Wokingham Borough Connect
 Diversity and inclusion at the heart of story hours
A nationally acclaimed drag performer is giving free interactive storytellings later this month.
Drag Queen Story Hour UK aims to promote diversity and acceptance, as well as encouraging more families to attend their local library.
These free sessions are running on Wednesday 24 August for families with children aged four and over at Wokingham Library (11am), Woodley Library (1pm) and Lower Earley Library (3pm).
Places must be booked at the appropriate branch and attendees must have a valid library card when bookings are made.
Wokingham Borough is the penultimate stop on the company’s ‘100 Libraries in 100 Days’ summer tour, which has already seen visits to Reading, Oxfordshire, Bristol and Cardiff.
 Wokingham Festival returns this month
Live music returns to Cantley Park this summer with Wokingham Festival running on the August bank holiday weekend.
More than 40 artists are appearing from Saturday to Monday (27 to 29 August), so there should be something for everyone.
Beyond the music there's a range of food and drink stands. There are also a number of activities to keep children amused, including circus skills, face painting and table-top games, plus a Hands-On Art tent run by MoreArts.
The Beer Festival Bar, run by the Twyford Beer Festival crew, will stock a wide selection of specialist craft beers, ciders and perries from local and national breweries.
Festival photo by Andrew Merritt Photography
 Outdoor cinema at Dinton Pastures
There's still time to grab a bargain with discounted tickets for our outdoor cinema at Dinton Pastures Country Park.
At a price of £9 per person, it's a great opportunity to relax with friends and enjoy some popcorn and some fantastic family films.
On Saturday 20 August you can see Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and, on Saturday 27 August you can watch a brilliant double bill of Clueless and Legally Blonde.
For an extra £4 for each person, you can book to arrive early from 6pm and join the preview party with live performances by local artists before the film starts.
Food stalls on site will offer tasty refreshments, or you can bring your own picnic.
Find out more and grab a ticket on the GoCinema website
 Mental health and wellbeing community alliance forum
Mind in Berkshire, run by Oxfordshire Mind wellbeing workers, is running a series of free, virtual mental health sessions throughout the year aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for Wokingham Borough residents.
The next session, mental health and wellbeing community alliance, takes place on Thursday 15 September, 10am to 11.30am.
If you are a voluntary or community sector (VCS) organisation or group with a particular focus on improving the mental health and wellbeing of people living in Wokingham Borough, this event is for you.
The aim of the alliance is to improve the experience of people accessing mental health and wellbeing support – through responding collaboratively to identified needs in the community.
Free tickets are available. Please note that one person per VCS group should attend. To sign up, visit the Eventbrite booking website.
 Still time to take part in Summer Reading Challenge
There is still plenty of time for you to get involved in this year's Summer Reading Challenge which we launched last month.
This year's challenge, which runs until Saturday 27 August, has a theme of science and innovation. Children aged four to 11 are being encouraged to read six or more books during the summer holidays.
You can sign up at your local library and collect prizes, including a certificate and medal. You can choose from a selection of books, eBooks and audiobooks and you will receive a Gadgeteer core pack poster once you have read and returned your first book. You can then collect special incentives each time you finish a book.
Alternatively, children can sign up for the challenge online and set personal goals for the summer, unlocking badges and rewards along the way. You will receive book recommendations and tips for accessing books for free at home.
 Music, science and space - all in action packed hour
Visit Lower Earley Library on Tuesday 30 August for a zany hour of music, science and space poems from James Carter.
He will be giving a lively reading of his brand new book Once Upon A Big Idea and there will be a chance to take away your very own robot poem.
The session runs from 11am to 12 noon and is suitable for children aged four to ten.
You can also attend this event at Woodley Library on the same day from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. It costs £3 to take part and places must be booked in advance.
 Still time to book onto summer activity camps
There is still time to enrol your child into this summer's Power-Up Activity Camps at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre. The camps offer a range of fun and sporting activities to keep borough children active and entertained.
The camps are open to borough children aged five to 12 years old and run until 2 September, excluding the bank holiday on 29 August.
There are plenty of fantastic activities* your child can take part in including:
- Pool fun
- Basketball
- Inflatable fun
- Hockey
- Martial arts
- Football
- Tennis
- Cricket and more
To book your child’s place, visit our website. Residents can also book online for the October half-term activity camps and receive 15 per cent off by using discount code OCTOBER15 at the checkout. Discount valid until 2 September.
*Classes subject to availability. Power-Up Kids Activity Camps is a separate scheme (paid by parents) to the government-funded Holiday, Activities and Food Programme.
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