carry out speed enforcement checks in the area and will prosecute drivers. I hope that drivers will think about children and the elderly walking on the pavements and make them think about not speeding.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Providing a framework for the future regeneration and development of sites within Wokingham Town Centre, the draft Wokingham Town Centre Development Guide is set to get the go-ahead for consultation from the borough council’s decision-making executive next week.

Thursday October 30 will see the ten-strong Wokingham executive consider the 60-page draft planning document, which sets out a long-term vision for the town and gives detailed guidance for how the town will develop over the next two decades. At this stage, the executive is being asked to give the go-ahead for the draft document to go out for consultation – first to the Wokingham Town Centre Forum and then to the general public.

The Wokingham Guide will have an influence on any developer partner chosen to work jointly with the borough council to help regenerate Wokingham Town Centre and, once finalised, will be used to inform the production of Development Briefs for specific sites. It will also help meet the council’s overall vision to make the borough ‘a great place to live and work, where residents feel valued and the council promotes economic growth with good quality of life and opportunity for all’.

Proposing five character areas, each aiming to deliver renaissance within Wokingham Town Centre, the Guide’s mission is to help ensure that regeneration of the town centre leads to Wokingham being the centre of choice for shopping and leisure. Whilst the town will be mainly retail and commercial, the scope to provide more housing, small business, community and cultural opportunities will be considered to add to the vitality of the centre.

Based upon consultation, the Guide aims:

• To ensure that development occurs in a coordinated way

• To create a high quality network of streets and spaces

• To promote Wokingham Town Centre as a shopping and leisure destination through redevelopment

• To promote pedestrian priority measures within the town centre.

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for Wokingham local and regional planning, said: “If given the green light for consultation, the Development Guide will be fine-tuned with the help of the Wokingham Town Centre Forum - an advisory group set up in response to the public workshops on the town centre held in January and June - who will comment on the draft document in mid-November before statutory consultation takes place towards the end of 2008. I very hope that as many people as possible have their say on this important document when the six-week public consultation starts in December.

“The forum will also consider methods for future community involvement and support and promote that involvement as well as bring in specific ideas and suggestions relevant to the Guide and help promote it once adopted.”

Cllr Matthew Deegan, executive member for Wokingham community regeneration, said: “The redevelopment will have an impact on the town for decades to come and we have got to make sure that it is done properly. In public consultations undertaken to date, there is a recognition that the long term future redevelopment of Wokingham Town Centre should happen in a more co-ordinated way.

“This important planning document will therefore provide a coordinated framework to guide future development within the Wokingham Town Centre and give a degree of certainty to the local community, retailers, landowners and developers as to the intended direction of development within the town centre to help ensure regeneration.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s animal warden is pick of the litter after scooping the prestigious national Dog Warden of the Year 2008 award.

Mandy Dorman, who has worked as Wokingham council’s animal warden for nine years, was shocked to discover she had won the most notable trophy in the industry on Monday October 13, as she had no idea her name had been put forward for the National Dog Warden Association’s (NDWA) accolade.

The news of the award was broken to a stunned Mandy via a phone call from the NDWA’s 25th annual awards ceremony in Cheshire.

Mandy, who recently set up the Wokingham borough’s Dog & Bone text scheme – which is the very first missing pet-text scheme to be launched in the country, and runs the council’s missing dog gallery to reunite lost dogs with their owners, was nominated for the award for her hard work and sheer dedication. The committee and members of NDWA nominated Mandy for the award.

Since taking up the Wokingham animal warden role Mandy has rescued well over a thousand stray dogs, with the majority being reunited with their owners and the rest being re-homed via animal rescue centres.

It is Mandy’s dedication to reuniting lost pets with their owners, promoting good animal welfare practices and keeping residents and animals in the borough safe that has earned her the recognition of the NDWA.

Mandy said: “It’s a real honour to have won this award as it really is the only top dog warden award around. I’m so pleased that all the hard work that is put in to reuniting stray dogs in the borough with their owners and looking after animal welfare has been recognised – but I’m more shocked than anything as I really didn’t have any idea I was in the running.

“This award highlights just how important it is to have good dog warden practices in place, and this, as much as anything else, is about educating the public about being responsible dog owners and the duties that come with having a pet.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “We’re all extremely proud of Mandy and the tireless effort she puts into her job every day. This award is certainly well deserved as she is a real star of the council.

“Losing a pet can be very distressing but thanks to Mandy and her innovative ideas there’s a great chance that missing dogs will be reunited with their owners in the Wokingham Borough. Also, stray dogs can create mess and frighten people – but Mandy does a great job in catching animals to ensure their welfare and residents’ welfare is not hindered.

“Many congratulations to Mandy on this great award – I hope that she continue to receive the recognition she truly deserves!”

Neil Burton, chairman of the NDWA, said: “Mandy’s continual promotion of the responsible dog ownership initiatives as well as the provision of animal warden service for the benefit of all residents in the Wokingham area combined with her commitment to disseminating information on lost and found dogs in a wider area, set her head and shoulders above the rest of her fellow dog wardens and animal welfare officers within the NDWA. We send our heartfelt congratulations.”

