 Have your say on future of Royal Berkshire Hospital
Your views are needed to help decide the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, with the NHS looking to rebuild or redevelop it.
There are some challenges with modernising the hospital on the current site, so alternative locations are being looked at.
The NHS want to know what matters to you for a new site. You can take a survey or attend a drop in event to give your views. The events are:
- Townlands Hospital, Henley (RG9 2DR) - Tuesday 20 February, 9am to 1pm
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Online session - Thursday 22 February, 7pm to 8pm (joining link will be available online close to the day)
- West Berkshire Community Hospital (RG18 3AS) - Monday 26 February, 9am to 2pm
- Royal Berkshire Hospital, Craven Road reception (RG1 5AN) - Wednesday 28 February, 10am to 12 noon and 3pm to 5pm
- Royal Berkshire Hospital restaurant, south block (RG1 5AN) - Friday 1 March, 12 noon to 2.30pm
 A big HUG for off gas homes
If you live in an off-gas property, and rely on fuels including oil, coal or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating, then you may be able to get free support to make your home more energy efficient.
The new Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) is aimed at helping lower income households, living in energy inefficient homes, to improve their property to help make it greener and cheaper to heat.
Improvements would vary depending on the individual property but could include things like insulation upgrades, solar panels, solar hot water and air source heat pumps.
As well as helping residents tackle the high cost of living, these improvements will support our climate emergency goals by reducing the properties' carbon footprint.
You can apply if your home isn't heated by mains gas, is energy inefficient and you have a household income of less than £31,000 (or are receiving an income-related means tested benefit such as Universal Credit).
 Expansion of free childcare from April 2024
From April free childcare is being expanded to include hundreds of extra families in Wokingham Borough.
For the first time eligible working parents of two-year-olds can get reduced costs on childcare.
If you want to get free childcare for your two-year-old in time for April, you must apply before 31 March.
Visit the Government’s free childcare guide for eligibility and how to apply.
 Changes to overseas voting
Significant changes have been made to overseas voting, which will be coming into effect for the next general election.
Any British citizen previously registered to vote in the UK, or who lived in the UK, is now able to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they have lived outside of the UK for.
There used to be a 15-year limit on this, but this has been removed as part of the Elections Act, which was passed in 2022 and has seen a number of changes to elections and voting introduced.
It is estimated that an additional three million people could be eligible to vote. If you know someone who used to live in the UK, be sure to tell them about this change so they know their voting rights.
The date for the next general election is yet to be announced, but it must be held by 28 January 2025 and it could be called sooner.
 Free home HIV testing kits
Free home HIV testing kits are available, giving you the chance to know your status from the comfort of your own home.
Thames Valley Positive Support is a charity on a mission to eliminate HIV infections by 2030. It is offering free and confidential tests, which are sent in plain packaging, until the end of April.
These can be sent direct or picked up from the charity when they are in the area. Regular testing helps to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late.
For more information, email the charity, call (01628) 603400 or send a WhatsApp message to 07727 289712. Results are sent via text or phone call, but you must be 18 or older to use this service.
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