Woodley’s weekly Artisan Market returns Wednesday 3 June
Following guidance from the UK Government during Covid 19, Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative have decided to reopen its Artisan Market on Wednesday 3rd June.
The market will have floor markers to help customers adhere to social distancing and this will be under continual review.
The market will be available in Woodley Town Centre every Wednesday, 09.00-14.00, along with its weekly Saturday market.
COVID-19 has caused many people to lose jobs or have time at home and Wokingham Borough Council is offering them the opportunity to learn something new or build their skillsets in order to get ready for opportunities which come up in the future.
Free online training courses to help people into employment are being rolled by the council. Our adult education team has transferred all its teaching online, and it’s interactive too, with tutors to guide students and answer questions.
The council has worked alongside its sub-contractors, Activate Learning, Connecting Communities in Berkshire and CAP Money Courses, to allow learners to come together online, face to face with tutors and other learners from the borough.
The council’s adult education team and its partners are gradually increasing the offer to cover the following courses in the weeks ahead:
· English and maths
· English as a second language
· Mental health and wellbeing
· Creative writing
· IT skills
· Debt management
· Online job searching and how to succeed in a virtual interview
· Coding for beginners
To see details of the latest courses visit the Adult Education course listing website. New courses will be added regularly as our online offer develops, so it’s worth checking regularly for courses that may be of interest.
“Some of our residents may currently be in a situation where they may find themselves with more time on their hands and a chance to learn new skills and complete training to make them more employable,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, including adult education.
“There’s a broad range of topics covered by our adult education team and I would urge residents to take a look and make the most of learning from our fantastic tutors. Even if you’re new to online learning, they will make it accessible and interactive for those who sign up.”
On top of this, both Bracknell & Wokingham College and Reading College and Connecting Communities in Berkshire even more online taster courses in the coming weeks. They will be adding courses all the time, so it’s a good idea to keep checking.
We would also like to hear from residents and employees about other courses they would like us to offer and the type of support they would like to enable them to take part in remote learning.
Eligibility criteria do apply, including:
· Must be 19 years old (as of 31 August 2019) or older.
· Been a citizen of a country within the EEA and have ordinarily been resident in the European Economic Area for at least three years.
· Other criteria do apply, contact the team for more information.
Anyone interested can call Linda Stacey on 0788 524 2692 or Jon White on 0776 738 0722 from our adult education team during working hours (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday) for a chat or email us on adulteducation@wokingham.gov.uk
The beehive project at Woodley Town Council’s allotments is proving to be a great success
Reading Road allotment tenants involved in the bee keeping project, which was introduced last year, are under the guidance of bee expert and allotment tenant Steve Cook, who is an official swarm collector. The bee keeping group is a mixture of experienced and new keepers, which has created a lovely friendly, supportive and educative group; as described by Carolyn Davies, a committee member of the Reading Road Allotment Tenants Association.
“There are currently eight active hives at the allotments, however, another allotment tenant recently got her first hive in kit form and is planning to put it together this weekend using a spare donated hive,” said Carolyn.
“One of the allotment tenants offered some old empty hives for the bee keepers. Shortly after he these were left a new swarm of bees moved in and it was very exciting to watch! There is one spare hive left from this donation, which will shortly be populated with bees and we have interest from a further three tenants who are interested in joining the group and cultivating hives.
“I’m hoping we might get a taste of Woodley Allotment’s honey special brand!”
Becoming part of a foster family can be life-changing for a young person in care and we need more local families to make this a reality for more young people.
Wokingham Borough Council foster carers Matt and Natasha Lee have grown as people since starting in the role last year. They are one of 64 foster families in the borough but more than 10 are urgently needed, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matt and Natasha balance fostering alongside their commitment to their three sons. It has had its challenging times but the pair describe it as a joyous experience.
“Fostering is something that we had talked about for many years,” they said. “We knew the time would have to be right to make it work for everyone, so started our fostering journey in January 2019 and haven’t looked back since. Within a few days of being approved as foster carers, we had a young boy placed with us for a few weeks of respite care and shortly after this, had siblings of seven and two years of age placed in our care.
“After six months with us now, it would be a lie to say that it’s all been plain sailing or easy, but we never expected it to be. Fostering throws up challenges the same as anything in life and at times can be emotionally tiring, but how the whole extended family have dealt with those challenges and overcome them gives the most positive feeling imaginable.”