Anyone who wants to register their details for the Wokingham Dog and Bone scheme should call Mandy Dorman, on (0118) 974 6356 or email lostdogs@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham Borough continues to celebrate the best ever GCSE results with the publication today (October 16) of the provisional GCSE attainment and achievement tables.

Published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the provisional results show Wokingham borough’s pupils have once again been recognised for their hard work by being ranked fourth in the country for the national indicator in GCSE and equivalent for achieving five or more GCSEs A* to G grades including English and Maths. Some 95.5 per cent of pupils achieved this result compared with the national average of 87 percent.

In a separate indicator, Wokingham borough’s pupils were also ranked seventh in the country for pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs including English and maths. Some 60.8 per cent of the borough’s pupils achieved this compared with the national average of 47.2 per cent. And results for the number of pupils achieving A* to C grade rose by just over four per cent to 70.6 on last year’s figures (66.4 percent). This year’s figure is six percent higher than the national average of 64.6 percent.

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “The borough schools had one of the most - if not the most - successful academic year at all key stages of education in 2007/08 and this is something of which we should be immensely proud. These results are still provisional until they are confirmed early next year, but I think we can be confident that even with any modifications, Wokingham Borough Council’s pupils have had a bumper year and both pupils and staff have worked extremely hard to achieve such fantastic results.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Looking for something to do with your baby and toddler during the Wokingham half term school holidays later this month (October 27 to 31)? If so, why not come along to one of the free activity sessions being organised Wokingham Borough’s children’s centre team?

A variety of fun Wokingham activities for children under five will be taking place in various locations across the Wokingham Borough. The sessions run for an hour and a half and are fun-packed with story times, rhymes and songs, arts and crafts plus a range of toys of youngsters to play with.

The free session are taking place on:

• Tuesday October 28 at Chestnuts Pre School, Woosehill between 10am and 11.30am

• Tuesday October 28 at Emmbrook Village Hall, Emmbrook between 2pm and 3.30pm

• Thursday October 30 at Twyford Youth Centre between10am and 11.30am

• Thursday October 30 Wargrave Youth Centre between 2pm and 3.30pm

• Friday October 31 Barkham Village Hall between10am and 11.30am

• Friday October 31 St Mary's and St John's Parish Hall, Finchampstead between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Jacqueline Riddles, Wokingham children’s centre manager, said: “There is so much going on for families at the Wokingham Borough’s children’s centres and the latest free sessions are a great way for children to learn new things, and enjoying activities as a family. The centres across the borough are well used by families with children under the age of five and we are pleased to be offering free activities at a number of community venues this half term.

“Activities like these give children the chance to be entertained during the school holidays and also offers parents and carers the chance to meet new people. Older siblings are welcome to attend the session, but please bear in mind activities are aimed at the under fives.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Members of Barkham youth club recently scooped a top Berkshire youth service award for their ‘lights, camera, action’ work on Wokingham Borough Council’s Clothes Talk project.

The Barkham youth club members’ quest for their award began when they raided Berkshire Costume Service’s dressing up box in July to choose some costumes for a film they were making later that month. The young people created their own videos whilst wearing vintage items of clothing and accessories from the Wokingham borough council’s costume service. They wrote pieces to be performed, set around many different genres. The youngsters were taking part in the ongoing Clothes Talk project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and filmed their work at Easthampstead Park in Wokingham with the help of Reading-based educational charity Real Time, which specialises in participatory arts projects.

The group of youngsters aged between 13 and 16 years were nominated for the award by Wokingham Borough Council youth worker Louise Morris. She said: “The young people who took part in the project received the Berkshire Award for their personal achievement and progress. They should be proud of the commitment they have shown in this project.”

The Berkshire Award, which is organised by the six Berkshire unitary authorities, credits young people who achieved the three identified learning outcomes over a period of ten hours or more. The award relates to their own individual growth including personal and social development, the skills of the group and their work in the community.

Louise Morris continued: “The young people had been working with the Berkshire Costume Service and the Clothes Talk project for several months. This project has enabled young people to demonstrate both their acting talent and that of learning the skills required to operate video and sound equipment through the help of Real Time. Most importantly, the young people have been developing these new skills in a fun and interactive way. I am so glad that their achievements have been recognised by this award.”

Clive Robertson, creative director of Real Time, said: “The young people we worked with on the Clothes Talk project showed great commitment and creativity. They devised and produced several short films based on the period costumes they chose. They travelled to various locations to make the films which included gothic mysteries and Victorian inspired dramas. It was excellent to work with such an enthusiastic group who produced high quality work.”

Eleanor Taylor (15) from Twyford, said: "During the project we had to invent, prepare and make a short movie using the clothes we had picked. It was really funny rehearsing our films and looking at the costumes."

Chris Ross (15) from Barkham, said: “I enjoyed doing the stunts for my short film and using the video camera - it was enjoyable and fun."

