Wokingham Borough Connect
We’ll be changing how regularly we send this newsletter for the next few weeks.
Instead of fortnightly, we’ll only be sending this newsletter once a month as we reduce the frequency of our newsletters during the pre-election period from 24 March to 5 May.
The next Sport, Leisure and Health newsletter you'll receive will be on 1 May.
During the pre-election period, there are specific restrictions on local authority communications. We’ll go back to our normal sending schedule once the elections have taken place.
![children in a ball pit](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7389964/4657931/children-in-a-ball-pit_crop.png) Book now for Easter fun
There's eggs-citing news for children this Easter as Places Leisure are running a series of fun activities including active play and bounce and football at leisure centres across the borough.
Active play and bounce sessions cost £4.50 and start at 9.30am to 11am at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley on:
- Wednesday 5 April
- Friday 7 April
- Monday 10 April
- Wednesday 12 April
- Friday 14 April
Football sessions cost £3.50 per child and are available at Arborfield Green Leisure Centre in Arborfield or Ryeish Green Leisure Centre in Spencers Wood. Spaces must be booked in advance by calling (0118) 976 2288.
![Core connexion Pilates - instructor helping two residents](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7341751/4654901/core-connexion_crop.png) Boutique Pilates studio opens in Wokingham
We’re delighted to welcome Core Connexion, a boutique Pilates studio, to our newly developed Elms Walk in Elms Field. Core Connexion signed a new lease with us last December and officially opened its doors last month.
Core Connexion offers a range of group and private Pilates sessions focusing on strength, posture, balance, breathing and relaxation, which are available to people of all abilities and experience levels.
Core Connexion's opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday, 7am to 8.30pm
- Saturday, 8am to 2pm
- Sunday, 9am to 2pm
For more information, visit the Core Connexion website.
![Lady exercising](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7391569/4658953/lady-exercising_crop.png) Join the free Les Mills event at Carnival Hub
On Tuesday 18 April, Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub will be re-launching its Les Mills event in the sports hall. The classes are free for members and non-members to attend.
There's 100 spaces available for each class which features immersive lighting and music. Experienced instructors will be on stage teaching body step, body combat, body attack, core and more. For a preview, you can watch this video from the Wokingham Leisure Centre's facebook page.
To book your space, visit the leisure centre's website and view the 'classes' timetable. Alternatively, you can download the free Places Locker app, available on the Google Play and Apple App Store.
![Wokingham Festival](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7360504/4654902/wokingham-festival_crop.png) Wokingham Festival returns this summer
Live music is back this summer with the return of Wokingham Festival over the August bank holiday weekend (26 to 28 August 2023) at Cantley Park in Wokingham.
Starting on Saturday 26 August, there will be more than 40 artists appearing, including a mix of original artists, tribute acts and covers bands. With a wide range of musical genres, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Artists confirmed for this year include prog rock legends Caravan, Vintage Sound Collective and Moonage, a tribute band to David Bowie.
Early bird tickets are now on sale and you can save 30 per cent by booking early. A weekend ticket for an adult is £35. Children aged eight to 17 who attend with a paying adult can get a weekend ticket for just £7, while children seven and under get free entry with a paying adult.
![Person walking](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7374283/4654903/wokingham-walk_crop.png) Take part in a charity walk around Wokingham
Wokingham Lions is hosting The Wokingham Walk, a charity walk with routes of five,10 and 15 miles including an accessible five mile route.
The event starts and finishes at Elms Field in Wokingham and takes place on Sunday 23 April. There is a rolling start time from 9am to 10.30am and the finish line is manned until 5pm.
Registration for the walk is now open. The walk costs are:
- Aged 18-years-old - £15
- Aged 12 to 17-years-old - £5
- Under 12-years-old - Free
For more information, including viewing the walking routes, visit the Wokingham Walk website.
![Person](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7343572/4654904/recovery-college_crop.png) Recovery College - dates for April
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 April:
- Family and friends support group – 5 April, 1.30pm to 3pm
- Music and the mind – 6 April, 10am to 12 noon
- Understanding emotions* – 11 April, 10am to 11.30am
- Hearing voices group – 13 and 27* April, 11am to 12.30pm
- Managing anxiety – 14, 21 and 28 April, 10am to 12 noon
- Recovering together – 17* and 24 April, 11am to 12.30pm
- Introduction to building positive habits – 18 and 25 April, 1pm to 2.30pm
- Glass painting – 20 April, 12.30pm to 2.30pm
The Wokingham Recovery College accepts registrations from anyone aged 18 and over living in Wokingham Borough.
To enrol in the Recovery College, 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.
*Online classes.
![Three people chatting and listening](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKWOKBC/2023/03/7343614/4654906/three-people-chatting-and-listening_crop.png) Join this month's mental health alliance
Mind in Berkshire, run by Oxfordshire Mind wellbeing workers, is running a series of free, mental health sessions throughout the year aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for Wokingham Borough residents.
The next session, mental health and wellbeing community alliance, takes place in person on Thursday 13 April, 2pm to 3.30pm, at the Wokingham Charity and Community Hub, Denmark Street, Wokingham, RG40 2BB.
If you are a voluntary or community sector (VCS) organisation or group with a particular focus on improving the mental health and wellbeing of people living in Wokingham Borough, this event is for you.
The aim of the alliance is to improve the experience of people accessing mental health and wellbeing support – through responding collaboratively to identified needs in the community.
Free tickets are available. Please note that one person per VCS group should attend. To sign up, visit the Eventbrite booking website.
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