 Waste collection changes during festive break
To give our crews a well-deserved break, the regular waste collection dates in Wokingham Borough will be adjusted temporarily over the Christmas and New Year period.
Check the revised collection schedule, before putting out your waste between 25 December and 12 January. Crews will be taking the day off on Christmas Day (Monday 25 December), Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December) and New Year's Day (Monday 1 January).
The crews will also be working on three Saturdays (30 December, 6 January and 13 January) and starting earlier at 5.30am. Residents are advised to put out their waste the night before to avoid being missed.
Normal collections will resume from Monday 15 January.
 Cost of living help for Christmas
We’ve pulled together all the options you can use for help if you’re struggling this festive season. This includes:
- Anyone who might be spending Christmas Day alone can get help from the Link Visiting Scheme. They’ll be offering a traditional Christmas dinner on 25 December at a local venue
- Support with gifts
- Help with food or foodbank parcels
- Support form Salvation Army
- How to donate to local projects if you can
Check the cost of living help hub for all your support options.
 New early years centre welcomes children
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are settling in at the new Addington Early Years Centre, which offers a small bespoke learning environment for children from three to eight years old.
The centre, which is at the site of the old Farley Hill Primary School, is run by Addington Special School.
The first phase has seen the centre open to 16 new pupils who are settling well into spaces adapted specifically to cater for their needs.
As well as having special spaces, a large team of dedicated staff are on hand to support the children with all their needs, helping them to feel safe and settled, as well as providing whole family support from a family support worker.
Phase two of the centre is expected to be ready for September 2024, which will increase the number of places available to a maximum of 40 and will include three more classrooms.
We’re currently gathering some data to help us understand the impact the SEND transformation programme is having on children and families.
We want to hear from parent/carers of SEND children about this work – take our SEND parent survey.
 Have your say – new cycleway and licensing policy
There are two live consultations on Engage Wokingham Borough for you to take part in.
 Ancient woodland preserved for the community
Barkham Parish Council and Arborfield and Newland Parish Council have jointly acquired 60 acres of the Coombes Woodland that sits along the boundary between the two parishes.
The partnership ensures the rare area of ancient woodland will remain a vital hub for biodiversity and be accessible to residents for years to come.
The parish councils will work with conservation organisations to ensure the health of the woodland. They will also look into including it in local schools' curriculum.
Meanwhile, the parish councils are planning to set up a volunteer group, so residents will have the opportunity to get involved in maintaining, improving and protecting the woodland.
The woodland was acquired using funding received from developers building homes across the parishes.
What you might have missed
- There are still tickets left for our free festive film screenings at Carnival Hub in Wokingham on Friday 22 December. More than half of the tickets are gone and Elf (2pm to 4pm) has sold out but there’s still some space for Miracle on 34th Street (10am to 12 noon) and Deck the Halls (6pm to 8pm). Reserve your place on the Wokingham Leisure Centre website, using the ‘kids’ section of the timetable for booking
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Check our jobs board for our latest vacancies if you’re looking to start a new role in 2024 – procurement, homelessness prevention, social work and more roles available
- Don’t forget you can book Christmas crafting for youngsters at Dinton Pastures next week. There's also this weekend’s Dinton Santa Dash, with registration is closing on Thursday (14 December) for the event on Saturday. This festive run organised by Barnes Fitness will give you a chance to dress in a Santa suit and run with your children or friends on a beautiful path around the country park for 2km or 5km – part of your entry fee goes to First Days Children’s Charity
- Work has started to replace the Tan House footbridge in Wokingham which takes people over the railway from the playing field next to Latimer Road allotments to the Carnival Hub. A pedestrian footpath diversion is in place. Network Rail should complete the work by mid-March next year
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