 Fare play as Government extends bus funding
We're pleased that the Government has offered three more months' funding to our supported bus services after we campaigned on the issue.
The Department for Transport is investing a further £155 million in its nationwide Bus Recovery Grant, Local Transport Fund and subsidised £2 fare cap, so these will run until 30 June to help operators recover from the impact of coronavirus.
This is good news as we recently wrote to transport secretary Mark Harper MP calling for an extension beyond the original deadline of 31 March, which we argued was too soon and would make it harder for services to survive.
We’ve extended our own funding for subsidised routes until 31 August and we're inviting bids from operators to run these services for another three years. We've also revised our Bus Service Improvement Plan to help get external funding.
Passenger numbers are slowly approaching pre-covid levels but times are still tough for operators, with costs like fuel, maintenance and staffing all rising. Please use these services where possible, as every journey helps secure their future.
 Food Waste Action Week: SHARE and share alike
The SHARE Wokingham charity feeds more than 2,500 people each week, all using food they’ve got for free from local suppliers and supermarkets.
It was set up to help reduce food waste but has become a lifeline to hundreds of families each week as the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze budgets.
Since the volunteer team came together almost three years ago, they’ve saved more than 1,000 tonnes of food from going to waste.
Now they run across eight different locations most weeks, as well as supporting lots of other organisations with food to help them run their programmes and events.
It's Food Waste Action Week (6 to 12 March) so we're highlighting SHARE's work to celebrate their huge positive impact on the community.
The theme for this year's action week, led by climate organisation WRAP, is "win, don't bin" - find out more on the Facebook page and campaign website, where you can sign up for handy hints and the chance to win a prize.
 How could we help you get there quicker?
You've only got until this Sunday (12 March) to answer some simple questions on how you get around the borough as we prepare to update our main strategy on providing and maintaining transport links.
Our revised Local Transport Plan, which will replace the current one when it expires in 2026, will cover roads, footways, cycle lanes, public transport and more with an even greater emphasis on active and sustainable travel
There'll be more detailed consultation before it's published, but we really want to hear from you at this early stage to ensure it accurately reflects the community's needs and wishes from the outset.
We're really pleased with the number of responses we've already had, but there's always room for more and we're particularly keen to hear more from younger people and those living in the borough's rural north.
 Want to help others in your community?
If you're looking to volunteer in the borough, here's your chance to find out more about groups you could help out locally.
The Wokingham Volunteer Centre is running a volunteer recruitment event at Lower Earley Library (Chalfont Close, RG6 5HZ) from 10am to 12 noon this coming Tuesday, 14 March.
There’s another volunteer recruitment event in Shinfield next month at the School Green Centre (RG2 9EH), which will run from 10am to 12 noon on Monday 24 April.
These follow several highly successful volunteer recruitment events in Wokingham and Arborfield earlier this year.
 What makes you click?
Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group is working with us and the other local authorities in Berkshire to improve access to online services and activities.
You may already be an internet user but struggle with some tasks or connectivity, or you may know someone who doesn’t have any access at all.
You're invited to take a short survey so the group can learn more about how people in Berkshire use the internet, and where extra support or infrastructure could help.
If you are an internet user you can take the survey online before Sunday. If you know someone who does not have access to, or use the internet, they can either visit one of our libraries to take the survey or you can fill it online with them.
 Teacher strikes planned next week
Teacher strikes are planned for Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 March.
Schools will be letting parents know directly how the strikes will affect them, so please look out for any communications from your school and send them any queries directly.
What you might have missed
This was everything we’ve sent out in the last week. You can sign up for any of the newsletters above on our website.
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