Having trouble viewing this email? View in browser

Go green this Christmas

We're dreaming of a green Christmas...are you?

This Christmas we're going to be showcasing our independent local businesses with green initiatives by creating a new online magazine. It will help residents to shop local and shop green this Christmas - look out for it from the end of November! 

We're calling on all eco-conscious independent local businesses to get involved. We would like to hear from you if you are a local business with strong environmental values. From farm shops selling locally-sourced produce to online craft stores with eco-friendly gifts, tell us more to be included in the Christmas magazine!

To find out more about the magazine and to apply visit our webpage.

The deadline for application is 11.59pm on Sunday 31 October, 2021.

A339 closure to allow for diseased tree removal

Work begins next week to remove diseased trees alongside the A339 in Newbury.

A significant number of ash trees are in poor condition having become infected by ash dieback disease. They now need to be removed to control the disease and before the trees become a danger to pedestrians and road users.

To allow the work to be done safely the A339 will be shut overnight in both directions between the Swan Roundabout and the New Greenham Business Park. The closures, between 8pm and 6am, will be in place from Monday 18 October to Friday 29 October (weekdays only). You can find details of the diversion route online.

We would like to thank road users for their patience during the works.

Removing trees is not something we do lightly but in this case we have no other option. The trees will be cut back to stumps and should then regrow. However, if the stumps also succumb to the disease we will look to plant replacement trees.

Let's Get Active in Newbury!

A £33,000 fund to promote physical activity has enabled a number of exciting projects across West Berkshire.

The Let’s Get Active Fund provides funding for community groups to deliver initiatives which help residents to become more active.  

One of the initiatives we've supported is a new ten-week programme of free activities run by the Educafe Community Café in Newbury. The fund has contributed towards a new ten-week Chair Yoga programme, which has just started and runs until Wednesday 15 December. You can join in every Wednesday from 2.15pm and 3pm at The Globe Indoor Garden. 

The Educafe programme started yesterday - for more information visit the Educafe Facebook page.

Click/tap image to open in a new window

The Let's Get Active Fund has been launched to support West Berkshire's recovery from Covid-19, and is a partnership with Greenham Trust. There is still funding available for community groups - find out more about the fund here. 

Making memories this summer

Children in West Berkshire aged 2 -5 years were invited to make memories this summer by taking part in a special challenge.

Organised by our Early Years Team, they were asked to submit a photograph of one of their special memories. We received lots of great entries and choosing a winner was very difficult as they were all fantastic. In fact, it was so hard, we have two joint winners!

Amber Butler (above) from Westwood Farm Infant School who made a beautiful underwater picture from natural materials and Evyaavan Bose (below) from St. John the Evangelist Infant & Nursery School who created a brilliant indoor den.

Our two runners-up were Azlaan Kamil and Arham Kamil also from St. John the Evangelist, who grew a plant and made a rocket from recyclable materials. 

The children received craft and book bundle prizes for their creativity and hard work.

Care Homes Buddy up for fitness challenge

Throughout October, we’ve have been running a fitness challenge for our staff and some of our care homes have joined in.

The ‘buddyboost challenge’ helps people to get more active in the run up to winter. It’s a month long app-based competition and participants must do 26 minutes of physical activity for 26 days of the calendar month.

Notrees, Birchwood and Willows Edge care homes have all been taking part and it’s brilliant to see what they’re getting up to via our daily newsfeed.

It’s important to keep active as we get older, so it’s fantastic to see the care home residents getting involved in a whole host of activities from seated netball, throwing balloons to music, peddle challenges and lots of walking!

Chief Social Worker visits West Berkshire

Last week we were pleased to welcome Lyn Romeo, England's Chief Social Worker for Adults, to West Berkshire. Lyn spent the afternoon meeting with some of our staff who work with vulnerable people in the area. During the visit we were able to tell her about some of the wonderful work our adult social care team do and to share experiences of protecting our most vulnerable residents through the pandemic. The wide ranging conversation covered topics from the importance of social workers' wellbeing and how we work with people who are being supported to views on the future of social work. If you're interested in working in social care find out more about opportunities to work for us on our Adult Social Care recruitment page.

Celebrate World Food Day

Educafe will be hosting a special Community Cafe this Saturday (16 October) to celebrate World Food Day.  As well as the usual activities and refreshments there will also be meals to represent many national dishes including: Halal Chicken Biryani (India), Arancini & Fried Gnocchi (Italy),  Prawn & Chicken Sushi Rolls (Japan), Manakeesh thyme & meat (Lebanon), Chicken Rendang & Rice (Malaysia), Chakalaka & rice (South Africa), and Green curry & rice (Thailand). You can choose what you would like to eat using the link below and we will have a table ready for you on the day at your chosen time. To find out more and book your space visit the Educafe website.

And finally...

• You can read the latest blog post from Council Leader Lynne Doherty and Interim Chief Executive Susan Halliwell on our website.