The young people who earned a Berkshire Award were presented with a certificate by Louise Morris on Friday (October 10) and they will also be invited to the Wokingham Borough Council’s youth achievement awards ceremony, taking place next year.

Wokingham Borough Council

Restaurants in the Wokingham Borough have been challenged on claims that food dished up to customers is made from organic, free-range or protected food names during Operation Parmesan.

Wokingham Borough Council’s trading standards team visited 20 different eateries in the borough between start of July and end of September to check if menu claims that they were using specific ingredients were being implemented in the kitchen.

Wokingham Trading standards officers checked for four different things when they visited the restaurants, this included checking:

• The origin of the ingredient, for example English asparagus, that was stated on the menu corresponded to the ingredient prepared and served

• The ingredient, for example an egg, was a free-range product, if that was promised to the consumer

• That only organic ingredients were used in meals where it was specifically stated

• That legally protected names, like the cheese Parmagiano Reggiano were not substituted for a different Italian hard cheese if that particular name was promised to customers.

The operation showed four claims by the restaurants, out of the 65 made, were false. One false claim was for using a product that was not the legally protected name, while three false claims were for using ingredients that were not from the origin promised.

During Wokingham Operation Parmesan trading standards officers checked invoices, packaging and checked with chefs what type of ingredient they were using, to see if it matched the restaurant’s claims. Where necessary, the food suppliers were also contacted to verify the description of the food supplied to the restaurant. The exercise was carried out after previous spot checks on restaurants for other trading standards issues flagged up that these types of claim were being made more commonly as a selling point and that some traders were being careless about the accuracy of these claims.

Those restaurants that were found to be selling incorrectly described products have now been warned by trading standards that the practice is illegal, and have been given help to implement a procedure so that it does not happen again in future.

Alonso Ercilla, Wokingham trading standards officer, said: “Stating that a food product is from somewhere in particular or by claiming it is organic, free range or a certain brand is often a big selling point and usually encourages consumers to purchase that particular dish.

“To advertise that it is one of those things and then use something else is completely misleading and illegal. The majority of the time restaurants do not do it on purpose, it’s usually down to having poor processes in place so that the wrong ingredients are used – which is why we have taken the steps to educate restaurants using incorrect products so that it doesn’t happen inadvertently in future.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, added: “It’s a really big selling point to claim that certain food products are from a particular country or that they are organic or free range – and when consumers order that dish in a restaurant it’s quite right that they expect to receive the product that has been advertised.

“This operation had the purpose of making restaurants think twice before serving up the wrong dish. Consumers have a right to get what they pay for and using the wrong ingredients unintentionally is no excuse.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A massive data-matching exercise is taking place in the Wokingham Borough this week as part of a drive to clamp down on fraud, including benefit cheats and people not declaring benefit overpayments.

Wokingham Borough Council is securely and confidentially sharing data with the Audit Commission over the course of this week, so it can be matched to other local authorities, police, probation boards, and fire and rescue authority records over the next few months.

Any discrepancies in the records will be fully examined in February 2009 and only after that work is carried out will Wokingham residents be contacted should there be further investigation needed. Where inconsistencies occur there is a chance that fraudulent activity could be taking place, this includes claiming benefit without being entitled to it, claiming too much benefit or failing to declare overpayments.

All data sent this week will be done so electronically, so there is no risk of personal details being recorded and lost on paper files, disks or laptops. The information will be sent securely from the council’s computer records to the Audit Commission’s computers.

The Audit Commission has been running data-matching investigations since 1996 when the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) was launched, and so far it has detected £450million worth of fraud nationally.

Councils, police, fire and probation services are all asked to supply secure data under the NFI. Wokingham Borough Council must provide details including:

• Current and former tenant information,
• Housing and council tax benefit claimant details,
• Information on private supported car home residents,
• Transport passes and permits
• Insurance claimant details

Paul Ohsan Ellis, business assurance auditor, said: “We are taking part in the data matching exercise under the Audit Commission’s National Fraud Initiative to ensure any fraudulent activity is stopped.

“This initiative is also a warning to anyone thinking about committing fraud that there are robust checks in place at a high level in the Wokingham Borough – and we will use all the resources available to us to ensure that those committing fraud are caught and punished.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, added: “Fraud costs the tax payer a lot of money – it’s simply not fair that people abuse the system and get away with it at the cost of honest residents, which is why we are pursuing this.

“However, I’d like to reassure residents that every effort has been made to secure their personal details from being lost. We are using secure computers and encrypted data so there is no risk of it being lost in the post. Only if there are inconsistencies in the data will residents be contacted and a thorough investigation will be carried out.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council is one of the local authorities to have made investments in the Icelandic banks - £3million in Heritable and £2million in Landsbanki - that have currently stopped depositors withdrawing assets.

At the time of the investments, the Wokingham borough council’s policy was to only invest in highly secure organisations and both banks concerned had high financial security ratings. Since the onset of the recent international financial problems, the council has further tightened its policy and is now only investing in the safest AAA rated companies and Government backed organisations.