The experience has seen growth not only for the young people in their care, but also Matt and Natasha’s own children. “The development we’ve seen with the children, including our own, in all respects is the greatest achievement of all and is something we’re all proud to be part of,” they added. “We had imagined fostering to be many things and, over a year down the line, are so glad we took that step to make a difference to someone’s life.”
PIC BY STEWART TURKINGTON
www.stphotos.co.uk
With the annual national Foster Care Fortnight (11 to 24 May) still going ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic the borough council wants to reach out to would-be foster carers for children including teenagers, siblings, and asylum seekers and children with disabilities who desperately need foster carers in the borough. It is very probable that more children will come into care and require foster homes as a consequence of COVID-19.
The council always looks for homes for the 100 plus children and young people currently in care with its own council carers first. Additional financial assistance in the form of council tax exemption is offered as part of a wide range of benefits and incentives.
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.
“Becoming a foster carer is open to a broad range of people and what’s most important is being able to provide a safe and loving home for the young people in our care,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services. “Get in touch with our team to find out about the possibilities of starting the journey to become a brilliant foster family while getting paid as well as access to a host of other benefits and training.”
During Foster Care Fortnight, the council is holding a drop-in virtual information event on Wednesday May 20 between 6pm and 8pm. Foster carers will share their experiences and discuss the positive life changes created for the children and young people involved.
Anyone interested is invited to email fostering@wokingham.gov.uk and we’ll make arrangements. The application process is friendly, supportive and quicker than you might think. The council is still actively recruiting, continuing with new fostering enquiries and applications by phone calls and virtual visits.
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week across Wokingham Borough and the country is Kindness
Books and resources to help adults and children, particularly to help during the difficulties faced during lockdown and the Covid 19 pandemic, can be found by accessing Wokingham Borough Libraries online HERE.
Woodley’s Food bank hit the 20,000 donation this week with Woodley Town Mayor Cllr Kay Gilder providing the milestone donation during the Covid 19 pandemic
20,000 food and toiletries have now been donated to the Woodley Food Bank via drop boxes set up at Woodley’s Covid 19 Response group food drive co-ordinator’s house, since the Covid 19 pandemic started in March.
Ronnie Goodberry, also a key administrator of the group, started collecting donations on 27 March. “When I first started coordinating the donations, I wasn’t aware of the demand upon the food banks and other charities which issue parcels to vulnerable person within the Woodley area. At times, our living room was like a warehouse with a mass of baskets and carrier bags full with tinned items, toiletries, plus other food item; it was actually quite overwhelming at times.”
“We’ve managed to donate a large number of mini toiletries to the nursing welfare charity at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) and have received bikes, scooters, books, DVDs, games, soft toys and puzzles all donated for those in need.”
Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder was delighted to be able to donate the 20,000th food item to the scheme, despite being recommended to self- isolate. “I was delighted to be asked for my donation to be the 20,000 given to this wonderful group of people who decided to start this initiative at the start of the lockdown. Although I myself am self-isolating I felt honoured to be asked to help these wonderful people, again it shows what a superb community Woodley is.”
Speaking of the Mayor providing the 20,000 item, Ronnie said: “the Mayor congratulated us for our efforts and was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by Woodley’s residents at this time of crisis. We asked the Mayor to help our group and 1400 members to celebrate the generous donations deposited at the drop boxes outside my house.”
The group is also particularly proud of how it has responded to individual needs and, often, in record time. “We managed to provide one family in isolation with food parcels that were sourced and delivered within two hours of the call going out. We also received donations including new toys, a cake, banners and balloons for a nine-year-old’s birthday as his family were in isolation, alongside food parcels and essentials,” said Ronnie.
Woodley Council Leader Cllr Keith Baker is also a member of the Woodley Covid 19 Response Group. Speaking about the group and its milestone donation, Keith said: “During the weeks, and now months, Woodley residents have come together as a community, demonstrating what a loving and caring group of individuals they all are. The true character of a town only becomes visible when a serious incident occurs and the Covid 19 virus is right up there at the top of the pile. Residents have come together in a remarkable way that most of us have never experienced before. The passion to protect the vulnerable seen by residents working together has been exceptional. Whether it is donating food, collecting prescriptions, going shopping, mini toiletries delivered to RBH, emergency deliveries, donating non-food items or even dismantling a bed and putting up its replacement residents have all played a magnificent part in proving what a wonderful town Woodley is.”
Donations continue to be needed, not just to the Woodley Food Bank through Ronnie’s collection boxes but also at other collection points around Woodley.
