Wokingham Borough Connect
 Get ready for return of Wokingham Winter Carnival
Wokingham town centre will be transformed into a festive wonderland on Sunday 26 November, promising a fun and free day out for the whole family.
Organised by Wokingham Lions Club, the Wokingham Winter Carnival will see a host of street entertainers, music, singing and dancing, with festivities starting at 10.30am.
There will also be fairground rides to enjoy and the day will end with laser light show.
Don't forget to stop off at the fantastic grotto and meet Father Christmas, who will be giving out presents.
The main beneficiaries of this year's winter carnival are Share Wokingham and Home-Start. The former provides food and other essential items to those in need, while Home-Start provides compassionate, confidential and non-judgemental help to local parents.
We are allowing all council-owned Wokingham town centre car parks to be free on this date, as well as for the Woodley Town Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday 3 November.
 Have an out-of-this-world time at comic convention
Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley is hosting the return of Reading Comic-Con after a two-year break.
Sci-fi fans have the chance to meet celebrities, get dressed up as their favourite character, have their photo taken with film props and visit the many stalls selling collectibles.
The event is being held on Saturday 25 November from 10am to 5pm and special guests this year include actors Brian Blessed, Sean Biggerstaff and Chris Barrie.
Tickets are £9 for adults, £5 for children (aged five to 12) and a family ticket for two adults and two children is £25. All tickets also have an additional booking fee.
 Join local author as she launches her new book
A local author and member of the Wokingham Writers Group is inviting you to join the launch of her new book.
Linda Fawke will be talking about 'Going Downhill – A Retiree’s Guide to Ski-Bumming' at Wokingham Library on Thursday 30 November.
This is a free event that will run from 5pm to 7pm and there will be light refreshments available. Registration is not required, just turn up on the day.
The book is based on the experiences of Linda's husband Tony in the French Alps and a light-hearted look at living in the mountains for several months a year.
You can find out more about this event and other activities on our library events website.
 Dance, yoga and more at children's exercise classes
Children aged eight to 12 are invited to take part in virtual instructor-led classes across the borough.
They can enjoy a range of activities through Born to Move, including dance, martial arts and yoga, all with a fun twist. These are delivered virtually, but a qualified member of staff is present during the class to support the children taking part.
Sessions are held at:
- Bulmershe Leisure Centre in Woodley on Mondays from 4pm to 4.45pm
- Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley on Mondays from 4pm to 4.45pm
- Wokingham Leisure Centre @ Carnival Hub on Tuesdays from 4.15pm to 5pm and Wednesdays from 4pm to 4.45pm
Younger siblings are welcome, but children under the age of eight must be accompanied by an adult. Sessions cost £3.50 per child, with no charge for parents and carers.
 Hear from charity that supports men's mental health
A charity is inviting people who are passionate about mental health to find out more about the work it does and find helpers to launch a new group.
Andy's Man Club works to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgement-free confidential space where men can be open.
The charity is partnering with Involve to deliver information events and help find volunteers for Andy's Man Club, which will soon be coming to the borough. The sessions are free and you don't have to book to attend. These are being held at:
- Carnival Hub in Wokingham on Friday 17 November at 4pm to 5pm and 6pm to 7pm
- Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley on Saturday 18 November at 3pm to 4pm
These are for anyone aged 18 and over who would like to find out more about Andy's Man Club. The new group will be based in Lower Earley and male volunteers are needed on Mondays from 7pm to 9pm. Send an email to Involve if you want to find out more.
 Information event to help mark Carers Rights Day
The Wokingham Carers Partnership is hosting an information event at Winnersh Community Centre.
Join them from 1pm to 4.15pm on Wednesday 22 November, the day before Carers Rights Day, for helpful advice from a range of speakers.
This event is being held in partnership with Age UK Berkshire and Promise Inclusion, with refreshments and cake available.
As well as information stalls, there will be discussions on:
- Safeguarding (1.15pm to 2.15pm)
- Wills, probates and power of attorney (2.15pm to 3.15pm)
- Direct payments (3.15pm to 4.15pm)
For more information, call (0118) 959 4242 or email Age UK Berkshire.
 Free courses to increase confidence with numbers
Numbers are everywhere in our lives. From budgets to payslips, cooking to planning a journey, it all adds up.
This Number Confidence Week (6 to 10 November), we want to take the opportunity to remind you of some of the upcoming courses our adult education team runs to help you get to grips with everyday maths:
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Money Management: Supporting you to understand household spending and the basics of managing a budget, such as planning, spending habits and assessing promotions and deals
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Excel at Budgeting: Helping those with a basic understanding of using Excel to learn to manage spending against income to use the programme to create and manage a budget
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Fun with Time: Giving you confidence and ideas for teaching your child to tell the time, including an insight into how they’re taught at school
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Learn with Lego: Allowing you to explore basic maths and gain confidence in using Lego to help your pre-school child count, measure and explore mathematical problems of symmetry and patterns
All our maths courses are free, but you must apply. To receive updates straight to your inbox of all the latest courses, sign up for our monthly Adult Education newsletter.
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