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After shielding pauses and the food parcel and medicine deliveries from the Government end on 31 July, people who’ve been shielding will be able to visit shops and supermarkets from 1 August.
Those registered for the priority supermarket slots will remain eligible after 31 July.
See more information and find out about available support here.
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 A new online support network has launched to help children and young people struggling with mental health difficulties.
Kooth will complement a range of other mental health support packages provided for young people. It’s primarily aimed at dealing with issues around Covid-19 but will play a key role in supporting young people re-adjust to life post-Covid.
Aimed at 11 to 18 year olds, Kooth is being pioneered by Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in partnership with the 3 Berkshire Council’s and support from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and our local voluntary sector.
It’s already up and running in 140 other CCG areas across the country, and last year supported more than 134,000 children and young people.
Find out more about Kooth here.
Disadvantaged pupils in West Berkshire have access to an online summer school this summer.
We've teamed up with Brockhurst & Marlston House in Hermitage to allow free access to online lessons as well as support from a tutor. It's free for children eligible for free school meals and will allow these pupils to build on the home learning necessitated by the closure of schools through Covid-19.
Find out more about the summer school here.
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West Berkshire Council will be taking part in a new government project to design a new community engagement guide.
One of eight councils involved, we'll be working with MHCLG to develop a new practical guide for other local authorities to use. Our inclusion is recognition of our proactive approach towards engagement through Covid-19 and we're pleased to be working with others to bring together this learning, and build on and enhance it for all to then be able use and share.
Read more about the project here.
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As the temperature continues to rise and we await the reopening of public swimming pools, a cooling swim in in rivers and lakes can be particularly appealing.
However, around 400 people drown every year in the UK and we need to be aware of the risks involve when ‘wild swimming’.
Recent data shows that 95% of all swimming drowning victims were male and many were teenagers.
While temptation to jump into lakes, rivers and the sea is strong, water temperatures are considerably lower than in heated swimming pools. Many people aren’t prepared for the shock and blood rush that the cold causes and their arms and legs become useless and they can’t swim out of danger.
Swimming in and against a current is equally dangerous. Even shallow water, if it’s moving fast enough, it can knock people over and carry them away. Often rivers and lakes don’t have exits and there can be hazards such as obstructions in the water which you cannot see such as waterfalls or weirs. More safety advice Summer water safety .
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 On Friday 11 September 2020, West Berkshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board will be taking the Health and Wellbeing Conference virtual for the first time!
This year, the conference will be focusing on 'The path out of COVID towards a fairer, more inclusive community built on kindness, resilience and wellbeing.’
Save the date, and follow us on Facebook for more information.
If you’d like to get involved please get in touch.
 On Monday 27 July, Public Health England launched a major new adult health campaign to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment of health.
Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity. Gaining weight is often a gradual process that takes place over a number of years and modern life doesn’t always make it easy. But this extra weight causes pressure to build up around vital organs, making it harder for the body to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now COVID-19.
By reducing your weight within a healthy range, you can cut your risk of being critically ill with COVID-19.
To support people to live healthier lives, Public Health England’s Better Health campaign will provide a variety of tools and apps to help you make healthier food choices, become more active and prevent future weight gain. One of these tools is a Weight Loss Plan app, which provides 12 weeks’ worth of engaging content that can be personalised and tailored to the goals and needs of the individual. Later down the line, support will also be made available to help people quit smoking, cut down their drinking and look after their mental health.
For help and support to lose weight, visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/
 Since launching the UK’s first Community Municipal Investment (CMI) on 16 July, people have been investing directly with us to build a Greener future for West Berkshire. They’ve already invested almost £436k to fund brilliant projects such as these solar panels. Find out more and see how to invest. *Capital at Risk*
 To keep us safe, we must now face coverings in the following settings.
- Public Transport
- Indoor Transport Hubs
- Shops & Supermarkets
- Banks, Building Societies & Post Offices
There are exemptions to wearing face coverings. See more information on exemptions.
 This year unlike any other, there are restrictions on Hajj which present a challenging time for Muslims all over the world. However, Muslim communities are still able to make the most of Eid Al Adha.
The Muslim Council of Britain has worked with the British Islamic Medical Association to produce advice on how best Muslims can celebrate Eid al-Adha safely and in accordance with public health guidance in England. Read the latest guidance here.
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