 The 'Front Door' is still open
Today sees the final food parcels being delivered by Wokingham Borough Community Response.
The closure of the food distribution hub doesn’t however mean the end of care and support for our more vulnerable residents. We’ll continue to work alongside the voluntary sector and town and parish councils. And Citizens Advice Wokingham will continue to provide its Front Door community response, taking your calls and emails (if you need help) to put you in contact with people and organisations to help.
To contact Front Door, call Citizens Advice Wokingham on (0300) 330 1189 or visit the Citizens Advice Wokingham website. If you’re hard-of-hearing, you can use the text relay service by calling (03444) 111 445. Phone lines are staffed Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Saturday, 9am to 1pm.
And remember the foodbanks in Wokingham and Woodley are still welcoming donations for local people in need. To donate, visit the Wokingham foodbank website or call Woodley's foodbank on (07806) 658 995 (weekdays 9am to 4pm) or (0118) 969 9956 (weekdays 9am to 12.30pm).
 Confused about what you can and cannot do?
Covid-19 cases in England are rising again, Boris Johnson announced today, meaning some planned restrictions are no longer being eased. With this and differing lockdown rules across the UK, you won’t be alone if you’re feeling confused about what you can and cannot do.
The phrase ‘second spike’ is misleading because it implies Covid-19 has gone away. It hasn’t. We need only to look at locations in Europe and here in the UK where it’s again gaining ground, before even considering countries where it’s still or only just beginning to run rampant.
Covid-19 is not beaten. It’s simply waiting for us to be complacent, to let things slip. Sticking firmly to the rules to keep us safe are now more crucial than when lockdown started, with us all increasingly out and about. These safety measures are all that stand between us and Covid-19.
The government has a guide on its Coronavirus website detailing exactly what we can and cannot do. Don’t give Covid-19 the freedom to spread.
 Do you know where your teenagers are?
We’ve seen an increase in anti-social among young people in our borough parks recently - arson, under-age drinking, litter, and loud music late into the night.
With the promise of good weather this weekend and the risk of Covid-19 transmission increasing, it might be wise to check up on your teenagers’ whereabouts.
If you live next to a park with problems this weekend, or experience anti-social behaviour yourself while in one, please call the police (101 unless it’s an emergency) and get a Unique Reference Number to help us and the police tackle the problem.
The above photo is from Bigshotte Park which has been particularly hard hit.
 Libraries re-open from Monday
Wokingham and Woodley libraries will reopen next Monday (3 Aug) with reduced hours – Wokingham, weekdays, 9.30am to 1.30pm, and Woodley, also weekdays, 9am to 1pm.
They’ll be open purely for returning and borrowing books with other services such as public computers, study space, and newspaper/ magazine browsing not available.
We hope to open more branches and increase opening hours during the coming weeks. Safety management and public demand will guide the return of other library services but it could be we’ll have to introduce new ways of delivering these.
You’ll find hand sanitiser stations at the entrances, and face coverings must be worn inside. You’ll follow one-way systems, and social distancing still applies. Try to minimise handling books when browsing. Any book touched but not booked out must go into 72-hour quarantine. All returned books will also be quarantined this way.
There are currently 37,000 books and other items out on loan but with overdue charges suspended you don’t need to rush to return them.
 How has Covid-19 affected you?
This is just a quick reminder about our survey to find out how the pandemic has affected you. Your feedback will help us assess how we’ve engaged with you, its effects on you, what services you’re using and any changes you’d like so we can give you what you need in the future.
And by taking part you also have the chance to win either a spa session for two at Nirvana, a taster session at Dinton Activity Centre, afternoon tea at Blue Orchid Bakery or up to £50 in gift vouchers.
The survey is on our consultations web page. Alternatively, you can complete a paper survey by emailing us asking for one, or by calling us on (0118) 974 6000. It runs until 23 August.
How Covid-19 is affecting our services
Citizens Advice Wokingham website for Front Door community support
Advice and help for local businesses during Covid-19
Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care guidance
NHS England advice
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