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 With the end of the 2019-23 Council Strategy approaching, a new report has been published showing our key achievements for West Berkshire's residents over the past four years.
It details how we've performed against each of the aims, priorities and targets we set back in May 2019 when it was introduced.
Since then we've been working hard to deliver this Strategy whilst adapting and responding to significant challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Climate Emergency and the economic and social consequences of the conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. This includes:
- Completing 95% of pothole and road edge repairs in a timely manner
- Superfast broadband made available to more than 97% of properties
- 640 additional properties benefitting from flood prevention schemes
- Offering 98% of primary and secondary school starters one of their preferred school places
- Improvements in the time taken to determine planning applications
- Consideration of more than 13,700 requests for adult social care support for vulnerable residents
The report, which will be considered by the Executive on Thursday 23 March is available, along with documents and information about how you can watch the meeting online here: Executive - Thursday 23 March
 As we reflect back to 3 years ago when the country was about to enter its first COVID lockdown, we’re so pleased to have received this recognition from Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum for the professionalism & selflessness our staff showed during the pandemic.
The certificate reminds us of the scale of the task we all faced and that we were a key part of the largest co-ordinated response within the Thames Valley to this extraordinary global event. Whilst the certificate recognised the Council, we’d also like to recognise the whole community who stood with us. We’re very proud to serve and support the people of West Berkshire.
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Almost £2,000,000 spent helping vulnerable residents across district |
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Since receiving Government funding for the Household Support Fund, in October 2021 the scheme has seen funding of £1.9m distributed locally - with more to come in April.
Nearly 4,300 individual claims for support have been administered with an average of £263 provided per claim to help households with energy costs, food, clothing and essential household items. In addition it has enabled us to provide free school meals vouchers during school holidays to more than 23,000 children.
As well as distributing funding directly, we've also provided funding to Age Concern and Age UK to support older residents and to Greenham Trust to support their charitable activities.
A further allocation of £1.4m has been awarded to West Berkshire Council for 2023/24 and will allow services to be developed in order to ensure these funds are utilised to support the most needy and vulnerable in the district.
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 Last Friday, our Homes for Ukraine Hub hosted a ‘Thank you’ reception to acknowledge and recognise the generosity of the Hosts who have helped with the scheme over the last year. They have accepted Guests into their homes and supported them through challenging times. It was an emotiona and was wonderful to see many hosts joining us.
A moving speech was given by our Chairman Councillor Rick Jones and thank you certificates and gifts were handed out by our Leader, Lynne Doherty and Chief Executive, Nigel Lynn.
An installation exhibiting thank you comments created a heart warming backdrop to the evening, with pictures and quotes from Guests and others who have been involved in the scheme acknowledging the generosity and kindness of the Hosts
If you're interested in becoming a host, you can find more information online.
As the first council in the UK to launch a climate change bond, we’re excited to sign a pledge to run a second one to help fund brilliant environmental projects and tackle climate change. This means that local people will be able to invest directly in these projects which will move us towards decarbonisation and net zero!
The first bond funded solar panels on council buildings and we’re looking forward to planning more projects with the new one.
 Last week our Waste Officers headed to Calcot to take part in the Great British Spring Clean. In 2 hours they'd collected 12 bags of litter.
As part of this years campaign, we're calling on families, neighbours, friends and colleagues to join forces and clean up our communities.
If you are organising a community clean-up event, we can provide litter-picking equipment. Please give us as much notice as possible when requesting equipment and wait for confirmation before you advertise your event as our equipment may not be available due to popular demand, you can request equipment online.
If you're taking part in the #GBspringclean please send us your photos from your event!
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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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 Social Workers from our Adult Social Care and Children and Family Services joined together on Tuesday 21 March to celebrate World Social Work Day with colleagues and Council Members, taking time out to connect with each other and reflect on the work of the past year.
We're very proud of the work our Social work teams achieve in supporting the residents of West Berkshire. To find out more about these fantastic opportunities, visit our website.
 Step Up to Social Work is an intensive, 14-month, full-time programme for people who want to become social workers, but don't have a degree in social work. We’re inviting applications for the 8th cohort of Step Up, which starts in January 2024. The application window closes at noon on Monday 3rd April.
Successful applicants will train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in West Berkshire.
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and aim to have a workforce that represents the society that we serve.
Apply now.
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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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 Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge. The initiative helps further boost activity levels, health and wellbeing while spurring a reduction in car journeys and associated emissions.
The event is open until 31 March to all primary and secondary schools in the UK. It’s free to take part, supported with free resources from Sustrans - and there are prizes to be won!
We're also working closely with Sustrans and other partners including Canal & River Trust to progressively improve sections of National Cycle Network route 4 through the Kennet Valley, and recently assisted Sustrans to remediate a 1.25 km path section in the Burghfield area. Further improvements are planned during 2023.
 Our holiday activities and food programme is back for Easter & there’s even more on offer! Primarily for children who have free school meals, we have over 20 locations offering exciting, enriching activities, from kayaking to cooking, football to climbing. New this year (at selected clubs) are petting zoos and reptile visits.
Find out more about HAF & see if your child is eligible online.
We have free actvities for children in all our libraries over the Easter Holidays. Please ask in your local library to see what is available near you.
Events include: 'talk and touch' sessions, music and crafts, 'superhero' design workshops and more.
You can also find details of activities in libraries and other locations in the West Berkshire Directory.
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Our War.Art.Hope Exhibition is open at West Berkshire Museum for a few more days.
If you haven't had a chance, pop along and see the work of three Ukrainian artists - Nadia, Natalia and Luda. The exhibition also features a series of three emotional short films of Nadia, Natalia, and the Brickman’s, a West Berkshire family who host a young couple, Max and Katya, through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
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And finally...
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Spring is in the air and we are celebrating with the return of our Spring Food & Craft Fair. Explore the House and browse over 60 stalls offering artisan food, drink and locally produced crafts, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts and treats.
Sunday 2 April | Shaw House | 11am – 4pm | Adults £2, Children £1 (Free for children aged 3 years and under) | Pay on the door
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