The Wokingham council is doing everything in its power to ensure it recovers its investment and is backing the Local Government Association’s lobbying of central government on behalf of a substantial number of authorities to extend the protection being given to retail investors to cover local authorities as well.

Wokingham Borough Council takes its responsibilities to its residents very seriously but could not have foreseen the extent of this current financial crisis. However we can assure residents that we will continue to strive to ensure that local residents do not lose out in the current situation.

Wokingham Borough Council

A new and improved Wokingham bus service for people getting about the borough and into Reading, will be launched later this month.

Thames Travel will be running the 126, 127, 128 and 129, which link Reading, Woodley, Sonning, Charvil, Twyford, Winnersh and Wokingham, from Monday October 27 and will be improving the shopping time service to a regular hourly service – so that it is easier for passengers to remember, currently it has an irregular timetable.

Combined with the existing 850 service provided by Arriva The Shires the new Thames Travel improvements will mean that a bus between Reading and Twyford is available every 30 minutes.

The new service will also see a later bus run from Reading into the Wokingham borough – with the last bus leaving at 6.20pm. This improvement has been initiated after commuters said they would like to see an early evening bus made available.

Getting in to Maidenhead to do some shopping on a Saturday will also be much easier as there will be a regular bus every two hours on the 127 route – which will pick up passengers in Upper Wargrave on the way through, from November 1.

The 128 and 129 currently run between Wokingham and Winnersh via Emmbrook village but will go direct on the main Reading Road once the new service starts. The 122 and 123 buses will pick up and drop off in Emmbrook village instead – so an hourly bus service will still be available, and morning buses will also run all the way through to Tesco in Finchampstead Road.

New buses will be en route from early 2009 and combined with the new timetable an enhanced service will greet bus users. However there will be no extra cost as ticket prices will remain the same, and in some cases for certain journeys it will be cheaper!

The changes have been made to ensure the Wokingham bus routes available are frequent and meet passengers’ demands and needs. However as the Knowl Hill early morning and evening bus was used poorly, with only a handful of people ever using the service, it will cease from October 27.

Wokingham Borough Council

Teenagers can get their first taste of what it’s like behind the wheel during a pre-driver training event being hosted by Wokingham Borough Council later this month.

Wokingham Youngsters aged 16 and 17 can take part in a one-day Motorvation course, which will prepare them for when they apply for their provisional licence and take driving lessons, as well as offer practical information for once they have passed their test.

The course will run from 9.15am to 4pm at Woodley Airfield Youth Centre in Woodley on Wednesday October 29.

As well as offering Wokingham teenagers the chance to have a short driving lesson for the first time the course will give participants:

- Advice on buying a used car
- Post-accident first aid information
- An insight into the causes and effects of traffic accidents
- Advice on legal requirements
- A chance to learn more about road accidents and safe driving from the emergency services.

The day is being organised by Wokingham Borough Council, in conjunction with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, fully qualified driving instructors with dual control vehicles and the Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People, for 16 and 17-year-olds applying for their provisional driving licence in the next 12 months.

Julie Pillai, Wokingham road safety officer, said: “The Motorvation course is designed to give young people, who are likely to be applying for their provisional driving licence in the near future, the chance to find out all about what it’s like behind the wheel. It will also give them insight into what responsibilities come with owning and driving a car, so that they become safer drivers once they’ve passed their test.”

Although mainly for 16 and 17 year olds, anyone between 15 and 19 can sign up for the course, but places must be reserved in advance by calling (0118) 974 6387. An application form and further information is available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/motorvation

There will be an additional chance for 15 to 19-year-olds to get some advice on safe driving when the council’s youth services hosts a Motorwise Road User Education workshop at Earley Centrepoint Youth Centre on October 30 from 10am to 5pm.

The free workshop, which is organised and facilitated by the Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People (BACYP) will teach young people about safe driving as well as how to be a responsible road-user. The day-long session will tackle different road-related topics and will highlight what can go wrong if people don’t drive responsibly.

It will feature a road safety workshop, guidance on emergency first aid, a talk by a member of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service; a session educating young people about the legal requirements for having a car on the road, and tips on buying a second-hand car. The young people taking part will get to drive dual-controlled vehicles on a site away from public roads.

Rachael Holmes, youth worker for Earley Centrepoint, said: “We had quite a few young people at Earley Centrepoint who were coming up to the age of being able to have driving lessons. There were also quite a lot of careless attitudes about driving going around, so we talked to the young people about the Motorwise Project and they thought it was a good compromise as they get a driving lesson in exchange for some road education.

“It’s great training as it teaches young people how to be a safe and considerate driver, as well as teaching them vital skills like what to do if you’re first on the scene of a crash. With so many young people dying on our roads each year courses like this are invaluable. The young people are rewarded at the end of the course with a driving lesson, so it’s lots of fun too.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Flashbacks to the 1930s will greet all those who visit California Country Park, Wokingham this Sunday (October 12) as the much-loved park takes a step back in time to celebrate its holiday camp and speedway history.