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all residents who have donated, helped, and contributed to keep everyone safe and in food and essentials during the Covid 19 pandemic and thank you for your continued support,” added Mayor Kay.
Community garden to be set up in Woodley town centre
A community garden will be created in Woodley precinct to smarten up the town centre and help boost the local economy as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will be created around the trees outside Waitrose, near the Crockhamwell Road car park, by removing the current paving slabs.
The joint project between Woodley Town Council, the Town Centre Management Initiative and Wokingham Borough Council aims to solve the problem of potential trip hazards around the four trees due to their roots dislodging paving around them.
Creating the raised community garden, which will go around the trees, removes the restrictions on the trees roots and will provide an area for the community to enjoy.
A brick retaining wall will be used following feedback from residents to the town council.
New seating will be installed in the area for visitors to the town centre, as well as a notice board in the same style as those in Woodford Park.
Pedestrians will still be able to walk on either side of this new garden to get to the shops.
Start date
Work will begin on 18 May and take around three weeks, with works being carried out by a contractor on behalf of the borough council.
Access to all shops which are open will be maintained.
The plants and vegetation to be installed in the garden has yet to be decided with current thoughts of a school community garden, a variety of grasses or even the use of moss to absorb carbon from the atmosphere or a mixture of both. Whatever is chosen will be easy to maintain.
Kickstart
“We are working to help kickstart our local economy during Wokingham Borough’s response to the pandemic and investing in town centres and high streets like Woodley’s is one of the ways to do this,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.
“This will also solve a historic problem with tree roots in that area of the precinct as well as creating an area for the community to enjoy for many years to come.”
Cllr Keith Baker, leader of the town council, said: “This long standing issue of trip hazards has now been addressed by a highly innovative solution.
“For Woodley residents it not only makes this area safer but it also provides a visually attractive scene including new seating areas for them to sit down and rest, meet friends or simply to eat their lunch.
“This is the third piece of the regeneration of the public space in the precinct and will enhance the area considerably.” “Woodley Town Centre Management have been concerned for some time about the uneven surface around the trees in the town centre and while we don’t want to see the trees removed, the proposed plans for the garden are a good solution to the current trip hazards,”said Brian Fennelly, Woodley Town Centre Manager.
“We are also keen to get active involvement from the local community with planting and maintenance of the garden.”
Increased demand for foster carers due to Covid 19
More than 10 foster families are urgently needed in Wokingham Borough, with demand on services set to increase due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
One of the pressures of the lockdown measures to manage COVID-19 is an increase in domestic abuse. Nationally, charity Refuge has seen a 700 per cent increase in visits to its website and a 25 per cent increase in the number of calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline. We know from the backgrounds and histories of foster children and young people that some have been exposed to the damaging impact of domestic violence.
Children will need foster carers during the Coronavirus pandemic and in the future, which is why we’re still recruiting. Our foster carers are amazing and here’s your chance to join them and make a lasting difference. More than ever we are looking for new or experienced foster carers for local children who need caring families living in or close to Wokingham Borough.
With the annual Foster Care Fortnight (11 to 24 May) campaign still going ahead Wokingham Borough Council wants to reach out and find would-be foster carers for children including teenagers, siblings, asylum seekers and children with disabilities who desperately need foster carers in the borough.
They will join the 64 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. The council has ramped up its support for these families during COVID-19 by doubling their efforts during the lockdown to keep in touch with foster carers by phone and Skype video. Regular news emails for foster carers to share ideas and general Covid-19 news updates are being sent out and a free yoga session.
The council always looks for homes for the 100 plus children and young people currently in care with its own council carers first. Additional financial assistance in the form of council tax exemption is offered as part of a wide range of benefits and incentives.
“We have 64 foster carer households who do vital work providing a loving and nurturing home for young people in our borough,” said Cllr Ulla Karin Clark, executive member for children’s services. “We know coronavirus has caused people to lose their jobs and some could be looking for a new way to earn a living. Fostering changes lives and keeps young people close to their friends and families, so talk to our team about it.
“As a career, our foster carers also find it enormously rewarding. Children go into foster care for all sorts of reasons, through no fault of their own, 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.”
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.
During Foster Care Fortnight, the council is holding a drop-in virtual information event on Wednesday May 20, between 18.00-20.00. Foster carers will share their experiences and discuss the positive life changes created for the children and young people involved.
Anyone interested is invited to email and we’ll make arrangements. The application process is friendly, supportive and quicker than you might think. The council is still actively recruiting, continuing with new fostering enquiries and applications by phone calls and virtual visits.
