Wokingham Borough Connect
 Classes and activities for those with additional needs
There are lots of activities on offer across the borough tailored to those with additional needs. These are run by Places Leisure, which has managed the borough’s six leisure centres since 2018.
If you want to get moving with specialist boxing equipment, visit the BXGFit gym in Wokingham on Fridays from 11am to 12 noon. Box for Health is designed for adults with long-term health conditions or disabilities and is free for members or £5.20 to non-members.
Disability swim sessions run weekly at Wokingham (Mondays and Fridays, 2pm to 3pm), Loddon Valley in Lower Earley (Tuesdays 11am to 12 noon) and Bulmershe in Woodley (Wednesdays, 1pm to 2pm). These are open to adults and juniors and allow you to swim in a calm and quiet environment.
Bulmershe Leisure Centre also hosts a free weekly cricket session for young people aged 12 to 25 with physical and/or learning disabilities. These run on Wednesdays from 5pm to 6pm and are in partnership with Berkshire Cricket.
A weekly multi-sports session is delivered with CLASP at Wokingham Leisure Centre. The Happy & Healthy Club runs on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am and it costs £2 to take part.
A three-storey soft play area for children up to the age of 12 with additional needs runs at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on Sundays from 8.30am to 10am.
Arborfield Green Leisure Centre hosts a SEND Active Play and Bounce session on Fridays from 5pm to 6pm. This features an obstacle course, play equipment for early years and soft matting. Capacity is deliberately reduced and it costs £4.50 per session. There is also a SEND gym session at this leisure centre on Fridays from 4pm to 5pm, adapted for individuals with additional needs. This is £4.50 for non-member and free for members.
Prices vary for some sessions depending on age and membership type. Visit the Places Leisure website to find out more and to book.
 Have fun and run wild at inflatable family fun day
Little ones can have fun on five inflatables at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre on Friday 31 May.
The inflatable family fun day is taking place in the main sports hall and will feature a range of soft play equipment.
It costs £8 per child for a session of 90 minutes and these are running from:
- 9am to 10.30am
- 10.45am to 12.15pm
- 12.30pm to 2.00pm
- 2.15pm to 3.45pm
Staff will be supervising all inflatables, but parents and guardians are required to attend with their child.
Booking will be available two weeks in advance via the Places Leisure online.
 Summer Series returns with a new event for children
The popular Dinton Summer Series is returning on Thursday (16 May).
Now in its 12th year, the friendly 5km and 10km running series welcomes runners of all abilities aged 13 and above. This year, your little ones can also take part and share the fun in a new 2km event, which has been added specially for those aged four to 14.
The course is an off-road, traffic-free, scenic route around our flagship Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst. You can choose the 5km option for a single loop around the course, or take on the 10km challenge by completing two laps.
The running series will continue on 20 June, 18 July and 15 August. With multiple races throughout the summer, you can track your progress and improvement.
There is still time to sign up for this summer tradition. Find out more or register on the Barnes Fitness website.
 Something for everyone at leisure centre fun day
Help to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society by attending a community fun day at Arborfield Green Leisure Centre.
Join in the fun from 10am to 3pm on Saturday (18 May) and enjoy a range of activities. There will be:
- A variety of stalls
- Active Play and Bounce
- Gym floor HIIT classes (available at 10am, 11am and 12 noon)
- Group workout classes (Body Pump at 11am and Group Cycle at 12 noon)
- A colouring competition
- And many more children's activities
Bookings for the gym floor classes and group workout classes can be made via the online timetable on the Places Leisure website.
 Pedal power for all ages and abilities with cyclo-cross
An exciting sports event will soon be back at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst.
Summer Cyclo-cross (Summer CX), a series of evening cycling events, is ideal for first timers and novice riders, while still offering more than enough for regulars.
Dinton will be hosting the Summer CX for the fourth year, starting on Tuesday 28 May, and with future events planned for 11 and 25 June. There will be different categories for riders of all ages and abilities, from children aged eight and under, to teenagers, adults and seniors.
Cyclo-cross is one of the most accessible forms of cycle sport and suitable for all levels and ages. Riders are required to complete multiple laps of a short course within a set time.
Booking is now open online. Email the organiser Sprockets Cycle Club if you have any questions.
 Bells are ringing (and so are the changes) at care home
The new signage is now up at Bluebell House Care Home in Wokingham.
Formerly known as The Berkshire Care Home, the 50-bedroom care home on Barkham Road has undergone significant change since we bought it in September 2023.
The investment has meant an increase in high-quality and affordable care, ensuring people can continue to stay within their communities as their lives change.
Since purchasing the home, which is run by Optalis, we have invested to make it a more dementia-friendly and welcoming environment for residents and their families.
 Self-referral for peer support group now available
Mind in Berkshire's peer support groups are now open to professional and self-referrals.
If you are aged 18 and over and live in Wokingham Borough, or you are registered with a GP practice in the borough, you may be able to get involved with an upcoming session.
Peer support groups bring people together to provide mutual support around mental health and wellbeing in a safe and welcoming space. All groups run in person at the Wokingham Charity and Community Hub at Waterford House.
In addition to the general support group that runs twice a week, there is also an art group that runs weekly.
You can make a referral online or by calling (01865) 247788. You can also send an email to Mind in Berkshire to request a paper version of the referral form.
|
