Wokingham Borough Connect
 Charity hosting Christmas event to reduce loneliness
The Link Visiting Scheme will be running its annual Christmas Day event for the 11th year. Located at the Charity and Community Hub in Wokingham, The Link Visiting Scheme uses a network of volunteers to reduce loneliness through friendship.
The charity is hoping to bring festive cheer to those who are alone and would love some extra company. This will include having a friend to talk to, gifts and a traditional Christmas dinner.
If you would like to refer someone who will be alone on Christmas Day or would benefit from extra support and companionship during the Christmas period, please complete the referral form below.
If you are a friend, neighbour or professional, you can refer someone, but please discuss it with them first and gain their permission.
 Craft your own festive decoration at Dinton café
Does your child fancy making a decoration for the Christmas tree, or to hang around the house?
Visit Dinton Activity Centre from Monday 19 to Friday 23 December and you can get a DIY pack from the Coffee Deck for your child for just £4. The price includes reserving a table space in the café for 30 minutes.
Each DIY pack contains all that you need to make either a reindeer and a tree, or a snowman and staff will be around to help if needed.
To find out more and make a booking, go to the Dinton Activity Centre website.
 Holiday fun for children across the borough
Our Holidays, Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back for the Christmas holidays, with football clubs, activity clubs, laser quest, bowling and pantomimes all on offer for under 16s this December.
The HAF programme is funded by the Department of Education and provides free activities and a healthy meal for those from reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of benefit-related free school meals or referred by a professional.
To sign up, you first will need to register for the programme, which will provide you with a unique code for future bookings. You can then book sessions online for the Christmas break, and Easter and Summer breaks when they become available nearer the time.
To make it easier to learn how to sign up, we have made a video showing you all the steps, and if you want to get a flavour of what HAF has to offer, you can watch our new Explainer, Primary, Secondary and SEND videos on our YouTube channel.
 Along came Polly for Christmas wreath workshop
Are you still missing a centrepiece for your Christmas dinner table?
We are excited to have Sally from Polly's Garden to host a two-hour workshop at Dinton Activity Centre. This will take place on Sunday 18 December, from 10am to 12noon, giving you the chance to make your own wreath.
For £50 per person, you will be provided with everything you need, including equipment, a mix of seasonal foliage, some fresh flowers and lots of festive dried elements, such as cones, cinnamon and orange slices (candles excluded).
Demonstrations, guidance and support will be given throughout the workshop. Polly's classes are very popular and often sell out fast, so email her as soon as you can to reserve a spot.
 Tackling gender-based violence with advice sessions
The last of our activities to mark 16 days of action against gender-based violence are taking place this week. This is an international campaign, which runs until Human Rights Day on 10 December.
We have reaffirmed our commitment to tackling all forms of gender-based violence and supported domestic abuse charity Kaleidoscopic UK as they marked White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November.
Wednesday 7 December
Citizens Advice will be at the Asda in Lower Earley from 9.30am to 12noon, offering help and support during their drop-in session, together with the Council’s Domestic Abuse Housing Specialist.
Thursday 8 December
A drop-in session at Lower Earley Library from 10am to 12.30pm. This will be to highlight how domestic abuse affects older people, with presentation delivered at 11am by Hourglass older people’s domestic abuse service for Wokingham Borough.
Wokingham Library will host a drop-in session from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. It will focus on how domestic abuse affects older people, with a presentation being delivered at 2pm by Hourglass.
Waterford House in Wokingham will host a drop-in session led by Cranstoun, who provide our domestic abuse service, from 1pm to 3pm.
Friday 9 December
There will be an information stand in Wokingham town centre from 12noon to 2pm, with support and advice from Cranstoun and our Domestic Abuse Housing Specialist.
 Wokingham 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 – 9 and 16 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 (online)
- 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, 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.
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