 Extra support available for eligible pensioners
If you're over State Pension age (66 or above), you could qualify for Pension Credit, which is worth more than £4,200 per year on average.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re on a low income, and can help with housing costs like ground rent or service charges.
Eligible claims can also be backdated by up to three months. Even a small award can unlock additional benefits including valuable heating support, such as:
- The Warm Home Discount Scheme (£150 off electricity bills)
- Cold Weather Payments (£25 for each qualifying week until 31 March 2025)
You can check if you're eligible before applying, which is quick and straightforward.
 Watch out when travelling in the wind
Storm Éowyn is set to bring strong winds to our region tomorrow (Friday, 24 January) and the Met Office has put a yellow warning in place until about 3pm.
That means some delays are likely on roads and on train services, and all road users are being warned to take extra care.
You should check the road conditions if you're driving, or live bus and train timetables, and be ready to change your travel plans if you have to.
Leave extra time before setting off and don't rush if you're running late, as this will only increase the risk of an accident.
If you're planning to cycle or ride a motorbike, remember you'll be particularly vulnerable - especially on exposed stretches of road.
And if you're travelling to the north of England or parts of Scotland, there's a more severe amber warning so check how this could affect you.
 Still time to help us make everyone feel welcome
There's one week left to share your thoughts on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy before our survey closes on 31 January.
We want you to tell us how we can work together to make the borough a place where everyone is welcome and communities are celebrated.
The strategy aims to ensure that everybody feels they belong, and that their needs are properly considered and met. It will help us establish a series of objectives and local priorities to keep us working towards this goal.
If you're part an organisation which represents one of our diverse communities and want to help develop the strategy, please get in touch with us.
 Major bus route stops more often in borough
You've now got more chances to catch Reading Buses' lion 4 and 4a with the launch of a new timetable for 2025.
The service, which runs from Reading to Bracknell via Earley, Winnersh and Wokingham town, now runs up to every 15 minutes from Mondays to Saturdays.
Sunday services are staying every 30 minutes, with small changes to the timings to improve reliability.
The route previously called the X4 has been renamed the 4a so it appears alongside the 4 when listed by route number. Most extra journeys will be on the 4a via the Western Business Area in Bracknell.
Reading Buses has invested in three new buses to support improvements to this route, all with modern features like charging facilities.
The bus is still a bargain with fare cap
The national cap on single bus fares has increased from £2 to £3, which is still great value and lets you get around with less impact on the environment than driving.
However, adults travelling within Reading Buses' simplyReading fare zone, which includes Woodley and Earley, will continue to pay just £2.50 by using the app or tapping in and out, or £2.60 buying from the driver.
The maximum single fare for young people will be £2 on the app or £2.20 from the driver, possibly requiring proof of age. Other fares below £2 are also available in some cases.
We're doing all we can to support our bus services and we urge our residents to do the same, as this allows operators to continue investing in affordable, accessible and convenient local routes.
 Thieves are about - keep your car and valuables safe
There's been a recent increase in thieves trying car door handles while searching for unlocked vehicles in this area.
It can be distressing to experience a break-in or lose your personal property, so follow these tips from Thames Valley Police to reduce the risk.
- Lock your vehicle, even when parked on your drive or filling up at the garage
- If your wing mirrors fold automatically when you lock the vehicle, remember it'll be obvious to thieves if you haven't locked up
- Check your windows and sunroof are fully closed so they can't be pried open
- Keep your keys out of view at home and away from your front door, so thieves can't "fish" for them through the letterbox
- Don't leave items on display. Even an empty bag or coat can be tempting as thieves may hope to find valuables inside
If your car has keyless entry, where it unlocks automatically when the key is nearby, thieves can copy its signal and to get into your car. You should consider:
- Fitting a steering wheel stop lock as a physical deterrent
- Blocking in your car with another non-keyless car if you have one
- Keeping your key and spares well away from the car
- Put the keys in a signal-blocking pouch
- Re-programme your keys if you buy a second hand car
- Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it's not being used
You can report any non-urgent information to Thames Valley Police using their online portal or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, dial 999.
What you might have missed
Here are all our newsletters from the past week, in case you missed them:
If you’d like to get these updates directly, you can sign up on our website.
|
