It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas last weekend. The Christmas decorations are up, shops are open once again and it wasn’t just Santa Claus coming to town but local people out in force supporting their high streets in a socially distanced manner.
It was the first weekend since non-essential shops re-opened and the return of the hustle and bustle to town centres was noticeable.
Read the latest Weeknote from the Leader and Chief Executive in full on our website.
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 Care Home staff in West Berkshire are being prioritised for Covid-19 vaccinations, which started this week.
Our Adult Social Care team is working with relevant partners, including colleagues in the NHS and Public Health, to ensure that prioritised employees from council and private care homes are vaccinated as quickly as possible.
With over 700 beds in 16 care homes across West Berkshire, vaccinating the workforce will take some time.
In the meantime please stick to the Covid-safety rules in order to manage the risks generally and to keep the vulnerable safe, including care home residents (who, along with their families, will be updated as more details of the vaccination roll out become available).
Join us on Friday 18 December at 5pm on the Council's Facebook Page, where Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Head of Public Health Matt Pearce will be answering your questions.
They will provide an update on our continued response to the pandemic with a particular focus on Christmas Bubbles and staying safe over the Christmas period.
If you are unable to follow the event, you can submit your questions in advance by emailing pr@westberks.gov.uk.
The video will remain available to watch on the Facebook page after the event, and will also be available on the Council’s YouTube channel.
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 From Monday 14 December, the number of days required to self-isolate has been reduced from 14 to 10 days.
We are reminding all residents that it is a legal requirement to self-isolate if:
- You have symptoms of COVID-19 (and arrange a COVID-19 test)
- You have a positive test result
- You are told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
- You are living with someone who has symptoms or has a positive test result.
If you develop symptoms you must immediately self-isolate and arrange a test. You must only get a test if you have symptoms.
Self-isolation means you:
- Stay at home
- Do not go outside
- Do not go to work
- Do not go shopping
See additional information on the self-isolation period.
Thank you to everyone who has sent Christmas cards to our care home residents and staff so far.
During the first lockdown, your cards, letters and drawings from local school children put a smile on their faces and we want to continue doing so.
We're encouraging as many residents to remind our care home staff and residents that you'll be thinking of them over the festive period.
To get involved, simply write a card (letters and drawings included if you wish) and post it to one of our four care homes.
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We’d like to say thank you to the people of West Berkshire for helping us to wrap up Christmas for those in need.
We were bowled over by the generous donations received for our Community Santa and Giving Tree campaigns which will provide gifts for those in our community who have been experiencing hardship due to Covid and victims of Domestic Abuse and their families over Christmas.
It has been really encouraging to see gifts being bought locally to support local shops and retailers who have also had a difficult year.
We're delighted to announce that more than 100 gifts have been provided for Community Santa and 180 for Giving Tree.
This will make such a difference to so many children and adults throughout our district. The West Berkshire Council elves and Santa are now busy wrapping gifts and delivering them safely in good time for Christmas.
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 We understand that these are very challenging times and we are here to help.
If you are in financial hardship due to the pandemic you may be eligible for financial support through the COVID Winter Grant Scheme.
Through this programme, which is running until 31 March 2021, you are welcome to apply for support for food, utility and water bills for household purposes, or other related essentials.
Please have your supporting documents ready for the online application process.
If you’re on a low income, unable to work from home and will lose income because you are required to self-isolate, you may be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment.
Anyone who needs further assistance should contact the Community Support Hub on: 01635 503579, by email: westberksbct@westberks.gov.uk or via our online form. The Community Support Hub is open during office hours between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Thursday, or between 8.30am and 4.30pm on Friday.
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 Stay up-to-date with the latest information about changes to your Christmas waste and recycling collections, what to do with your Christmas trees, and lots of tips about recycling leftover food, old packaging and more. You can receive all this direct to your inbox by signing up to our waste and recycling newsletter.
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on everyone’s lives. Where should we focus our support services to improve your health and wellbeing?
Let us know in our survey.
We are offering everyone who completes this survey the chance to enter a draw to win £100 of shopping vouchers. If you would like to enter the draw, please leave your email address when prompted at the end of the survey.
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