 Wokingham Leisure Centre at Carnival Hub opening
Our new leisure centre at the multi-million pound Carnival Hub in Wokingham, will open its doors on 25 July.
It has taken just over 18 months for the main construction work to be completed, which started at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 700 construction workers have been involved in the project, which is part of the final phase of the council’s ambitious regeneration project in Wokingham town centre.
The new Carnival Hub brings together a large leisure centre and a new home for Wokingham library, along with flexible cultural use of the space. It has been built on the site of the former 1990s swimming pool and leisure centre in Wellington Road, which was knocked down in spring 2020.
Book a tour
Ahead of the official opening of the leisure centre, from today Places Leisure is offering residents the chance to take a sneak preview of the centre prior to opening. Places must be booked in advance.
 Celebrating Pride in Wokingham Borough
We’ve proudly raised the rainbow flag to celebrate Pride. The flag was raised on Wednesday 6 July at our Shute End office by Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith.
The annual event celebrates equality and diversity within communities across the country including Wokingham Borough. 2022 is a significant year for the Pride movement and the LGBTQ+ community as it marks 50 years since the first Pride in London parade took place.
On Saturday 9 July, Wokingham Borough residents and the wider community are invited to the Wokingham Pride Picnic in Elms Field, Wokingham.
Now in its third year, the event is free to attend and starts with photos at the Wokingham Town Hall at 11.30am, followed by a family-friendly picnic from 12 noon at Elms Field. Residents are encouraged to bring a picnic rug, food, rainbow flags, their friends and family, plus invite other members of the community along for a fun-filled day.
From 8pm until 10.30pm, The Station Tap will be hosting a vibrant afterparty featuring an evening of drag cabaret by local artist SemiColon and performers Dulce Kraving and Tania LeCoq. The event is free to attend for people aged over 18 years old. SemiColon will also be running an eco-friendly glitter stall at the Pride Picnic.
 Make it a warm welcome for new arrivals
All residents are invited to join an event to welcome new arrivals to Wokingham Borough.
Wokingham Borough Welcomes New Arrivals is run by us in partnership with our voluntary and community sector partners.
It will be held on Saturday 16 July, from 12 noon to 6pm, at Elms Field in Wokingham. We’re keen to embrace the culture and diversity these new communities bring to the borough.
It’s the borough’s chance to welcome new residents, including more than 400 refugees from Ukraine as part of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, as well as families from Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Syria and other places who have moved to the area. There will be range of fun activities for children and families, at this free event.
 Hundreds explore wildlife at Dinton Pastures
A thousand adults and children in Wokingham borough became citizen scientists at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst.
They joined the first weekend BioBlitz event hosted by the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS) to mark its 150th year as a society.
The event on 18 and 19 June 2022 was held in conjunction with the annual Amateur Entomologists’ Society (AES) “Bug Club” annual family day.
The BioBlitz was a community nature survey, focusing on identifying as many species as possible in the country park in 48 hours. Its aim was to inspire people, especially the younger generation, to take an interest in and learn about the importance of wildlife in nature.
Based at Dinton Pastures, BENHS worked in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council and AES to organise this celebratory event, which was free and open to all residents in the borough.
 Stand up against street harassment training
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is delivering a free one hour virtual event – Stand Up Against Street Harassment training on Tuesday 12 July at 1pm to 2pm via Zoom.
The aim of the event is to drive awareness of harassment, upskilling and empowering individuals across various settings such as schools, public transport, festivals, public spaces and workspaces to help defuse situations, discourage harassers and support victims.
The event is in response to demand for bystander training from the business world and general public after the tragic case of Sarah Everard.
People and organisations want to take steps to address the prevalence of unwanted and aggressive behaviours such as harassment that underlies the broader cycle of violence against women and girls. To register for the event, visit the Zoom booking link.
What you might have missed
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