Grass cutting across the borough continues following socially distant guidelines
4/5/2020
Wokingham Borough Council contractors Tivoli have continued to cut the grass across the Borough. Unfortunately, due to current circumstances in order to protect high risk employees, it has been challenging to keep staffing resource consistent. As such, grass cutting progress is currently running behind by up to two weeks in some places. Please note that this should not impact our parks and larger open spaces which are being prioritised to ensure that recreation space is available for exercise.
To catch up, Tivoli have increased their resource and have been working over weekends and overtime as well.
Most recently our contractors have:
· Completed cutting in Woodley, Winnersh, Shinfield, Swallowfield & Arborfield
· Commenced and continued cutting in Earley, Finchampstead & Wokingham Without. These areas will be completed over the next week
· Cut the larger parks across the Borough.
After the bank holiday weekend:
· Grass cutting will resume in Twyford, Hurst, Ruscombe and Wokingham
· Larger parks and open spaces will continue to be cut.
Please bear with the team as it works to catch-up. During this time, priority will be given to:
· Ensure local parks and open spaces are safe and accessible for permitted exercise and wellbeing
· Continue Grounds maintenance for vulnerable residents in sheltered housing providing them with outside space
· Assist other critical contracts where appropriate.
To report an issue please raise this via our Customer Delivery team so this can be logged and monitored on our dynamics system and be directed straight to our contractor.
Please get in touch with Wokingham Borough Council via:
At the first virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s executive committee on Wednesday 22 April, the Council approved a strategy aimed at tackling the growing problem with fly-tipping.
Fly-tipping has been on the increase in recent years, but has seen an additional increase in the last couple of weeks due to the closure of the rubbish and recycling centres. All waste and recycling kerbside services are running normally and the decision to close the tips is being assessed on a daily basis.
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste or rubbish on public or private land, and is a significant blight on our local environment; a hazard to wildlife; and a nuisance.
Within Wokingham Borough there were 1298 incidents of fly-tipping during 2019/20 and 1171 in 2018/19. This is an average of approximately 100 fly-tips per month. These figures exclude much of the waste dumped on private land, which landowners are liable to dispose of at considerable cost.
The most common type of fly-tipped waste found in Wokingham Borough is household waste (black bags), followed by construction waste.
This strategy will help ensure the borough’s residents, businesses and landowners understand their responsibility for their waste and shows how the council will work with all partners to keep the borough clean and deliver a pro-active approach to tackle waste crime.
Specifically, the strategy includes information about how the council will deliver against the following specific aspects of activity:
Prevention
Communication
Reporting Incidents
Responding to Incidents
Enforcement
Working with Partners
The strategy includes a comprehensive action plan for how the council and its partners will work to reduce the impact of fly-tipping across the borough. A selection of key actions for 2020 are:
Install additional signage in higher risk areas across the borough
Deploy CCTV in hotspot areas
Work closely with town and parish councils to identify and tackle local fly-tipping hotspots
Promote campaigns made up of interested parties working in partnership to prevent and tackle fly-tipping
Publicise existing council waste collection service, including bulky waste collection
Keep up-to-date information on responsibilities for residents, businesses and landowners in one place on the council website
Clear fly-tipped waste on public land within five working days of reporting
Attach a large orange sticker on each fly-tip after it has been inspected to confirm to residents that it is due to be cleared
Issue fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping and to businesses without the correct waste disposal arrangements
Publicise fixed penalty notices and convictions
Provide landowners with advice on how to deal with clearance and disposal of fly-tipped waste
Establish a network to share intelligence on fly-tipping incidents, best practice and resources on prevention and enforcement between partner organisations
Provide feedback to residents on the result of investigations and any subsequent prosecutions
“Fly-tipping has been on the increase and we have made tackling fly-tipping a high priority over the last year,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.
“Not only is fly-tipping illegal but is an eyesore, a blight on our beautiful towns and countryside, but it also adds to the risk of flooding by blocking ditches and gulleys. We just should not have to tolerate this illegal behaviour and we are doing everything we can to try and stop it.
“So let this be a warning to those contemplating this illegal fly-tipping practise. We are watching and monitoring you. We have installed CCTV cameras and our staff are out there watching anyone fly-tipping illegally. Those caught will be punished through on the spot fines and may even face jail for persistent abuse of our beautiful countryside through the ugly practise of illegal fly-tipping”.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
