 More support to help people pay council tax
Funding for our council tax reduction scheme has been given a £100,000 boost to help residents who might need support paying their council tax.
After reviewing the effectiveness of our current scheme, we felt extra funds to support some people were needed because of the current cost of living pressures. The decision, agreed by our full council last month, will ensure more residents of working age can get financial help.
Like all local authorities in the UK, we're facing huge financial challenges to ensure that vital services are protected - and that you still get any assistance you need to keep yourselves and your families safe and well.
This latest decision is among the many things we're doing to help people who are struggling - and we're working hard to make carefully-planned savings so we can keep offering this kind of support.
We face some tough decisions to balance our budget but despite financial pressures, rising costs and inadequate Government funding, we're set to achieve this in the coming financial year. Find out more about how your council tax is spent on Engage Wokingham Borough.
 Fun for all ages as popular run returns
The ever-popular Wokingham Half Marathon is suitable for experienced runners and newcomers alike. This year’s half marathon takes place on Sunday 26 February at 10am, with the Wokingham Children’s Mini-Mile following at 10.15am.
The event was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid restrictions but came back strong and sold out last year. About 3,000 runners are expected to take part this time, again and finishing at Cantley Park in Wokingham.
Entry is £35.50 for UK Athletics affiliated runners or £37.50 for unaffiliated runners. You must be 17 or older on the day to enter. Advance booking is a must as there will be no entries on the morning.
For the mini-mile, there will be awards in age groups and medals for all finishers. Parents are welcome to run with and support their children and those aged under eight must be accompanied by an adult.
Full details of all road closures are available on the Wokingham Half Marathon website, along with event information, frequently asked questions and parking information.
 Loddon Valley Leisure Centre breastfeeding friendly
Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley has become the latest venue in the borough to be recognised as breastfeeding friendly.
Through our ongoing work with the Breastfeeding Network (BfN), a national charity, we are continuing to give families confidence about breastfeeding. Last year, Wokingham Leisure Centre at Carnival Hub gained the same status as part of the network’s Breastfeeding Friendly Scheme.
The Wokingham branch of the BfN offers free and confidential face-to-face help through peer support volunteers, with sessions held across the borough. It will soon be looking to train new volunteers for a peer supporter course, starting in March, which will be open for applications soon.
To book an appointment or video call, or to enquire about training with the BfN, contact wokingham@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
 Understanding and supporting private foster care
We'd like to remind you that, by law, we have to know about any children living in private fostering arrangements so we can make sure they're being looked after and offer ongoing support and advice to parents or carers.
This applies to any arrangements that have been made without our help, in which someone who isn't a close relative is looking after a child under 16 (or under 18 if they're disabled) for 28 days or longer.
There can be many reasons why this happens, such as:
- Living with a friend's family due to parents separating or arguing
- Parents living overseas while a child is educated or gets healthcare here
- Parents suffering from poor health, or being in hospital or prison.
Signs that a child might be in private foster care include:
- A new person bringing them to school, play dates or other appointments
- An unfamiliar child suddenly starts living with a neighbour, or they have a number of different children staying with them
For more information, or to notify us about a private fostering arrangement, visit our webpage, call us on (0118) 908 8002 or email triage@wokingham.gov.uk
 Listening to you and improving how we're doing
Our overview and scrutiny committees, which keep an eye on how we're doing as part of our democratic function, are considering their programmes for the coming year and would like to hear from you before 28 February.
Issues they've considered in the past year include the climate emergency, equalities, safeguarding of children and adults, how schools are performing, housing, community safety, car park charges and flood risk.
The committees can look at any concerns that affect residents of the borough generally, but please be aware they they will not take on individual complaints.
If you would like the committees to consider something, please contact our scrutiny officer including details of what the issue is, why it matters to residents and how you want it to be improved or addressed.
What you might have missed
- We're half way to our Surviving Winter crowdfund goal of £25,000. The money raised will be matched twice over, so we're aiming to create a pot of £75,000 for organisations helping people with the cost of living crisis. The fund will only be created if we raise £25,000 from the community by the end of April. Donate on the Surviving Winter crowdfunder page
- Today is Internet Safety Day (7 February) and our teams have been working with local schools and colleges to help children keep safe when they are online. Parents can check Internet Matters for trusted resources, information and advice to keep children and young people of different age groups safe online
- Delivery of new blue bags for your rubbish begins this week, you can check when your blue bag delivery is due by on our website
- A new digital inclusion survey, led by the Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG) will help us identify where people might be having problems and help us develop a digital strategy to include and help everyone. If you know someone who isn't online, download a survey or call (01635) 503894 for a paper copy
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