 Last chance for library feedback survey
Today’s the last day to respond to our customer feedback survey for our libraries. We’re asking your views to see where to improve and make changes. Respond by midnight to have your feedback included.
 Making significant savings
Like all councils across the UK, we are facing huge financial challenges to ensure vital services are protected and you receive the help and support you need to keep your families safe.
As the lowest funded unitary authority in the UK, with one of the lowest numbers of staff per resident in the country, we continue to review financial efficiency to ensure sound financial management during these turbulent times.
We have a strong track record of reducing costs and making efficiencies, totalling almost £29million in the past six years.
It is our responsibility to deliver hundreds of services and we are currently facing huge financial challenges when we know you need us the most.
We have a duty of care to all of you and we intend to do all we can to support those who need our help but this does mean we need to find significant savings over the next three years.
 Grants for food and energy, warm spaces now open
The cost of living help hub as been updated with new schemes and projects to help you this winter.
There’s nine top tips for you to access help if you need it. And if none of these apply to you, check more than 90 ways to save from Martin Lewis.
We know Christmas can be expensive so save this email in case you want to access any of this support in the new year.
£400 energy payments
Make sure your energy provider is making Energy Bill Support Scheme payments, £400 between October and March. Contact your supplier if you’ve not received your payments.
Pension credits
Check if you’re eligible for pension credit and how much you could get if you’re pension age.
More income and planning spending
Wokingham Citizens Advice has tools to help you maximise your income and planning your spending if you’re struggling.
Where to go to stay warm
Warm spaces are up and running across the borough organised by community groups.
Earley, Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Wokingham have support in place, we’ll be adding more as they open up. All libraries are open to provide support this winter too.
If you want to be added to the list or are looking to run a warm space contact our team.
Making Christmas special if you’re struggling
If you’re struggling and worried about marking Christmas for your family, local organisations can help you. We’ve pulled together help on offer at Christmas with organisations who may be able to support you.
Warmer winters
The winter warmers project is providing items to those who need them to help reduce bills at home.
Low energy items like slow cookers, air fryers and heated blankets, along with warm clothes, blankets and more are available. The project is run alongside SHARE Wokingham, First Days Children’s Charity and our Hardship Alliance partners.
Grants for essentials
Our Hardship Alliance partners Wokingham United Charities have its Essential Item Grant open for the winter. This is eligible to Wokingham Borough residents to help with items like furniture or white goods if you’re in hardship, services to reduce distress or fees associated with debts.
£120 Household Support Fund grants
If you’re struggling to pay bills or buy food this winter our Household Support Fund can help you with £120 towards costs.
There’s specific money put aside for all families with children who receive means-tested free school meals. How to apply can be found on our website.
Loan sharks
Watch out for loan sharks in the run up to Christmas
Lenders are looking to cash in as people struggling to cope with rising costs of food, fuel and energy, as well as the costs of the festive period
Advice is available from Stop Loan Sharks if you have borrowed from a loan shark or are worried about someone else.
 Branching out to protect our trees
We want your thoughts on our plans to clearly outline how existing trees are cared for, and new ones are planted, in the borough.
We’re consulting until 22 January on our draft tree strategy, which we’re drawing up to protect the environment and biodiversity as well as local people’s health.
The proposals include better co-ordination of how our trees are managed, developers’ duties towards planting and how you can help us protect trees with historic or community value.
They also support our efforts to increase planting on public and private land, in line with our climate emergency action plan, to offset carbon emissions and a recent decline in individual trees.
For help completing the survey on our Engage platform, or to view and respond in other formats like paper or electronic (PDF), call us on (0118) 974 6000 or visit one of our libraries.
What you might have missed
|
