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Family Placement Team partner with Hungerford Town FC

Image credit: Hungerford Town FC

We’re proud that our Family Placement Team have partnered with Hungerford Town FC to be their main shirt sponsor this season. The shirt, modelled by team captain Rhys Tyler above, was unveiled at the weekend featuring the 'Foster Now' logo to encourage recruitment of foster carers in West Berkshire.

Danny Robinson, First Team Manager said: "Foster care is close to my heart. My mum and dad have been foster carers now for over 18 years. My sister and I have lived with foster brothers and foster sisters and seen how being part of a caring family has helped them. West Berkshire is crying out for foster carers and we need to start spreading the word. We need foster carers right now to look after children and give them a safe environment and a loving home as placing children with the right people can make a huge life changing difference."

Can you help? Visit our website to find out more.

More appointments at Household Waste Recycling Centres

We're pleased to announce that we are increasing the number of appointments at our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the district in order to improve the service for all.

This collaboration with our waste contractor, Veolia, will provide more flexibility and capacity during the most popular time slots for residents and comes in time for the summer season and the upcoming bank holiday. Additionally, our Newtown Road HWRC has extended its operating hours on Thursdays to close at 8:00pm until September which will better serve the community.

With a total of 628 daily appointments now available at Newtown Road and 488 at Padworth Lane, we're working hard to accommodate more residents and make recycling more convenient than ever before.

Read more about it here.

Work on renovated Northcroft Lido nears completion

Work is nearing completion on the eagerly anticipated Northcroft Lido! Construction work has been completed and we're now focusing on testing and health and safety checks.

Projects of this size are technically challenging to deliver and particularly so in this case given the age of the facility - which went through its last major refurbishment in 1937. Work is underway behind the scenes to ensure the facility is operational and safe for visitors when it opens to the public this summer. This includes water safety checks and testing of the circulation and filtration system before the site became ready for handover to Everyone Active.

Speaking about the Lido, Councillor Janine Lewis, Executive Member for Leisure, said: "We share the disappointment of residents that the pool hasn't been available for the whole of the summer holidays. There have been some challenging teething problems that we did not want to exacerbate and rush through a quick fix. However, our contractors must deliver a project that has been fully tested and is safe, unfortunately this requires further works over the comings days. We're working through this as quickly as we can and we appreciate your patience as we complete this necessary work."

The lido is still expected to be ready this summer and an opening date will be announced shortly. 

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:

• Transformation Unit Manager
• Early Help and Prevention Lead
• Planning Solicitor

Calling all West Berkshire poets!

The search to find the best poets across West Berkshire is in full swing! 

Whether you are a seasoned poet or this will be your first poem, it’s time to get creative! 

What’s in it for you? Being creative; improves your mood, helps you get ‘in the zone’ or lose track of time, could improve your social life, boosts your self-esteem and confidence and improves brain function.

To get started, choose or write a poem on any of the following topics: Social isolation and loneliness, finding refuge, exploring anxious feelings or mental health and wellbeing and please email your poems to us by 31 August 2023.

Our favourite pieces of poetry will be displayed at Shaw House, in our libraries, leisure centres and council offices.

The Wizard of Oz at Shaw House

Click your heels and ease on down the yellow brick road to Shaw House on Monday 14 August as Immersion Theatre proudly present a brand-new adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, a magical family show guaranteed to have you in stitches from beginning to end!

With lashings of audience participation, dazzling costumes, an original script and bags of laughter, our hilarious adaptation has consistently proven to be a huge hit with audiences all across the country! A fantastic treat for all the family, this high energy, larger-than-life show is a guaranteed good time whether you’re 4 or 104!

Please bring your own seating/rug, warm clothes and picnic. The café will be open selling snack, drinks and ice cream.

Find more information and book your tickets here.

We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:

• Stockcross Active Travel Path (Stockcross to A4): Pre-Construction Feedback
• Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Speen Lodge Court (2023)
• Hermitage Neighbourhood Plan

Summer Fete Extravaganza at Willows Edge Care Home

Willows Edge Care Home are thrilled to invite you to their very first Summer Fete on 2 September from 13:30 - 16:30.

Explore a variety of stalls featuring unique handcrafted items, gifts, and goodies to find treasures for yourself or your loved ones while supporting local artisans. You can also indulge in delicious BBQ food that will tickle your taste buds.

Mark the date, invite your friends and family, and make this Summer Fete an unforgettable gathering of love, laughter, and happiness!

You can check out what Willows Edge Care Home are doing via their new Facebook page.

Shaw House Community Garden

Some additional raised beds have become available for community groups to use at Shaw House. Along with the exclusive use of a designated raised bed, groups will also be able to:

• Grow anything including bulbs, flowers, fruit and veg
• Meet other happy gardeners
• Learn new skills
• Have shared use of the onsite tools and more!

No previous gardening experience is required, just enthusiasm!

If you or a community group you know are interested in getting involved, please get in touch.

Festival of the Moon events at Newbury Library

Between 15 August and 3 September, Newbury will be hosting over 100 events as part of a Festival of the Moon coordinated by Visit Newbury. The events taking place in Newbury Library include: a collagraph printing session for children 5+ years and adults on   Wednesday 16 August, 2-4pm (advance booking essential)  paper craft activities for children on Tuesday 22 August, 2-4pm a LEGO Rocket Challenge on Wednesday 30 August, 2-4pm For more information about any of the library events, please ask in the library or visit our website.

And finally...

• A reminder that our new Community Forums kick off on 17 August! Join us for the first forum focusing on the sports provision at Faraday Road. You can attend in person at our Market Street Offices or online, but please register and find more information on our website.