Flood alerts and warnings
There are a number of flood alerts and warnings in place across the District at the moment. We’re working closely with the Met Office, Environment Agency, emergency services and the communities currently affected to try to reduce the impact.
In particular, we are trying to make sure that our most vulnerable residents affected by the flooding are supported. The Community Support Hub is available to help anyone who is vulnerable, isolated or shielding. The Hub can be contacted on (01635) 503579 during office hours.
For everyone's safety, please avoid all flooded areas and keep children away.
‘Love Local’ for Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we ask you to show local businesses some love by spending your money with them now, even if you can’t use their services immediately.
‘Love Local’ is our way of asking you to shop locally for Valentine’s Day gifts, vouchers, and food and drinks for romantic dinners at home. Based on recommendations, we have started a list of local shops, restaurants and hotels where you can purchase gifts and goodies for Valentine's Day.
We invite you to tell us about your own favourites through our social media channels so we can add them to the list.
See Love Local for Valentine's Day
Looking after young people's mental health
We know that times are very tough for young people, with schools closed, the return to online learning and not being able to see their friends and loved ones.
• Children's Mental Health Week - running until this Sunday, 7 February - aims to highlight the importance of children's and young people’s mental health, and to get more people involved. This year the theme is 'Express Yourself,' which is about finding ways to express feelings, thoughts and ideas through creativity.
See activities and free resources
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• The West Berkshire Directory also provides details of local services who can support West Berkshire residents of all ages, including services for counselling, bereavement, SEND, Young Carers and many more.
Visit West Berkshire Directory
If your concerns are serious, urgent or complex in nature, please contact the Children, Young People and Families Health Hub on 0300 365 1234.
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• Time to Talk West Berkshire provides free, confidential counselling services to young people in need aged 11 to 25.
Visit Time to Talk
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• Kooth offers free online counselling and emotional wellbeing support for young people 11-18 years of age.
Visit Kooth
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Sign up before 8 February to see if you can save money on your energy bills with the West Berkshire Energy Switch. With this scheme, residents can sign up to see if they can receive cheaper energy tariffs. Many people are paying too much for their gas and electricity and haven't changed suppliers in years, if at all. Join the West Berkshire Energy Switch scheme today to see if you can secure a better energy deal for the year ahead.
Time is running out to provide your views on various draft plans for West Berkshire. The current consultations open for your feedback, and their deadlines, are:
• Local Plan Review to 2037 - 5 February
• Minerals and Waste Local Plan - 15 February
• School Term and Holiday dates for 2022/2023 - 26 February
• New sports ground at Newbury Rugby Club - 28 February
• Berkshire West's Health and Wellbeing Survey - 28 February
View open consultations and provide feedback
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Online Code Club for 9-11 year olds open for registration
Registration is open now for the next introductory course of our Online Code Club for 9-11 year olds. Starting Thursday, 25 February, the club will run again each Thursday during term time. Each week we will email instructions and a step-by-step video guide recorded by our West Berkshire Libraries Code Club Team.
All projects are provided by Code Club and will be coded with Scratch, a children’s coding website that uses a block-based programming language.
For further details or to register your child/children please email us at: library@westberks.gov.uk.
More space for all at The Winchcombe School
Pupils at The Winchcombe School in Newbury will have more space for their before and after school clubs following a £361,000 project to create a brand new building to house the Happy Kids Nursery, which provides funded places for vulnerable children.
Find out more about this project
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Online talks, crafts, and family fun
While Shaw House and West Berkshire Museum both remain closed due to Lockdown, we invite you to join us for our online activities, including crafts and heritage talks. On our Learning page you can find lots of free family resources and an exciting, new Short Story Competition for young people aged 7 to 12 years old.
Check out our online events
Visit our Learning page
European citizens need to apply for Settled Status by 30 June 2021
Any EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who wishes to continue living in the UK, and secure their rights in UK law, will need to apply for Settled Status by 30 June 2021.
People can apply from the comfort of their own home in as little as 15 minutes. The Home Office has a dedicated team of more than 1,500 people processing the applications, with support available 7 days a week by phone and email.
Don’t delay, apply today: https://www.gov.uk/staying-uk-eu-citizen
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