Wokingham Borough Council is using its remaining allocation of the government’s Covid Local Support grant to ensure pupils who receive benefits-related free school meals during term time continue to have access to healthy meals during the upcoming summer holidays.
The government has extended the Covid Local Support Grant, which was set to end in June, until 30 September. The council is using the additional funds to provide food and grocery vouchers to support children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals over the six weeks summer holiday to the value of £15 per child per week. The vouchers will be distributed to eligible families through schools.
Cllr Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services, said: “This has been a really difficult year for all of us, but particularly so for families with young children whose lives have been so disrupted. The council wants to ensure that no child in Wokingham Borough goes hungry this summer and that parents are given the support they need to feed their families in these difficult times.”
Borough pupils who receive benefits-related free school meals are also eligible to register for the council’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme, a new initiative funded by the Department for Education which provides free places at organised holiday activity sessions over the summer and Christmas holidays in 2021. A free healthy meal is provided at every session.
There is a programme for primary school aged children, secondary school pupils, pupils with SEND and a series of community activities for all families. Parents and carers of eligible pupils will have been contacted through their school. For more information about the programme, visit the council’s website www.wokingham.gov.uk and search for ‘Holiday Activities Programme’.
Cllr Howe continued: “We hope that the combination of providing food vouchers and free places at holiday activity sessions over the summer help our children and young people enjoy their summer holidays and help the families in the borough who most need our support. It’s been a challenging year and these young people have earned a bit of summer fun.”
In partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, a new wellbeing service delivered by Oxfordshire Mind, is hosting a series of regular, free forum events to bring the Wokingham Borough community together to discuss mental health and wellbeing needs.
The Wokingham Wellbeing Service will host its first two forums on Thursday 15 and Tuesday 27 July between 2pm and 3:30pm. Residents who have completed mental health first aid training are invited to attend the ‘Mental Health First Aiders in Wokingham’ forum on Thursday 15 July to share experiences and challenges, and to discuss how their invaluable skills, both individually and collectively, can be used to help Wokingham Borough residents suffering from mental health issues. To book free tickets at the first virtual forum, visit the Event Brite website.
On Tuesday 27 July, the ‘Mental Health & Wellbeing Community Alliance’ forum will be available to voluntary or community sector (VCS) organisations or groups that have a focus on improving mental health and wellbeing within Wokingham Borough. Facilitated by Oxfordshire Mind, the Alliance will help develop and integrate the local VCS offer of mental health and wellbeing provision for residents. The aim of the Alliance is to improve the experience of people accessing mental health and wellbeing support. Organisations from VCS organisations or groups can book free tickets at this virtual forum by visiting the Event Brite website.
Executive member for adult social care and public health Cllr Charles Margetts said: “Partnering with Oxfordshire Mind on this fantastic mental health and wellbeing pilot scheme will provide residents with an efficient and effective service that offers quality support, at the right time. We have a duty to protect the vulnerable, and the two forum events are an excellent opportunity for those who have an interest or work in services to improve wellbeing, to get involved and help their local community.”
Oxfordshire Mind’s Wokingham primary care wellbeing project manager, Claire Shropshall, said: “We’re really excited to begin this next phase of the project – it’s a privilege to be able to support the Wokingham community to identify and respond to local mental health needs in such a collaborative way. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all our partners across the borough for their continued support with launching the new Wokingham Wellbeing Service.”
Wokingham’s Wellbeing Service is an eighteen-month pilot project dedicated to help Borough residents suffering from mental health issues, including anxiety, isolation, and stress. The scheme was initiated by a generous donation of £250,000 to the Berkshire Community Foundation from a Remenham family earlier this year. The scheme will focus on recognising mental health issues early and intervening to prevent conditions deteriorating, ensuring timely referrals to specialists, coordinating the support available for those with mental health issues and promoting awareness issues within Wokingham Borough.
Plans are being drawn up to make it easier to cycle and walk between Woodley town centre and the Reading borough boundary at Palmer Park.
Wokingham Borough Council will be progressing with its Active Travel Fund proposals for the area following public engagement on plans for Woodley, Earley and Wokingham earlier this year. More than 600 responses were received on three proposed routes, with several options looked at for each area.
Respondents indicated that the Woodley/Reading route will have the most significant impact on reducing car dependency and increasing bike use. The first section of the route, between Woodley town centre and Bulmershe Leisure Centre, will be progressed as the first phase with the aim to complete construction by Spring 2022.
In total, the new route will cost almost £4 million and the first stage will be funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund. The council will look for funding to provide the rest of the route in the years ahead. Further consultation with residents on detailed plans for the Woodley to Reading route will come forward later this year.
“Feedback from our residents tells us they want to see segregated cycleways and these would lead to more of them feeling safe to travel around their area on their bikes,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport. “We’re hoping to bring that to Woodley over the next year, with the first section of the Woodley to Reading route between Woodley town centre and Bulmershe Leisure Centre. We’re already looking at how to get funding in place to complete the rest of the route.”
The council continues to invest in infrastructure across its road network to make it easier for residents to walk and cycle across the borough. This includes our growing greenways network and investment in cycle paths in other areas as better facilities will help cut the number of car journeys within the borough. It’s part of the council’s wider climate emergency agenda, with a goal to make Wokingham Borough carbon neutral by 2030.
The other proposed routes will be progressed subject to further consultation and when funds allow. The full engagement summary from the initial consultation will be available to read on the MyJourney Wokingham website and as part of the an individual executive member decision will be made on the proposals on 8 July.
Thames Valley Police have been made aware of a Covid Vaccine Passport scam email going around that purports to be from the NHS and informs recipients that they can apply for their “Digital Coronavirus Passports”.
Clicking on the link within the email, takes you to a convincing but fake NHS website that asks forpersonal and payment details. (for an admin fee)
The website has since been taken down, but please be vigilant of similar emails or websites.
The vaccination status is obtained FREE through the NHS App, website or by calling the NHS on 119.
Extensive surveillance of Covid-19 has identified a small number of cases of the Covid-19 Delta variant that was first found in India in Wokingham Borough, that cannot be traced back to international travel.
As such, surge testing will be deployed in the following council wards between Monday 7 June and Monday 21 June:
Bulmershe and Whitegates
Evendons
Norreys
Wescott
This will enable Wokingham Borough Council to identify any community spread of the new variant and restrict further transmission.
To check what ward you live in and if you are affected, use the postcode checker on the Council’s surge testing webpage.
All cases are now self-isolating and the Borough Council has conducted robust contact tracing to identify their contacts and ask them to self-isolate.
Testing
We are urging residents over the age of 12 who are living, working, or going to school in these areas to come forward for a Covid-19 test between Monday 7 and Monday 21 June if they are not showing symptoms and even if they have already been vaccinated.
From Monday, residents in these areas can get a Covid-19 test at one of our dedicated surge testing sites. You do not need to book. Information on where these sites are located is available on the Council’s website
Schools and businesses in these areas will be contacted by the council to arrange delivery of testing kits for pupils and staff
Reading Borough Council will also be conducting surge testing in targeted areas
If you have coronavirus symptoms you should continue to book a test through the uk website or via the NHS Covid-19 app.
Surge Testing Centres
Shute End Eastern Car Park Test Centre (RG40 1BN) – Open 12pm to 6pm, Monday to Sunday
Cantley Park Event Field Mobile Test Centre (RG40 5TU) – Open 12pm to 6pm, Monday tov Sunday
Headley Road Car Park Mobile Test Centre (RG5 4JA) – Open 12pm to 6pm, Monday to Sunday
Sindlesham Court Test Centre (RG41 5EA) – Open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
Microsoft Campus Test Centre (RG6 1WG) – Open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
Shute End Test Centre (RG40 1BN) – Open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
Doorstep visits
Wokingham Borough Council will also be door-knocking in the affected areas to inform residents of the surge testing programme.
Please note that:
Volunteers will be from Wokingham Borough Council – they will show you their official ID immediately
The test is free – you will never be asked to pay or provide any financial information
The testing team won’t enter your household and won’t do any testing for you.
Testing will, in combination with measures such as hands-face-space and fresh air, following national guidance, self-isolating when required and getting vaccinated when eligible, help to suppress and control the spread of the virus and new variants.
Vaccinations for 18-24 year olds in surge testing wards
All residents aged 18 to 24 who are living in Bulmershe & Whitegates, Evendons, Norreys and Wescott, are encouraged to come and get the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the pop-up vaccination clinic.
The clinic will be at Bulmershe Leisure Centre between Tuesday 15 June and Sunday 27 June (inclusive). The site will be open 9.30am to 8.30pm by walk-in only; you cannot book in advance.
All those coming to the centre for a vaccination must bring proof of ID and proof of address because this programme is targeting those in the affected wards only.
Below is a checklist for those hoping to get a vaccine at Bulmershe Leisure Centre as part of surge vaccination:
Don’t come to the centre if you have Covid-19 symptoms or have had a positive test in the past 28 days
Check you are eligible – aged 18 to 24 (inclusive) and living in Bulmershe & Whitegates, Evendons, Norreys or Wescott ward – and bring proof of address and ID to the centre
Check Wokingham Borough Council’s website or Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates
Those living in target wards should still get tested this week as part of our surge testing offer, even if they have had the vaccination
There may be high demand for this service, so please be patient during this time. Anyone not living in these wards will be turned away. There will be NO parking at the leisure centre – nearest parking is in Woodley town centre or University of Reading/Woodley United FC car park (Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, RG6 1FR).
Anybody who does not know what ward they are in can check the postcode tracker on the Council’s surge testing webpage.
This service is for first doses only – second doses should also be booked through the NHS website. In addition, residents aged 25 and over can continue to book their vaccine at a mass vaccination centre through the NHS website.
Help us to choose the equipment for the new play area at Woodford Park
Please click HERE to choose your favourite design. You can also scan this QR code:
Woodley Town Council has secured £200,000 from Section 106 Developers monies – through Wokingham Borough Council, specifically for the creation of a new play area in Woodford Park.
This exciting project gives us an opportunity to deliver a fantastic new play space for residents and visitors and we want your views and comments on the designs we have received.
Seven design tenders were received and these have been shortlisted to 3 designs which best met the criteria we set out.
Location
The proposed location is to the rear of the Oakwood Centre (where the existing old play area is located – this will be removed) and utilises space on the other side of the path – in the area around the skate park.
Inclusive
One of the key criteria for the play space is inclusive and accessible play for all children. These designs incorporate features that are exciting and stimulating for children with a wide range of abilities and challenges. Some of these features include an opportunity for wheelchairs to access higher levels, sensory features providing texture and sound and an overall design that does not exclude children on the basis of their physical or mental abilities.
Consultation
We are consulting with local stakeholders and specialists such as the team at Addington School to make sure we deliver the best possible play space for Woodford Park.
We’d like as many local residents to take part in our consultation and let us know which items of equipment you really like, which overall design you prefer and any other comments on the project.
We will then consider the consultation responses and appoint a contractor in August 2021. We hope to deliver the project toward the end 2021.
To be part of the consultation and see more images and details, please click HERE. You can also scan this QR code:
SGN will shortly begin a major gas network upgrade in Woodley, with work starting on Loddon Bridge Road on 21 June.
This is to allow the replacement of an old metal gas main with new plastic pipe.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place for approximately 10 weeks, with work taking place between Just Tiles roundabout/Crockhamwell Road and Vauxhall Drive. The lights will be manually controlled between 7am and 7pm to assist traffic flow.
For more information you can visit the SGN website, call the SGN Careline on 0800 975 1818 or get in touch by email.
Woodley Town Elector’s meeting highlights the outstanding and sometimes challenging help received by residents during the Covid 19 pandemic
The Town Elector’s meeting followed a new format this year, where participants shared and celebrated how the community of Woodley had come together during the Covid 19 pandemic, with presentations from organisations the Council supports sharing stories of how they had worked with local residents.
Following the Town Mayor Cllr Janet Sartorel’s welcome, presentations were heard from:
Jake Morrison, CE of Citizens’ Advice Bureau Wokingham
Peter Absolon, from Readibus
Marjie Walker, from The Link Visiting Scheme
Jayne Streak, from The Friendship Alliance
Richard Davies, Woodley Food Bank
Tracy Wand, Woodley Volunteer for Covid 19 Facebook Group.
Highlights of the presentations were:
Citizens’ Advice Bureau Wokingham
Jake Morrison highlighted that during the period 2020-21, 750 people in Woodley were supported; a 48% increase on the previous year. He talked of several case studies, including helping a resident with mental health issues to access the service, a resident who was supported to resolve a debt issue with their water and energy companies and a couple to access food support during the pandemic, as well as arranging for them to obtain a specialised bed due to illness.
Readibus
Peter Absolon shared stories of some of the residents who had used the Readibus service during the pandemic, many who described the service as a lifeline and how safe it made them feel, taking the worry out of travel. One local resident who had lost her husband during the pandemic, relied on the service as her only means to get out and expressed her thanks to Woodley Town Council for supporting the Readibus service.
The Link Visiting Scheme
Marjie Walker noted that the service which supports those isolated or lonely, grew from supporting 350 people to just over 700; 78 of which lived in Woodley. The organisation also joined with other local charities and Wokingham Borough Council to form the Community Response Team. 556 people in Woodley were supported and following referrals from Adult Social Services, a further 25 individuals within Woodley during the second lockdown.
The Friendship Alliance
Jayne Streak talked about how an online café was set up during the lockdowns, with people meeting for two hours every Wednesday via Zoom. Following the relaxation of restrictions, the group has been able to meet twice in Woodford Park for a walk followed by a coffee. The project is now seeking to set up in-person Friendship Tables.
Woodley Foodbank
Richard Davies told of how the pandemic created a significant increase in demand for support from people who had traditionally not needed support; this included the clinically vulnerable, as well as those who were cautious, shielding, furloughed, newly unemployed or unable to work. He added that the community support during the pandemic had been outstanding with a tremendous team effort of the community supplying the food and volunteers packing and delivering.
Woodley Volunteer for Covid 19 Facebook Group
Tracy Wand explained that, after two individual groups had initially formed at the start of the pandemic, a combined Woodley Volunteer for Covid 19 Facebook Group was set up with membership now at around 1,500 members. The group helped with a variety of support across Woodley, from gifts for those struggling financially, to distributing bottles of water and snack bars to key workers. They also arranged an out of hours collection point for the Food Bank and helped to link residents needing support with the organisations and volunteers who could help them.
Woodley Town Council
Following these presentations, the Woodley Town Council Town Clerk provided an updated on the Council’s activities over the past year, and its response to the pandemic.
Highlights included that by April 2020, the Town Council had set up new ways of working, including home working, Covid risk assessments, and buildings had been adapted to meet Covid guidelines. The Council was also able to continue providing space at the Oakwood Centre for blood donations and family support sessions, which have continued during lockdown, as well as more recently for Covid vaccinations.
The Town Clerked thanked the Friends of Woodford Park for managing the flower beds, which have looked amazing during the year, and to all colleagues who have kept services running in the face of ever-changing guidelines.
Looking ahead, during the next year, there is a project to install a new play area in Woodford Park and the Council is seeking views from members of the public on the three possible designs. Other projects include removing the algae in the lake at Woodford Park using barley sausages, completing the refurbishment of the Maintenance Depot, replacing the low fencing in Woodford Park, restricting unauthorised access to Malone Park and putting pathways into the little play area, and developing a SLA to support Young People in Woodley.
The year also sadly saw the passing of two serving Councillors; Jon MacNaught and Dave Mills, who was the serving Mayor. The Town Clerk expressed her appreciation for all their work and stated that the Council’s and residents’ thoughts go out to their families.
We received a few questions and suggestions from the public; two of which were answered at the meeting discussing the town centre garden and youth provision support in Woodley. Both issues are actively being actioned by the Council.
Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel
Closing the meeting, Town Mayor Cllr Sartorel said: “I’d like to thank those who have taken part and shared stories of help and hope. I am humbled and moved by each and every one. I’d also like to thank those residents who have attended or viewed the meeting.
The Council hopes to expand on the format of this meeting next year, and to continue to celebrate the wonderful town of Woodley.”
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