Wokingham Borough Connect
 Teams of swimmers come together for good causes
The date has been set for this year’s Wokingham Swimathon, with teams of fundraisers set to come together on Wednesday 16 July.
Last year’s inaugural event was a big success, raising more than £12,500 for a range of good causes, as part of Wokingham Lions Club’s 50th anniversary.
Returning to Wokingham Leisure Centre at the Carnival Hub, the second edition of the swimathon will run from 10am to 3pm, giving schools and charities the chance to get involved.
The swimathon is not a race and is all about having fun while raising money. If you want to be involved, recruit a team of up to eight people, sign up and get sponsored.
There are only 30 team spaces available, so book now to avoid disappointment.
 Inflatable family fun day returns to Loddon Valley
Little ones can run wild and have fun on inflatables at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley.
The inflatable family fun day is taking place in the main sports hall on Friday 21 February 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 (SEND session)
- 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.
 Boxercise class for people with Parkinson’s disease
Place Leisure have recently launched a new weekly boxercise class, tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Research has found that group-based boxing sessions, incorporating adaptable and varied exercise and social interaction, can be beneficial.
Sessions run from 1.15pm to 2pm on Tuesdays at Wokingham Leisure Centre at the Carnival Hub.
It is free for members to attend and £3.50 for non-members. Classes are suitable for all fitness levels and run by a qualified boxercise instructor, with specialist knowledge of the condition.
For more information and to book, visit the Places Leisure timetable.
 My Way to 5K programme coming to Arborfield
Do you want to improve your fitness levels, but would benefit from additional support?
A programme is set to launch at Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, offering weekly sessions to develop your confidence with running.
The My Way to 5k scheme will be run by Places Leisure, in partnership with My Journey Wokingham, over ten weeks.
Prior to launching, Places Leisure would like to get feedback on the best day and time to have the sessions. Share your views by taking a short survey.
 Get to grips with NHS app through advice sessions
If you would like help getting started with the NHS app, join us at Wokingham Library on the fourth Monday of the month.
The free sessions from run 3.30pm to 4.30pm and you can just turn up and speak to our experts for advice on:
- Ordering repeat prescriptions
- Using NHS 111 online
- Finding NHS services
- Viewing your GP health record
- Booking appointments
- Getting reminders and messages
The next session is on Monday 24 February. Please note that to connect your devices to our Wi-Fi network, you will need to be a registered library member. It is free to join and all you need is proof of address.
 Give us your views on pharmacies in the borough
We would like to hear how you access and use pharmacy services in Wokingham Borough to help us develop services in the future.
Your views will help inform our Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, which will look at health needs in the borough, the level and accessibility of pharmacy services and how these will be maintained and developed in the future.
The questionnaire should take no longer than five minutes to complete. The information you provide is confidential.
Please be honest with your answers so we can accurately assess areas where pharmacies are already fulfilling your needs and areas that could improve.
 Local support and free testing available for HIV
Last week was HIV Testing Week, a campaign that aims to encourage people to get tested and access the right support.
For advice and information about HIV, Thames Valley Positive Support is a local charity and wants to eliminate HIV infections by 2030.
It offers a wide range of support to anyone affected by HIV in Berkshire, including peer support, drop-in sessions, counselling, training and advocacy.
The team understand that discussing HIV can be challenging and it may be hard to find someone you can confide in.
You can also order a free home testing kit online, which comes in plain packaging and is a fast and simple way to know your status. You can opt for a lab test, which gives you a result in 72 hours, or a rapid self-test where you read your own result immediately.
For more information, email the charity, call (01628) 603400.
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