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 The festive season is upon us and this year you will have even more reason to leave your car at home as free bus travel will be offered again across West Berkshire.
Following on from previous successful free travel initiatives over the last year, all bus journeys within West Berkshire will be free all day on the following days in November and December:
You can travel at any time on these days, so why not take the opportunity to go Christmas shopping, look at festive lights, attend the panto at the Corn Exchange, go for a bite to eat in the local eateries, take in some of the outstanding scenery, or do a round of pre-Christmas visits to family and friends.
Additionally, the Council will put on a free “Christmas Shopper” service for selected villages around West Berkshire who don’t have a bus service on Saturdays starting from 19 November through to Christmas Eve. Further details are outlined by following the link below.
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Thank you to everyone who has started using the new weekly food waste collection service.
In the first two weeks of collections, we have collected 173 tonnes of food waste.
Food waste is processed in West Berkshire where it's made into a soil conditioner.
If you have not received a food waste caddy, please email us to receive one so you can start recycling your food waste weekly.
For more information about the service visit our website and visit online for tips on how to reduce your food waste.
*Collections from flats and communal dwellings begin from 28 November 2022*
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 It’s Carers’ Rights Day next week and the Carers Partnership for Reading and West Berkshire has organised an event on Friday 25 November from 12.30-3.30pm at Frank Hutchings Community Hall, Thatcham, RG18 4QH.
Our Adult Social Care team will be there, along with a number of local organisations who can offer advice and support including: Age UK Berkshire, Communicare, Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friendly Berkshire. There will also be talks on Wills Deputyships, Trusts and Power of Attorney by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, and on Direct Payments by West Berkshire Council.
Everyone is welcome to pop in and there will be free refreshments available. If you have any questions, email: Stephen Hammond or call: 0118 959 4242.
 This a reminder that we are asking everyone living or working in West Berkshire how inclusive and fair it is. We would like to hear about people’s experiences so that we can make the changes needed to move us forward. Please fill in our survey knowing this is a confidential, safe space to share your thoughts and experiences.
In addition to the main survey, we have added a summary version which only takes 5 mins to answer if you are short on time. Please help us identify priorities for the future through a new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework. Access both surveys and more information about why we are doing this work on our website.
The survey will be open for responses until midnight on 27 November 2022.
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With over 1,500 members of staff corporately, plus additional members of staff working across our local schools and education settings, we're one of the largest employers in the area. There are lots of reasons to consider a career with us - from the wide range of services we provide to the training and benefits we offer.
Current vacancies include:
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 Safeguarding Adults Week takes place next week, from 21-27 November. Safeguarding is taking action to ensure people can lead a life free from harm and abuse.
The West of Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board is supporting the week with daily webinars organised by the board’s partners. The free sessions will cover a wide variety topics related to the core theme: Responding to Contemporary Safeguarding Challenges.
The online webinars are open to anyone working in health and social care as well as volunteers within West of Berkshire.
See details and book here.
If you have a safeguarding concern about someone else, or about your own safety, you can get help and advice from the safeguarding team on our website.
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We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:
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The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is redrawing constituency boundaries in order to rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP, and a final consultation on proposed new constituencies is now open. A new revised map of constituency proposals, which takes into account feedback sent in by the public on the initial proposals, has been published on the consultation website. Send in your views before the closing date of 5 December to have your say on new parliamentary constituency boundaries.
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The Cost of Living Support Hub is Open |
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The Cost of Living Support Hub is open to anyone facing financial hardship this winter. Residents can get in touch for advice and support around cost of living issues.
The hub is open Monday-Thursday 8.30-5.00pm and Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. More information about the hub can be found on our website or you can email us or call 01635 503333.
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And finally...
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On 19 and 21 November, RMT members at Network Rail’s signalling centre near Didcot Parkway will be on strike. As this is a crucial part of the network, controlling all signalling between London Paddington, the Cotswolds, south Wales, west and south west of England, there will be a reduced number of services, starting later and finishing earlier. Further information available online.
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From 14 November, Covid Vaccinations in Hungerford will move from the Croft Field Centre to Hungerford Hub and Library on Church Street. Vaccinators will be at Hungerford Hub 10am – 4.45pm every Monday until Christmas. For queries and to book at other locations visit the NHS website.
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