Some of the original bikes that raced around the park in Finchampstead more than 70 years ago will be on display, as part of the community California Speedway and Hi-de-Hi History Day, which aims to celebrate the diverse culture and history of the park.

As well as a speedway track, which saw riders thrash it out in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, the park was used as a holiday camp where families spent their summer holidays.

Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside rangers will be giving guided tours throughout the day to explain how the park was originally used in the 1930s by entrepreneur Alf Cartilidge who transported day-visitors to the site, which he named California-in-England after the nearby California Post Office.

Several years later, chalets were built on the Wokingham site and it was used as a holiday camp, accommodating up to 300 guests at a time. The camp offered boating, swimming, speedway, a small zoo and a miniature railway. It also offered dancing in a huge dance hall, which could hold up to 500 dancers at a time. The dance floor was partly made of glass that is rumoured to have been some of the remains of London’s Crystal Palace – which was partly burned down in one of the capital’s biggest fires in 1936.

Lynn Yardley, Wokingham countryside ranger, said: “Many people don’t realise just what a great and diverse cultural history California Country Park has, and so this is a way of helping the community explore what history there is right on their very own doorstep.

“It promises to be an exciting day as their will be speedway bikes here that were originally used at the park all the way back in the 1930s. If you’re in the area then why now come down and listen to what it was like here 70-odd years ago when speedway enthusiasts tell their stories of the starting line!”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s Deaf Services team are holding a range of events this week, helping to mark the British Deaf Association’s Learn to Sign Week (October 6 -12).

People who are deaf or have hearing impairments are invited to find out about a range of special equipment and useful information at an information stall in the civic offices’ main reception, Shute End, Wokingham. The team will be giving demonstrations of equipment such as minicoms, screen phones, television loops, special door bells and alarm clocks.

And keeping on the Wokingham Learn to Sign theme, visitors, staff and passers by will be shown how to spell their name in British Sign Language as a fun way of giving people a taste of how sign language works.

Wokingham’s Deaf Services Team also provides community care services to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing children and adults living in Bracknell Forest, Reading and Royal Windsor and Maidenhead boroughs, in agreement with three Berkshire unitary authorities. Through the week, the team will also be holding events in these areas, including family centres and civic offices.

For more information telephone the Deaf Services Team on (0118) 944 5421 or email: deafservices@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

It’s National Customer Service Week from October 6 – 10, and Wokingham Borough Council is preparing to go the extra mile! Prizes and award schemes for customers, staff and town and parish councils are planned to help make sure good customer service is top of the agenda for everyone – and to recognise some of the council’s best performing customer service providers.

With more than 1,000 UK organisations taking part, National Customer Service Week is designed to raise awareness of customer service and the vital role it plays within an organisation. It is also an opportunity to say a big thank you to those who work in customer service for a job well done.

Zoë Babb the council’s Wokingham customer service officer said: “To celebrate Customer Service Week we’ll be giving our customers the opportunity to feedback on our services and tell us what we’re doing well and where we need to improve. Those who take part will be in with a chance of winning a great prize! We’ll also be giving customers, staff and town and parish councils the opportunity to nominate individual members of staff, teams and contractors for a number of customer service awards in recognition of their hard work and dedication.”

Organisations are encouraged to organise their own events so Wokingham Borough Council has created the WISPA’s (Wokingham’s Inspirational Staff and Partners Awards). There will be an award issued for each of the following categories:

• Customers’ Choice – Nominations from the Residents of Wokingham Borough only

• Colleague2Colleague – Nominations from Wokingham Borough Council staff only

• Team Spirit Award – Council Staff

• Praising our Partners Award – Award for the council’s partner organisations

• Caring for our Community Award – Town and Parish Councils only

• Wokingham’s Shining Star Award – To be awarded by the Chief Executive

To nominate someone for a Wokingham award, residents and other customers of the council should visit www.wokingham.gov.uk/customerserviceawards, pick up a nomination form the council’s reception desk at the civic offices in Shute End, or contact Zoë Babb on (0118) 974 6350 or email: zoe.babb@wokingham.gov.uk. Further details about National Customer Service Week can be found at www.nationalcustomerserviceweek.com

Wokingham Borough Council

On Wednesday October 29, Wokingham Borough Council will be commemorating the life of the late Captain David Hicks at a special ceremony being attended by his parents and representatives from the council.

Following a notice of motion submitted at council by Cllr Malcolm Bryant, deputy executive member for community development, in June, committee room one and two at the Civic Offices, Shute End in Wokingham, will be named after the Wokingham Borough soldier who died in Afghanistan in August last year.

Captain David Hicks of the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for service with his regiment in Afghanistan. Whilst mortally injured, Captain Hicks continued to support operations to extricate soldiers under his command. Mayor Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons will unveil a plaque in memory of Captain Hicks, and Mr Alun Hicks will present a framed photograph of David to hang in the room.

