 Watch out for older residents in colder weather
We’re seeing more older residents not heating their homes and suffering in the recent cold weather.
Our teams and partners working in communities are going into homes where older people are cold and not heating their homes.
As the temperature has dropped and is staying low, we are encouraging people in this cold spell to check up on older friends, family and neighbours, who might need support.
Follow the Age UK advice for keeping warm and well in winter or use it to check in with a neighbour or family member.
Help for people struggling
 Attend an energy saving session
Get the help you need to take control of your energy bill with help from Citizens Advice Wokingham.
The charity is running events next week for Big Energy Saving Fortnight (13 to 24 January), showing people how they can save money this winter.
Drop-in sessions are running on:
- Tuesday 14 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm), Tesco, Wokingham (9.30am to 12noon), Morrisons, Woosehill (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 15 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3.30pm)
- Thursday 16 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm), Swallowfield Parish Hall (10am to 1pm), School Green Centre, Shinfield (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
- Saturday 18 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3pm)
- Tuesday 21 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm), Woodley Foodbank (9.30am to 12noon), Waitrose, Twyford (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 22 January - Woodley Precinct (9.30am to 3pm)
- Thursday 23 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm), Arborfield Community Centre (10m to 1pm), Arborfield British Legion, SHARE (2pm to 4pm)
You can get help with energy efficiency ideas, tariffs and meters, Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments and more.
You can also book an appointment with the Energy Advice Team by email or by calling 0808 278 7958.
 Help us build a borough where everyone belongs
We’ve had some really great feedback from people about how we can work together to make the borough a place where everyone is welcome, and communities are celebrated.
We want to give more people the opportunity to share their thoughts and are extending our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy engagement until 31 January.
The strategy is aimed at helping create communities where everyone feels welcome and belongs. It will help us establish a series of objectives and local priorities to ensure that everybody's needs are properly considered and met.
If you are an organisation which represents one of the borough's diverse communities and want to help co-develop the strategy, get in touch. Contact the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team at inclusion.team@wokingham.gov.uk.
 Book your big day at one of our venues
Are you recently engaged and looking at venues for your big day? We’ve got a new brochure highlighting wedding, civil partnership and other celebratory ceremony options for you in the borough.
It highlights local venues and other celebration services, as well as how to contact our Registrars Team. They can help you in the run up to and on the day of your ceremony, as well as with celebrations or renewal of vows.
View the full ceremonies brochure on our website. View our marriages and civil partnerships webpages to make a booking.
 Feeling lonely? Join local firefighters for a brew
Firefighters from Wokingham Fire Station will be holding drop-in sessions for people who are feeling lonely or would like someone to talk to this month. If you would like a quick chat about fire safety or anything else, the crew will be there to welcome you with tea, coffee and biscuits.
The drop-in sessions take place at Wokingham Baptist Church in Milton Road (RG40 1DE) on:
- Monday 13 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm
- Wednesday 22 January, 2pm to 4pm
- Wednesday 29 January, 2pm to 4pm
Loneliness can make us feel down and affect our well-being. If you are feeling lonely or isolated, you can get support on our website. Our directory lists helplines, online communities, local services, leisure activities and social groups, our borough library services and more.
What you might have missed
Here's all our email newsletters from the last week, in case you missed them:
If you’re interested in getting these updates directly, you can sign up on our website.
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