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 A consultation has started on proposals which will affect some of the services we provide next year. Before we make any decisions we're inviting you to read more about our plans and how you might be affected by them.
You can find out more about the proposals and have your say on our website.
These decisions are being taken because, like many councils, we're facing significant financial pressures with the funding we receive failing to keep up with the cost of delivering services. We’re working hard to protect our most vulnerable residents, and frontline services, and to deliver a budget which reflects the true cost of delivering our services.
You can find out more about the background to this decision and the steps we have already taken here.
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Community Champions Awards |
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 Thank you to everyone who has nominated unsung heroes for one of our Community Champion Awards. If you haven't nominated yet - it's not too late to get your entry in.
There are four categories recognising community groups, volunteers and junior citizens as well as those deserving of our Lifetime Achievement Award. Recognise someone's efforts and say thank you to them by nominating them a Community Champion Award.
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West Berkshire Council is supporting communities to come together and create welcoming spaces where people can come to stay warm and enjoy some company, a hot drink and get some advice from partner organisations on local support such as foodbanks and the Government’s Household Support Fund.
During the pandemic, we teamed up with community groups to co-produce a special Connecting Communities Together map where you can find the locations and information on when the Welcome Spaces are open.
We currently have 21 Community Welcome Spaces across West Berkshire and want to help our communities to create more. If you have a community space that you’d like to add to the map, please click here or email rhys.lewis@westberks.gov.uk .
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Keep up to date on road closures in your area by using the map of roadworks, including those of utility companies, on our website to plan your journeys. Click the link below for more information.
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 We are committed to re-developing Four Houses Corner, a recognised Traveller site near Ufton Nervet, and we need your views on the proposals.
The consultation has been open online for a few weeks now, but to assist those who would like to talk to us face-to-face about the plans, we are holding an open public presentation with a Q&A session on Monday, 11 December from 6pm to 8pm. This will take place at St. John's Village Hall, West End Rd, Mortimer Common, RG7 3TF. No need to book, just drop in.
For more information and to have your say on the consultation, please visit our website and submit your views by 5pm on 15 December.
 It was great to see so many people at our recent Carer’s Rights Day event at Thatcham Rugby Club. If you, or anyone you know is an unpaid carer that couldn’t be there on the day, here are some useful links for advice and support.
 Saturday 25 November was White Ribbon Day. This year, the theme for the day was on how we can all make consistent choices and actions to change the story for women and girls, so that they may live their lives free from the fear of violence.
Find out more about the work we’re doing to support victims of Domestic Abuse in West Berkshire. Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) is working with health and care partners and local people to transform primary care services.
As part of this programme of work the ‘Primary Care Conversation’ has been launched which asks individuals to share their views on primary care services via an online survey.
The work aims to:
- build a shared understanding of the current state of primary and community services and present a case for change
- build a consensus on the future vision for primary care and its integration with community services
- design the way we deliver this care (operating model) and other tools such as digital healthcare
- test the practical application of the new model through projects
- capture learning and build capability for phased roll-out of the final strategy.
The survey is open until 31 January 2024. You can find it online or you can request a printed copy at 0300 123 4465 or by email to: engagement.BOBICS@nhs.net
 It’s never too early to start protecting your baby.
Mums-to-be should have both their flu and Covid jabs to make sure they and their babies have as much protection as possible.
Watch this video to find out more. Further information is available here.
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Anyone can watch our Council and Committee meetings in person at our Market Street offices in Newbury and live on our YouTube channel to view the important decisions made by Councillors on issues such as planning, waste and schools.
Upcoming public meetings include:
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We're holding a digital collection day at Hungerford Library tomorrow (30 November) from 10am-2pm as part of the Their Finest Hour project.
Their Finest Hour is a new initiative working to create a comprehensive digital archive of the incredible wealth of history and knowledge of the Second World War that lots of us hold either in our heads or our lofts.
Our Culture and Libraries team are looking for people to bring stories about their family’s wartime experience – and associated objects such as diaries, letters, medals, journals and ration books.
Come along to the Hungerford digital collection day and share your Second World War stories and objects ready to be recorded, digitised, and then uploaded to the Their Finest Hour online archive, which will be free-to-use and launch in June 2024.
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The West Berkshire Youth Forum is a group that has been set up for young people within West Berkshire who have SEND and are aged between 15-25.
The focus of the group is to give the young people a platform to express themselves. They get the chance to meet new people in a safe environment, have a meal out, make friendships that they can develop outside of the group and build a community within the group.
The Youth Forum meets once a month for two hours. If you are interested in joining the group, please click here. If you would like more information, please contact: Youthforum@westberks.gov.uk.
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Our very successful Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is running again this Christmas to support vulnerable children and those eligible for free school meals. HAF offers holiday club activities, fully funded by the Department for Education, which focuses on enriching experiences, physical activity along with a healthy meal each day.
We’re looking to increase our offer to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. If you are a group that supports SEND, a holiday club provider that has capacity to support SEND children over the holiday periods or a specialist SEND club provider, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact our HAF Coordinator at hannah.lee1@westberks.gov.uk
 Christmas kicks off at Shaw House this weekend with a festive Gingerbread Trail and an inviting Christmas Fair!
Follow the clues to find the gingerbread characters hidden around the historic rooms at Shaw House from 11am-2pm on 2 December before treating yourselves to a festive gingerbread hot chocolate in the café. The gingerbread trail is an indoor event, suitable for 4 - 8 year olds, but younger and older children are also welcome. An adult must remain at all times.
From 11am-3pm on 3 December, explore over 65 stalls in Shaw House selling locally made gifts and craft; the perfect time to shop for unique gifts for friends and family – or for yourself! Enjoy a day of festivities set to a soundtrack of vintage tunes from Gramofun and local choir, Sing for Fun, along with hot food, mulled wine and Newbury’s Living Advent Calendar. Admission is £2 adults, £1 child (3yrs and under free) and you can pay on the day.
If a weekend of festive fun is not enough, come along to Shaw House next week to create your own bespoke Christmas wreath! Kim Harrison and her Lavenders Floristry Team will be on hand to guide you through and demonstrate techniques to help you create your unique design. The events, which take place on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December at 10am and 6:30pm, and Thursday 7 December at 10am and 2pm, are suitable for beginners. The sessions cost £55 each and include a hot drink and mince pie. You can book online here.
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Children's magic show this Sunday |
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Join us on Sunday 3 December at Shaw House for the return of Mr Muddle’s Magic Show! Featuring Mr Muddle the charming, if muddlesome, magician who captivates and amazes children with his comical slapstick magic. The show is suitable for 3 – 8 year olds, but younger and older children are welcome.
There will be shows at 11am, 12.30pm & 2pm and it costs £7 per child with one accompanying adult free.
Please note that the Shaw House Christmas Fair will also be taking place on 3 December. If you wish to visit the event, which will take place throughout the rest of the House, you will need to purchase tickets on the day.
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And finally...
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