Wokingham Cllr Malcolm Bryant said: “We wish to send our sincere condolences to Captain Hicks’ parents on the tragic loss of their son. There can be fewer acts of courage and bravery than that shown by Captain Hicks whilst serving in Afghanistan. He was a brave young man who continued, although mortally injured, to dedicate himself to the soldiers under his command.

“Captain Hicks showed great leadership to his men, we could all learn something from him. Everyone in the Wokingham Borough should be very proud and I am pleased we are able to make a fitting dedication to him.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Choral Society Concert

Mozart and Handel Choral Concert

22/11/08

Mozart: Mass in C Minor KV 427
Handel: Ode on St Cecilia's Day (1739)

Excelsis Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Alexander Chaplin
Soprano: Amanda Forbes
Soprano: Sally Harrison
Tenor: Joseph Cornwell
Baritone: Wyn Pencarreg

Reading University Great Hall, RG1 5AQ at 7.30pm . Free pre-concert talk at 6.30pm

Tickets: £14 (concessions £12) available from Sue Bryant 0118 934 0283 or tickets@wokingham-choral-society.org.uk , Choir Members, Wokingham Information Centre and Bookends, Peach Street, Wokingham

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

Located at the Community House on Billing Avenue in Finchampstead, Wokingham the youth club runs on Wednesday evenings between 7pm and 9pm and is open to 13 to 19 year-olds. Finchampstead Youth Club is currently accepting new members and is completely free to attend.

A great deal is on offer at the youth club, including the chance to take part in arts and crafts activities, cookery sessions, costume design, trips off-site and debates about issues affecting young people today.

Louise Morris, Wokingham youth worker said: “Every year, we try to get a new range of young people joining us. They have the scope to decide on activities and projects and even get involved in running them if they want to. It means members are able to ‘own’ their club and have a real say about how they spend their time. If you are interested in taking part, why not come along and join in the fun!”
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More information on Finchampstead Youth Club is available from Louise Morris, youth worker, on: (0118) 979 7915 or 07714 226730.

Wokingham Borough Council

Plans to pursue an ambitious £2.9million scheme to regenerate California Country Park were given the green light by Wokingham Borough Council’s executive last week (Thursday 25 September).

The Wokingham executive gave the council’s countryside service the go-ahead to pursue funding for the scheme, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) later this month. The proposed improvements are based on how residents have told the council they want to see the Finchampstead park regenerated.

Over the summer the Wokingham countryside service asked residents for suggestions on how the park should be improved and asked them to select a preferred option out of three possible ideas to upgrade it.

Nearly 1,000 Wokingham people submitted their thoughts and 45 per cent of respondents selected option three – which included a new café and visitor centre on the lake edge and converting the existing café to a community building.

Option one, which included retaining the café, extending the scout hut and enhancing the landscape, was favoured by 21 per cent of people and option two, which featured creating a new multi-use building behind the current café, constructing a courtyard linking the café and new building, was the preferred choice of 24 per cent of people. Thirteen per cent of people did not register a preferred option.

The Wokingham executive approved the submitting a bid to the HLF, under its Parks for People initiative, to fund a scheme based on option three. The project can only go forward if 75 per cent of the money needed for the scheme can be secured from the HLF.

Wokingham Borough Council would be responsible for providing the remaining 25 per cent, which would be made via developer contributions, plus if the plan goes ahead, the council would commit to having full-time staff based at the site to provide a full range of activities and events for the community.

The upgraded park would also include:

• A new visitor centre and café area

• Renovation of the existing café so it could be used as a scout hut

• Car park improvements and road surfacing

• A new play area for children under seven

• Improved landscaping

• Enhancements to bus stops on Nine Mile Ride

• Better footpaths leading into the park
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As well as being the option preferred by more residents and park lovers, option three is also considered to be the most likely to receive HLF support.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “Creating parks for all our residents to enjoy and be proud of is extremely important, which is why we have been looking at ways of upgrading California Country Park over the past few months. In our vision we have committed ourselves to improving parks and open spaces and this could be one way of fulfilling that pledge.

“The executive supported residents’ preferred choice for the park at its meeting last week and so a strong bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to support the improvements will be put forward by today (October 1).”

Successful ideas will be announced in March 2009 by the HLF, detailed plans will then be submitted by the successful organisations in 2010 before funding is released.

Wokingham Borough Council

It may not be plain sailing when it comes to living near a river or stream but Wokingham residents wanting to find out how to keep afloat during any future flooding can get some valuable advice next month.

Thames Valley Flood Awareness Month takes place in October and to help Wokingham Borough residents arm themselves, and their property, against any flood damage in the future a flood fair will be floating into town from Monday October 6 to Friday to October 10.

Wokingham Borough Council has been working with the Environment Agency, other local authorities, the National Flood Forum and the emergency services to design a package of information that residents in the borough can dip into, so they know exactly what their responsibility is, and what the council and emergency services will do during a flood and to prevent flooding.

