We’ll be changing how regularly we send this newsletter for the next few weeks.
This is the last Residents’ Round-up we’ll send on a Tuesday until 2 May, where we’ll provide you with everything you need to know ahead of the local elections on Thursday 5 May.
We’ll only be sending on Fridays from next week as we reduce the frequency of our newsletters during the pre-election period from 24 March to 5 May.
During the pre-election period, there are specific restrictions on local authority communications. We’ll go back to our normal sending schedule in early May once the elections have taken place.
![A caregiver helps a young boy with a physical disability. The boy is happily smiling and laughing](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7320964/1_original.png) Deal to boost funding for SEND services
We’ve reached an agreement with the Department for Education to invest government funding in development for services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the area.
The grant has been awarded as part of the government's ‘Safety Valve’ programme which covers the financial years from 2022/23 to 2028/29. This is in addition to the two new SEND schools for the borough which were announced earlier this month.
With the number of children needing additional support at an all-time high and growing steadily, the programme will give significant financial support.
It will help make these services it better for children and their families, as well as more sustainable for the future.
Right spaces, right places
We've announced plans for improvements to services we think will mean we better meet the needs of our SEND pupils.
This impacts how we work with children and families in mainstream schools, with varied support as needed, or in specialist schools for those with more complex needs. Have your say on the proposals using the button below.
![Cllr Caroline SMith and Cllr Stephen Conway lay bricks at Gorse Ride to mark the next stage of construction](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7322429/4634786/first-set-of-bricks-laid-at-gorse-ride_crop.png) First set of bricks laid at Gorse Ride
A significant milestone has been reached at our regeneration scheme at Gorse Ride in Finchampstead.
The first set of bricks for the first new houses on the next phase have been laid by Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith and executive member for housing Cllr Stephen Conway.
Contractor Wates has been on-site since October progressing with the enabling works which include trenching for new drainage and infrastructure for services. This includes levelling the ground, digging and building the foundations up to the damp proof course level and pouring the foundations.
At the event, the Mayor and Cllr Conway cemented the first set of bricks to the blockwork. Work will now begin to lay the rest of the bricks and build the ground floor blockwork for 16 new homes.
We'll continue to work closely with the local community throughout this phase of the regeneration to ensure people are relocated and new properties are delivered with as little disruption as possible.
![The Arborfield Green village centre plan](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7324648/4634787/arborfield-green-district-centre-plan_crop.png) Have your say on new Arborfield community centre
Residents living in and near Arborfield can help us ensure the area's new community centre becomes a thriving and vibrant hub for everyone.
The former Ministry of Defence training building off Nine Mile Ride Extension is set to be refurbished and redesigned as part of a plan for a district centre with shops, green space, a pub and more.
We'd like to know what you think this community centre, which will be located near Arborfield Green Leisure Centre and other local sports facilities, should offer.
A community centre can offer a valuable space for people to meet and enjoy social activities, or perhaps as bases where public services or charities can operate. Survey closes on Friday 28 April.
![Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith with this year's Mayor's Honour Award winners](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7320967/3_original.png) Mayor's thank you event to praise local volunteers
Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith has hosted a special thank you event to recognise and praise people who make an outstanding contribution to the local community.
The Mayor’s Honour Awards saw 100 people from more than 40 local voluntary groups come together for the evening event which took place in Woodley.
During the presentation of the certificates, each winning individual was presented with a lapel badge and a certificate, whilst each winning group recipients received a shield and a certificate.
The young people winners are:
- Dexter Rosier
- Evelyne Rose
The adult winners are:
- Angela King
- Victoria Rowland
- Beverley Kemp
The group winners are:
- The Link Visiting Scheme
- Cianna’s Smile
- Thames Valley Kings
![A pile of rubbish, including woodchips, garden waste and tools, and a child's ride-on toy car, completely blocking a country lane](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7320970/4_original.png) Help us find Swallowfield fly-tippers
We've seen a spate of fly-tips in the borough's rural south - including this one pictured above at Barge Lane in Swallowfield, which could have caused a serious accident as it blocked the road. You can see more pictures on our Facebook page.
This happened overnight between 6 and 7 March. Our officers were on the scene first thing in the morning but sadly there was no sign of who did it.
These selfish crimes cost us money at a time when finances are already tight - and there's no excuse when it's so easy to book a slot at a recycling centre or hire a properly licensed contractor.
If we catch fly-tippers, and those who hire them, we won't hesitate to issue fines. Find out more on our fly-tipping pages. If you know anything email asb@wokingham.gov.uk
Helping more carers across the borough
We're reaffirming our commitment to helping unpaid carers by relaunching our Carers Support and Guidance service.
Unpaid carers provide care for a friend or relative and often do not see what they are doing as being a carer.
It is important to reach out to these residents who will be able to benefit from a range of support. At the last census, 7.3 per cent of the population of Wokingham Borough was identified as unpaid carers.
The new service will be delivered by the Wokingham Carers Partnership from the beginning of April and will build on the services previously provided by Tuvida.
The Wokingham Carers Partnership is made up of three organisations from the voluntary sector - Age UK Berkshire, Promise Inclusion and Berkshire Youth.
This newly revised and enhanced service will provide advice, information and in-person guidance for both adult and young carers across the borough, with an increase of £80,000 per year in funding to reach and support more carers.
What you might have missed
- There’s a talk at Wokingham Cricket Club tonight (Tuesday 21 March), hosted by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, to look at the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. You can hear more about the options and have your say at the talk, which starts at 6pm on Tuesday 21 March. As part of the Building Berkshire Together programme, a survey has been launched to get opinions, with one of the options being to relocate the hospital within Wokingham Borough
- We've been allocated a much-needed boost to our highways maintenance funds. Central government announced in its budget last week we would be allocated £589,200 of the additional £200million for highways maintenance in 2023-2024. You can report problems, such as potholes, damaged street lights or even an obstruction in the road on our website using our 'report it system'
- We loved highlighting Neurodiversity Celebration Week last week, including stories from local young resident Abbie Shakespear on Youtube and Miranda Morgan, chair of our Neurodiverse Staff Network, on LinkedIn
- Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith recently attended presentation of Loyal Address by Privileged Bodies to The King on the occasion of His Majesty’s Accession to the throne. The event took place at Buckingham Palace in London earlier this month
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