Wokingham Borough Connect
 Site of the Month winner for Escape-pain course
Escape-pain is an education and exercise programme for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis and low back pain. The programme is supported by the Orthopaedic Research UK and helps people understand their condition, teaches them simple things they can do to help themselves and takes them through a progressive exercise programme so they learn how to cope with pain better.
We are delighted to be awarded 'Site of the Month' by Escape-pain for our programme.
Our 12 session course is just one of our many schemes we run under our prevention umbrella for Wokingham Borough residents. The course allows you to learn gentle and effective ways to exercise and strengthen your joints.
The course is designed for people aged 45 or older who are struggling with day-to-day activities and who have been newly diagnosed or have low to moderate osteoarthritis.
The one hour sessions take place every Tuesday and Friday and you will also meet other residents living in Wokingham Borough.
For more information including course cost and to sign up, email Leah on preventionteam@wokingham.gov.uk.
 Give a new lease of life to your old running shoes
Our flagship Wokingham Leisure Centre at Carnival Hub, managed by Places Leisure, now has a Jog On donation box for running shoes. Jog On's mission is to remove one million shoes from landfill by giving your running shoes a second chance.
It is estimated that there are more than 30 million pairs of shoes that end up in landfill every year. Many of these shoes have a lot of life left in them and could be put to good use. The scheme partners with logistics and distribution partners to deliver running shoes to 15 destinations around the world.
There are in the region of 18 billion pairs of running shoes sold in the world every year. That's the equivalent to two pairs of running shoes per person on earth. Yet, there are millions who have no shoes and suffer terribly from sole diseases.
If you have a pair of running shoes to donate, simply tie them together with the shoe laces and drop them in the box at Carnival Hub.
 Dress up for the last dementia friendly dance of 2022
Do you live with or know someone living with dementia?
Every first Monday of the month, our Sport and Leisure Team run a free dementia friendly tea dance in the Ashridge Room at Cantley Park Café in Wokingham.
The dances are available to all borough residents living with dementia and it’s a great opportunity to make new friends, sing along, dance and have fun, all while enjoying tea, coffee and a slice of cake.
The photo above is from our October tea dance, where we all dressed up to get into the spirit of Halloween. Residents tucked into some spooky snacks, enjoyed teas and coffees, and had a boogie to some Halloween classics.
The next tea dance takes place on Monday 5 December and it is the last dance of the year. Think tinsel, Christmas jumpers and mince pies! The room is accessible by lift.
For more information and to book a free place, email preventionteam@wokingham.gov.uk or call (0118) 974 3728.
 Share your experience of maternal mental health care
Pregnancy is a major life event for any family. It can be joyful and fulfilling but also challenging. With one in four women experiencing mental health problems during pregnancy and in the first year following the birth of a child, support from maternity services can significantly impact their mental health and wellbeing.
Healthwatch has launched a national survey to understand if local maternal mental health care works for new mothers and birthing parents. You can share your experience of local maternal mental health care by taking part in their survey.
The national survey aims to give you the opportunity to share your views and experiences to help Healthwatch better understand what is working and what needs improving for new parents.
For instance, Healthwatch want to know whether the support you received for your mental health during pregnancy and birth met your needs. They also want to see if you had your six-week postnatal check-up and what it was like.
Healthwatch will use your feedback to help the NHS identify improvements and improve mental health support for new parents.
Take part in the survey by visiting the Healthwatch website.
 Mobile Covid-19 vaccination centres coming next month
Mobile vaccination centres are coming to Finchampstead and Arborfield next month to offer further protection against Covid-19. Vaccines remain our best protection against severe disease and hospitalisation this winter.
The key advantage of these mobile clinics is that no booking is needed and you can just turn up on the day. Protection provided by vaccines decreases over time, so getting a booster is essential. The next clinics are on:
- Monday 5 December, 11am to 4pm, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, RG40 4ES
- Sunday 18 December, 10am to 4pm, Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Arborfield, RG2 9YJ
The NHS team will be providing the adult booster dose and there is free parking available at both sites. These clinics are 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 of Covid-19 jabs.
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. You can view dates and more information on our website. If you are using the clinic at Shute End, it is advised you book in advance, although walk-ins are available depending on capacity.
 Recovery College - dates for December
The Wokingham Recovery College gives people with mental health problems the chance to access education, workshops and training programmes designed to help them on their road to recovery. The college helps people become experts in their own self-care and enable family, friends and staff to better understand mental health.
Upcoming classes for December:
- Managing anxiety – 2, 9 and 16 December, 10am to 11.30am
- Understanding addictive behaviour – 6 December, 10am to 11.30am
- Friends and family support group – 7 December, 1.30pm to 3pm
- Hearing voices group – 8 December, 11am to 12 noon
- Recovering together – 12 December, 11am to 12.30pm
- Have your say* - 13 December, 2pm to 3pm
- Being more authentic – 14 December, 1.30pm to 3pm
The Wokingham Recovery College accepts registrations from anyone aged 18 and over living in Wokingham Borough.
To enrol in the Recovery College, complete an online registration form available on our website and email it to recoverycollege@wokingham.gov.uk. If you need help filling out the form, call (0118) 989 0707 and the Recovery College team will support you.
*Online classes.
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