A stand with information and details on how to get further advice will be available during office hours, from 8.30am to 7pm, during the week in the foyer of Wokingham council’s Shute End civic offices. Information leaflets on flood prevention will available for residents to take away, plus community resilience officers will be available every day from 12.30pm to 1.30pm to answer any questions that the public may have.

Thames Valley Flood Awareness Month has been designed to alert residents about the risk of living near a river, stream or culvert, drainage ditch or other water course and how they can reduce that risk with simple steps. It also aims to arm residents with knowledge to help themselves should the borough become flooded again.

It has been launched in the wake of the heavy downpours in July 2007, which caused some of worst flooding the borough and region has seen. More than 140 homes suffered flood damage after an unprecedented amount of rain fell on July 20, 2007 and continued for more than 100 hours.**

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, with responsible for flooding and drainage, added: “Wokingham Borough Council is always looking at ways we can help prevent flood damage, but it is also vital that we encourage people to do what they can themselves.

“Many people in the Wokingham Borough were affected by last summer’s floods and the council only has limited resources to cope with emergency demands, even when working with other organisations. This information fair is a good opportunity for people to find out what they can do to minimise the risk to their homes and wellbeing and so I urge as many people as possible to attend.

“If you have a question that you would like to ask please pop along between 12.30pm and 1.30pm Monday to Friday so that our community resilience officers can help you out – it’s essential that as a community we are prepared for any future flooding so the team will help you out in any way they can.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Do you live in Wokingham? Are you aged 11 to 18 and interested in getting top-level decision makers, including the Prime Minister, to hear what you have to say? If so then why not throw your name in the ring to become one of the borough’s most influential young people!

The Wokingham Borough is looking for its next member of the UK Youth Parliament, and deputy. Nominations to stand in the MYP elections in December can be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council from Wednesday October 1 until Friday October 24. It takes a dedicated and passionate person to take on the battle for the one Wokingham seat at the UK Youth Parliament, but if you have ideas that you want to get heard on behalf of the borough’s 11 to 18-year-olds then the coveted position could be yours.

All nominees must be aged between 11 and 18-years-old on the day of election. Wokingham Youth workers will support candidates if they wish with their campaign which needs to focus on three main issues that they would pursue during their time in office, to benefit the young people of the borough.

The election will take place from December 1 to 5 at youth centres and schools across the borough, and the results will be announced by the council’s electoral services manager on Tuesday December 9.

The MYP will then be able to take part in discussions with local and central government leaders as well as those in charges of providing services both in the borough and in the country for young people. They will also be asked to take part in regional meetings and put the views of young people across to government ministers, including the Prime Minister, and opposition leaders.

Locally the successful candidate will represent the voice of Wokingham borough’s youngsters when meeting with councillors and senior council officers to improve facilities and services for young people. As part of the local Y10 Forum they will also form part of a panel that grants Youth Opportunity Fund money to other young people for projects and improvements to their local community.

Catriona MacMillan, Wokingham participation worker, who is organising this year’s elections alongside the youth service team, said: “If you’ve got some great ideas on how young people’s lives could be improved plus lots of enthusiasm and some spare time, then you could be just what the borough’s young people are looking for when they vote for their next Member of Youth Parliament.

“Being an MYP is not about sitting around in stuffy meetings all day, it’s about thrashing out what is really important to young people in the borough and making sure their voice is heard. If you have the passion and determination to make decision-makers listen to what would benefit young people then I would urge you to nominate yourself for this year’s elections.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council will soon start the formal process to make improvements to road signs in Pitts Lane so that drivers take notice of the 30mph speed limit.

Residents from the Woodley residential area have recently presented a petition to Wokingham Borough Council expressing their concerns about drivers speeding excessively along the road, so a list of legal ways to make drivers think twice about the speed limit has been drawn up.

The entrance into Pitts Lane from the A4 will have its 30mph signs removed, which are currently set back by the pavement, and placed in a position much nearer to the roadside. They will be put in the position of the current ‘clearway end’ signs on highly visible yellow backing board to make them more prominent. The signs will incorporate both the ‘clearway end’ sign and the 30mph speed limit so that the road isn’t cluttered.

To strengthen the speed limit signs a 30mph roundel sign will be painted on to the road at the same point as the new signs to create a 30mph gateway into Pitts Lane.

A pedestrian crossing, the natural bend in the road and edge of carriageway road narrowing lines have all helped to reduce speeding on the lane over the past few years. However to encourage a further speed reduction Pitts Lane will be added to the list of sites that a mobile Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) will be stationed at for periods of up to a week at a time.

Unfortunately there is no scope to add a permanent VAS to the site and while Wokingham council recognises residents’ desire for a speed camera it is the Thames Valley Safer Road Partnership that controls and decides upon the location of such devices. This partnership has its own set of criteria to be met before they will consider the installation of a camera. Pitts Lane currently does not satisfy their criteria.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, said: “Residents were quite clearly telling us that the signs in Pitts Lane were inadequate as drivers were simply ignoring them.

