Wokingham Borough Connect
 Free taster sessions for walking football club
Woodley Pensioners FC is a dedicated FA affiliated and FA accredited walking football club operating in the Wokingham and district area, which works closely with our sport and leisure team.
It is an all-inclusive club, welcoming members of all standards, from those who just want a friendly kick around to those who would like to play at a more competitive level. The focus is very much on promoting the mental health and the physical wellbeing of all members, both on the pitch and socially.
There are three friendly club sessions, all of which are held outdoors:
- Mondays from 11am to 12noon on the 3G pitch at Cantley Park in Twyford Road, Wokingham
- Wednesdays from 8pm to 9pm on the 3G pitch at Farley Hill Primary School, Baston Road, Arborfield Green
- Fridays from 11am to 12noon on the 3G pitch at Cantley Park in Twyford Road, Wokingham
New members are offered three free taster sessions. Membership is open to all who are interested in playing walking football at a cost of £5 per year, payable after the taster sessions.
Woodley Pensioners FC has a strong social side, encouraging members to interact through activities. This includes coffee mornings, lunches and participation in charity tournaments.
The club also competes in the Thames Valley Walking Football League on a monthly basis and is open to those aged over 40 for women and over 50 for men.
If you are interested, please contact the club secretary or call 07764 450834.
 Archery and indoor climbing at Dinton Activity Centre
If you’ve never joined a Sunday archery or indoor climbing session at Dinton Activity Centre, book before they end after 27 November.
Archery
Our professional team will teach you how to shoot a bow and arrow and provide you with tips and techniques through competition and games. You don’t need to have any previous experience and everyone aged six and above are welcome.
Indoor climbing
Equipped with 11 automatic belays, the climbing wall in the activity centre is seven meters high and hand-painted with murals that capture the beautiful lake and woodland scenes from Dinton Pastures Country Park.
The climbs are suitable for beginner to intermediate and no previous experience is required. For the best climbing experience, we will only book in 10 people per session, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Book a session
Each archery or indoor climbing session lasts for an hour and costs £10 per person. To book a session, visit the information page on archery and indoor climbing on the Dinton Activity Centre website.
 Come and play badminton at Carnival Hub
Are you interested in playing badminton? Come along to the Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub to have fun, keep fit and meet other people living in the borough.
Badminton is an easy sport to learn and can be a very social game. The speed of the shuttlecock also makes this one of the quickest of the racket sports. It can be played at any pace, making it enjoyable for people of all ages.
The badminton classes include:
- Forever Active badminton for people aged over 50 years old. The sessions run on Fridays from 10.30am to 12pm. Cost £3.75 a session
- Badminton for people of all ages. The sessions run hourly on Monday to Thursday from 6am to 9pm, Friday from 12pm to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 7pm. Cost £14.50 a session
- No Strings Badminton for people of all ages. The sessions run on Tuesdays at 12pm to 1pm and 7pm to 8pm. These sessions are 'pay and play', simply turn up and pay for a session, there is no need to commit to a membership. Cost £3.50 a session
To view the timetable and to sign up, visit the Wokingham Leisure Centre website.
 Mobile covid clinics roaming around the borough
Over the coming weeks, mobile vaccination centres will be opening temporarily across the borough to help protect communities against Covid-19. Vaccines remain our best protection against severe disease and hospitalisation this winter.
The key advantage of these mobile clinics is that booking is not required and you can just turn up on the day. The next one is being held on Monday 21 November at Pinewood Football Club, RG40 3AQ. This will run from 10am to 4pm.
The NHS team will be providing the adult booster dose. This is for anybody aged 50 or over, pregnant women, people in a clinical risk group, and frontline health and social care workers. It is also suitable for anybody aged 16 or over who has only completed their primary course.
If you are thinking of attending, please bring your NHS number and wear a face covering.
These mobile clinics are in addition to the regular ones being held at the Wokingham Borough Council offices at Shute End. Adult booster vaccines are given on Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 4.30pm and this is exclusively for health and social care workers on a walk-in basis from 4pm to 5pm. Vaccinations for children aged five to 11 are given on Sundays, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
If you are using the clinic at Shute End, it is advised you book in advance, although walk-ins are available depending on capacity.
 BXGFit launches Kettlebell Krusher challenge
Last month, BXGFit hosted Halloween classes where gym goers were treated to spooky classes and workouts, including skull crushers, dead lifts, zombie burpees and more. October also saw the start of BXGFit's air bike challenge, with participants competing to see who could burn 10 calories the fastest.
In November, the BXGFit team have introduced a new challenge called the Kettlebell Krusher. Participants will have to push themselves to see how many kettlebell swings they can complete in one minute. Those that reach the top of the leaderboard stand to win coveted BXGFit merchandise.
Get a free class today
To redeem your first adult or junior boxing class free, download the free BXGFit app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and look for the ‘membership’ option.
 Check your risk of developing diabetes
Today is World Diabetes Day, which aims to raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people every day.
Somone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes, but being diagnosed early is very important for all types of the condition. It can save lives, prevent a medical emergency and reduce the risk of life-changing complications later.
That is why it is important to know the warning signs and understand your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Around 90 per cent of people who have diabetes have type 2. It can come on slowly, usually over the age of 40.
The signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all, therefore it could be up to ten years before you find out you have it. That’s why it’s very important to know the diabetes risk factors. These include:
- Age
- BMI
- Family history
- Blood pressure
- Ethnicity
Type 2 diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent.
Smoking is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and also increases the risk of other health conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.
 Highlighting the importance of men's health
Movember runs during November and helps highlight the importance of men's health.
Movember is the leading charity for Men's health and are ensuring we are talking about the importance of issues like these and wider men's health. Movember raises awareness and supports ground-breaking projects around the world.
They engage with men to understand what works for them, they listen and drive change. They share knowledge, direct funding, and put what they know into action. The group's aim is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent by 2030.
Men's health is important. According to Mental Health.org men are less likely to seek help and treatment for their mental health. They are also more likely to become dependent on alcohols or drug use, and less likely to visit a GP or visit a pharmacy for their health.
Movember have published their top five tips for men's health. These include staying connected with the people who make you feel good, talking more about your concerns and getting more active as part of your day-to-day activities.
 Tips to help you improve your sleep hygiene
Sleep is a crucial part of our overall wellbeing and recovery. But what is meant by sleep hygiene?
These are practices and habits that improve sleep when used regularly. Like with anything, consistency is key to see progress and improvement. Improving your sleep hygiene takes time and you won’t find a quick fix.
Poor sleep can stem from many things, such as:
- Psychological factors, e.g overthinking, anxiety, depression
- Physical disturbances, e.g low or a lack of magnesium or vitamin D
- Medical illness, e.g ongoing pain or asthma
- Environmental factors, e.g alcohol or substance misuse, bright light, loud noises or seasonal changes
When thinking about sleep, it is important to remember the amount of sleep you need will vary from others. Everyone also has their own circadian rhythm (body clock) which will impact your sleep pattern.
Tips for improving your sleep hygiene:
- Get into a routine and avoid napping after 5pm
- Avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed and don't eat too late
- Turn off your phone two hours before bed and replace with another activity
- Create a peaceful sleeping environment
You might find you need a combination of strategies to see progress, so don’t be discouraged if you don't see results straight away.
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