 Get help, volunteer or donate this Christmas
With Christmas not far away we've put together all your festive support options during the festive season:
- An event for people who are alone on Christmas Day
- Help with presents for your children if you can't afford them
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Free bus travel on Saturdays in the borough in the run up to Christmas
- How to donate and support local organisations this festive season
- Help with food during festive season
 Free festive community events in the weeks ahead
There are festive events to look out for this weekend across the area.
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 at Wokingham Winter Carnival.
Organised by Wokingham Lions Club, the day will see a host of street entertainers, music, singing and dancing, with festivities starting at 10.30am. Free parking and bus travel are available for the event.
Remember parts of the town centre will be closed to cars from early on Sunday for setting up. Peach Street will be shut at its junction with Easthampstead Road to the junction at Rectory Road/Shute End and by the entrance to the Denmark Street car park.
Woodley town centre has its Christmas lights switch on and carol service on Saturday (25 November) from 4.30pm. The free event includes carols led by Woodley Concert Band and the Sainsbury Singers, as well as a host of festive treats.
Remember, you can use free bus travel every Saturday in the borough in the run up to Christmas to help you attend local events and support local businesses. This is paid for by a Government grant.
Other festive event dates for your diary
 Get up to £240 to help with food and bills
You can apply to the Household Support Fund if you're struggling to pay for things like food, energy, bills or other essentials
Payments have been increased for the winter months, which are often more expensive because of the need to stay warm at home.
Apply to our Hardship Alliance partners if you need help. The options are:
- Parents of children who receive means-tested free school meals can get £20 per week for each eligible child during the school holidays
- Households with pensioners, carers, a disabled person and/or households with four or more people can get a one-off £240 payment
- A one off £120 payment is available for any other households which are struggling to pay for essentials
If you've applied and received a grant from Age UK Berkshire or Citizens Advice Wokingham between April and September 2023, you can now apply again. New applications are welcome.
 Get items to help lower your energy bills
The warmer winter project can get you energy efficient items for free through our partners SHARE Wokingham, First Days Children’s Charity and our Hardship Alliance partners.
There is a supply of slow cookers, air fryers, heated clothes dryers and more (subject to availability) at no cost. These will help bring energy bills down.
Check the warmer winter project webpage to see how to access these items.
 Get help with savings and loans
You could join a credit union.
A credit union is a not-for-profit financial provider that helps people access banking products like bank accounts, savings and loans. They’re usually:
- Run by members to benefit communities, rather than to make a profit
- Able to help those turned away by other providers
Your local credit union - BOOM Community Bank
Wokingham Borough’s credit union is Boom Community Bank. This is open to people who live or work in the borough.
Berkshire Credit Union became part of BOOM, which has 12,000 members, in 2022.
The benefits of becoming a member are:
- They help you save regularly
- Provide loans to members at very low rates
- Help members manage their finances
- Loans for people with low incomes and low credit scores
- Open a current account without any credit checks
- Save as you repay schemes
- Free tools for financial education
Credit unions must be registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA). They are covered by the Credit Union Act 1979.
Useful tools and help options
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