“What we have done is to think of ways to make sure drivers are aware that the speed limit changes to 30mph. By consolidating the signs leading into Pitts Lane but making them bolder it will create a 30mph gateway into the area.

“Unfortunately, as a council, we do not have the authority to install a speed camera on Pitts Lane, as that is the responsibility of the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, but we have committed to placing a Vehicle Activated Sign at the site at regular intervals to flag up to drivers when they are going to fast.”

Wokingham Borough Council

National Bookstart Day will be celebrated in libraries, children centres and bookshops across the Wokingham borough with Pirates Ahoy! themed parties.

Events around the country will mark National Bookstart Day, Friday October 10, to celebrate the importance of reading for young children and to promote the Bookstart scheme. The Bookstart scheme provides free packs of books and other goodies to all babies and toddlers and provides the perfect way to instil a love of books and reading at an early age.

Bookstart day celebrations are starting early in the Wokingham Borough and Pirates Ahoy! parties will be held at storytime sessions at seven of the borough’s libraries and at children’s centres throughout October when young people will be welcome to come dressed as a pirate and will have the chance to make their own pirate’s hat. The parties will be free and there is no need to book.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “These pirate parties will be the perfect way to get a message to all children and their families that reading and libraries are fun things. We want all children in the Wokingham Borough to take advantage of the Bookstart scheme and to grow up taking advantage of everything on offer at their local library.”

The first Bookstart pack contains two board books, advice on sharing books and information about libraries. Health visitors give these packs to parents when they carry out a baby’s eight-month development review. The second pack, the Bookstart Plus pack must be collected from a borough library or children’s centre. The Bookstart Plus packs are available free between 18 and 30 months and to collect them parents or guardians need to take their child’s red health record book to any borough library or children’s centre.

The third pack, the Bookstart Treasure Chest, which contains picture books, stickers and a pad and pencils, is given to parents by their child’s nursery or pre-school before the child’s fourth birthday.

As well as the packs of free books, Bookstart also supplies Booktouch packs for children with visual impairment, Bookshine Packs for children with hearing impairment and dual language books. To request one of these, email bookstart@wokingham.gov.uk.

Keen young library members can also take part in the Bookstart Book Crawl in which children under four collect stickers on each visit to the library and can then exchange four stickers for a certificate. There are ten certificates to collect, which can make keepsakes for a child’s early years as a library member. To join the crawl, simple ask any member of staff at your local library.

The Pirates Ahoy! parties will be at:

Woodley Library from 2.15pm to 3pm on Thursday October 2
Lower Earley Library from 2.30pm to 3.15pm on Thursday October 2
Riverdale Children’s Centre from 10am to midday on Saturday October 4
Brambles Children’s Centre from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday October 4
Wokingham Library from 2.15pm to 3pm on Tuesday October 7
Twyford Library from 2.15pm to 3pm on Monday October 13
Spencers Wood Library from 4pm to 4.15pm on Monday October 13
Maiden Erlegh Library from 2.15pm to 3pm on Tuesday October 21

There will also be a special Pirate Read and Rhyme session at Chapter One Bookshop in Crockhamwell Road, Woodley from 2pm on Wednesday October 8 where children aged four and under will be able to enjoy stories, singing and other pirate-themed fun.

Wokingham Borough Council

Hundreds of Year 9 students from schools across the Wokingham Borough took up the opportunity to find out more about the new Diplomas last week (September 15, 16, 17), which will be available as part of their option choices from September 2009.

A new qualification for 14 to 19 year-olds, the Diploma will be available locally in seven subject areas: business administration and finance; creative and media; construction and the built environment; hair and beauty studies; IT; engineering and society, health and development. Designed to help students develop work-relevant skills in a creative and enjoyable way, the diplomas combine theory in the classroom with practical work experience, giving students the chance to gain transferable skills that any employer, in any sector, will recognise.

And some 2,000 students from across the Wokingham and Reading Boroughs took part in the national launch of the Diploma Roadshow, sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Co-hosted by Wokingham and Reading Boroughs, the roadshow was held at The University of Reading and featured interactive kiosks and inflatable pods that allowed students to discover the Diploma in a structured but informal environment.

Connexions Berkshire personal advisers were on hand throughout the three-day roadshow (September 15 to 17) to give practical and impartial information, advice and guidance to students and parents on the Diploma.

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Hundreds of youngsters took up the opportunity to find out more about the Diploma which will open doors for many. My thanks go to everyone who helped make the roadshow such a success.”

Wokingham School development adviser Peter Devereux said: “I too would like to add my thanks particularly to Gillian Waller, the council’s 14 to 19 curriculum development adviser, to all the Connexions staff and to Horseman’s Coaches who went that extra mile to make the logistics of scheduling and transporting pupils from all the secondary schools to one event at different times work so smoothly. It was easily the single biggest logistical exercise involving our all schools (and those in Reading) with over 2,000 pupils transported in three days - but all the buses all ran on time, they got all the pupils to the event on time and the pupils all enjoyed themselves.”

Wokingham Borough Council