The Woodley Volunteer for Covid-19  group has celebrated raising over 200,000 food items, which have been donated to the local Woodley community.

On Friday, February 11, certificates were handed out to the volunteers by Woodley Town Mayor Cllr Janet Sartorel, Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder, and Wokingham Town Mayor, Cllr Keith Baker, who gave a brief speech thanking the community.

Ronnie Goodberry, who now runs the group, said on its Facebook page of the event:

“Throughout this pandemic , you, the members kept giving, your kindness, support and overwhelming generosity have seen no bounds. Today, to repay your kindness, a small group of our members randomly drawn from a hat helped us as a group to celebrate our monumental achievements since starting the Woodley food drive in March 2020. You guys and girls have donated – as of last weekend – a massive 201,319 items. I’d like to thank you all personally from the bottom of my heart for the support you’ve given and continue to give towards the group and the vulnerable residents and needing families of Woodley. You’ve done Woodley proud and shown to others what can be achieved when a community pulls together.”

Woodley Mayors honoured to congratulate the group

Both Woodley Mayors were honoured to be part of the event and amazed at the generosity and kindness of the Woodley community.

NEW COVID-19 VACCINATION CENTRE TO OPEN IN WOKINGHAM THIS WEEKEND

A new walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre will open at the Wokingham Library this Friday (18 February), to help make access to the vaccine easier for residents.

The site will open from 2pm to 7pm on Fridays and 11am to 4.45pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with no appointment necessary. A review of the site will take place after six weeks, so Wokingham Borough Council is encouraging residents to make good use of the facility.

First, second, and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine are available to all eligible people, including: 

• Pregnant women
• 12–15-year-olds
• People not registered with a GP or those without an NHS number
• People with no indefinite leave to remain status

Visitors travelling by car can park at Denmark Street Car Park, and more parking options are available across the town.

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “One of the cornerstones of moving forward and living with endemic Covid is vaccination.  While the uptake rate is good in the borough, there are still many people who are yet to take up the offer, and we have often felt it would be significantly improved by the provision of more local vaccination centres. 

“We have campaigned for months for a standalone vaccination centre in the borough and are pleased that the CCG has agreed to our request. We would encourage all residents to take advantage of this local facility and get vaccinated, and we look forward to welcoming residents in for their jabs.”

Nobody going for their first, second or booster jab will be questioned about why they haven’t had it yet. The onsite staff will be happy to welcome residents. Anyone who has questions about the Covid-19 vaccine can come and chat to the health professionals working at the site or email the council’s vaccine support team on covid.info@wokingham.gov.uk.

“Everyone would like to see the back of the pandemic, but it is important that we don’t lose sight of what protects us from the virus,” said Cllr Margetts. “While Omicron is milder in the sense that it has so far resulted in a lower hospitalisation and death rate than prior variants, it can still make you very sick and it is highly transmissible. The vaccine is what helps make this sickness less serious, reduce transmission and it is still strongly recommended.”

If you tested positive in December and were unable to get your booster, it’s now time to come forward for it (28 days/4 weeks from when you tested positive). Parents, carers and guardians are also encouraged to bring children and young people over the age of 12 to this new site over half term (for 12–15-year-olds this must be 12 weeks from the date of their positive PCR test if they were recently infected).

For Covid-19 vaccine updates in the borough, please keep an eye on the Wokingham Borough Council website:https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/covid-19/testing-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccinations/