Foster carer Steve Allum with his daughter, Jo-Anna, and dog, Minty

More than 10 local foster families are urgently needed to join the 46 Wokingham Borough Council fostering homes for some of its children and young people in care who want to be fostered close to their families and friends in the Borough.

With the annual national Foster Care Fortnight (13 to 26 May) about to start, the Borough Council wants to reach out to would-be foster carers for teenagers, siblings, and asylum seeking and disabled children who desperately need foster carers in the borough.

The Council always looks for homes for the 100 plus children and young people currently in care with its own Council carers first.

Rewarding

Additional financial assistance in the form of council tax exemption is offered as part of a wide range of benefits and incentives.

Executive member for children services, Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons said: “We’d like to find local homes for all our children and encourage more local residents to come and talk to us about how fostering can change lives.”

She added: “Our foster carers find fostering enormously rewarding. Children go into foster care for all sorts of reasons, usually not their own fault, but the work our foster carers do gives youngsters a happier and more supported life. We are really grateful to them and value them enormously.  Please give some thought as to whether you could be one of these special people.”

Foster carers

Foster carers, Steve and Monika Allum, are proud to foster. Steve said: “Since joining Wokingham Borough Council as a foster carer, three years ago, we feel part of a big family. We used to foster for an agency and nearly gave up because of the lack of support. Looking after young people in care is challenging but we can’t see us doing anything else after seeing what a positive impact we have on their lives.”

Regardless of culture, background, sexual orientation and whether you are a homeowner or tenant, if you have a spare room, are aged 21 and over with life experience, live within twenty miles of the borough and have time for a child, you could foster. What matters most, is that you are the right family or person for our children.

As a foster carer, the council offers attractive remuneration packages, council tax exemption, excellent training including a specialist therapeutic programme, as well as one-to-one and out-of-hours support. Fees increase with experience often resulting in the equivalent of a reasonable salary, which could provide a complete change of career. For example, an experienced foster carer at Level 2, who cares for two children all year, could earn more than £25,000 p.a. excluding allowances for the child.

Information day

During Foster Care Fortnight, the council is holding a drop-in information day on Thursday May 23 at the Diamond Jubilee Room in Wokingham Town Hall. Foster carers will share their experiences and discuss the positive life changes created for the children and young people involved. People can drop-in anytime between 1pm and 7.45pm.

Contact

The application process is also probably much quicker than you think. To find out more, call Jackie Ross, Recruitment & Marketing Officer on (0118) 974 6204 for an informal chat or visit www.fostering.wokingham.gov.uk

International Composting week

As part of a Wokingham Borough-led initiative, in partnership with Re3Recycling and Get Composting, Woodley residents are able to take advantage of discounted compost bins, including an offer of ‘buy one get one half price’.

Further details are available HERE

Citizens Advice Wokingham has launched a new ‘Help to Claim’ service to help the residents of Wokingham, Woodley and the surrounding areas to make a Universal Credit claim

Support

The service, which replaces the old Universal Support offer, will provide both advice and support through the application process.

The support provided will depend on the varying need of each client, however, the main guidance is as follows.

Citizens Advice Wokingham will guide each client through a step-by-step process to help understand a Universal Credit claim. Firstly, staff will explain exactly what Universal Credit is and what benefits it replaces. Following that, staff are able to help prepare clients for interview in a Jobcentre appointment regarding a Universal Credit claim, set up an online email account, and verify a clients’ identity online, if required. Staff will also help to set up a Universal Credit account and provide help on how to manage this online.

Other assistance may include helping clients to gather information and ensuring awareness that Alternative Payment Arrangements are available.

Availability

This service will be available in Woodley at its offices near the library every Tuesday 09.30-14.30 and in its Wokingham branch Monday to Thursday 09.00-15.00. Alternatively, full support is available through Citizens Advice’s free phone line Monday to Friday 08.00-18.00. Please call: 0800 144 8 444.

Bulmershe Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Coronation Central Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Coronation East Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Loddon Airfield Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Loddon South Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Loddon West Ward of the Parish of Woodley

South Lake North Ward of the Parish of Woodley

South Lake South Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Warren Ward of the Parish of Woodley

Wokingham Borough residents in a number of wards will be heading to the polls today, Thursday 2 May 2019, to elect their Borough Councillors with 18 seats up for grabs.

Polling stations will be open from 7am on election day, with residents able to cast their vote until 10pm. Parish and town council elections are also being held.

Woodley

The election of Parish Councillors are open in the following wards in Woodley:

Bulmershe Ward – four seats to be elected

Coronation Central Ward – two seats to be elected

Loddon Airfield Ward – three seats to be elected

Loddon South Ward – three seats to be elected

Polling cards

Those residents in wards up for election should have received a polling card, which gives details of when and where to vote. Residents do not need their polling card with them to vote, but will be asked to provide their name and address to a member of staff on duty.

Residents can find out more information, including their ward and where to vote on: www.wokingham.gov.uk (search for “elections 2019”).

Results

Votes for the Borough Council wards will be counted immediately after the close of polls overnight. Parish and Town Council votes will be counted on Friday 3 May.

Results for the Parish Wards of Woodley will be displayed on Woodley Town Council website and social media pages.

The Woodley & north Earley Community Forum minutes form its recent AGM are now available to read. Please click HERE.

My Journey Wokingham, which now has a bike hub at Woodford Park Leisure Centre, has launched a Balance Bike Club for youngsters, which adults have the opportunity to book lessons to learn to cycle as either a complete novice or to improve current skills.

More information and places can be booked at: www.myjourneywokingham.com

The Shinfield Shambles, a local Morris dancing side based in Shinfield, will take over Centre Stage in Woodley this Saturday (27 April) 11.00-16.00. Dancing throughout the precinct, the dancers will be joined by guests sides Aldbrickham, Basingclog, Fleur de Lys, Garston Gallopers and Theale Tattoo.