 Check your entitlement for childcare support
Support with childcare costs has been expanded since April 1.
For eligible working families in England, with children aged two to four years, you can now get:
- Up to 15 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year for two year olds
- Up to 30 hours of early education over 38 weeks of the year for three to four year olds
- Can be used flexibly with one or more childcare providers
- Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week
From September 2024 eligible working families could get to 15 hours support if you have a child between nine and 23 months old.
From September 2025 eligible working families could get 30 hours if you have a child a child from 9 months old up to school age.
Eligibility criteria apply – check your entitlement on the Childcare Choices website.
 Go through a guide with right help for you
Even though the warmer months are here, many residents are now feeling the full impacts of the higher cost of living.
You can follow our guides for your situation:
 Debt advice session to help residents
We will be at Norreys Church in Wokingham on the first Friday of each month with debt advice sessions.
The next event is being held on Friday 7 June and will run from 12 noon to 2.30pm. These events are free to attend and booking is encouraged but not required.
Sessions are aimed specifically at helping anyone who has debts owed to the council and we will be able to signpost you to local organisations which could help.
Visit the Eventbrite page if you are interested in finding out more and to book a place.
 Reduce your Council Tax
If your household takes home less than £2,125 per month, you could be entitled to a discount on your Council Tax.
You can claim a Council Tax Reduction if your income is lower than this and you have small or no savings.
These are new eligibility criteria for reductions for 2024/25 so you may be newly eligible. See how much of a discount you could get on our website.
Some income from certain benefits does not count towards claims so you may be eligible if you take home slightly more than this. Press the button below and select 'make a new claim' to get started.
 SHARE sites for food help
Food charity SHARE Wokingham has lots of community fresh food and pantry sites in and around the borough, serving over 600 households a week with free access to fresh food.
Arborfield
- Royal British Legion, Eversley Road, RG2 9PR, Thursdays from 3.30pm to 4pm (please come early for best choice) on the following dates:
- 9 and 23 May
- 6 and 20 June
- 4 and 18 July
Bracknell
- St Andrews Church, Priestwood Court Road, RG42 1TU, Fridays from 1pm to 2.30pm
- Great Hollands, The Zone, Great Hollands Square, Bracknell, RG12 8UX, Saturdays from 10am to 11am
Finchampstead
- FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, RG40 4ES, Tuesdays, opens at 10am (please aim to arrive before 10am for the best choice of food)
Shinfield
- Shinfield Community Church, 1 Fairmead Road, Shinfield, RG2 9DL, Mondays from 12.30pm to 1.30pm (free cafe until 2pm)
South Ascot
- All Soul’s Church, All Souls’ Rd, Ascot, SL5 9EA. Fridays, tea and coffee from 12.15pm, foodbank open 1pm to 2pm
Sunningdale
- Hope Church, The Hope Centre, High Street, SL5 0NG (next door to Nag’s Head Pub), Tuesdays from 12 noon to 1pm (tea/coffee from 11.15am)
Winnersh
- Rainbow Centre, Rainbow Park, RG41 5SG, Wednesdays from 1pm to 2pm, park in centre car park
Wokingham
- Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue, RG40 1UU, Fridays from 12.30pm to 2.30pm
- The Well at King’s Church, 9 Station Road, RG40 2AD, Wednesdays from 11am to 3pm
Woodley
- Emmanuel Church Centre, Southlake Crescent, RG5 3QW, Mondays from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Check our help with food pages for other options to get support with food and food costs.
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