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 Join the growing call for fairer funding
More than 2,500 people have joined our call for a fairer deal on Government funding. The current proposal from the Government could see nearly £50 million of Wokingham Borough council tax go to other areas in the next three years.
If this goes through unchanged, it would push our savings challenge for the next three years from just over £10 million to more than £30 million. This follows £28million of savings we have already made in the past three years.
We're working with other authorities and MPs to highlight the risk this poses and to persuade the Government to mitigate these potential problems.
We're arguing for a four per cent minimum annual increase in general funding for all top tier councils - or those responsible for social care. This would protect everyone from the worst impact of the proposal and guard our local services.
 High-tech hub brings insights from our past
The £64million centre, designed by John McAslan and Partners, can also be found on the University of Reading's Thames Valley Science Park.
It brings together collections that were previously being stored by department, enabling research across different cultures and time periods.
While it’s not open to the public day-to-day, the museum will be launching a community outreach programme next year.
 Help us to humanise social care conversations
We’re inviting you to shape how we talk about social care in clearer, more human ways.
It’s part of our Social Care Future initiative, which focuses on changing the story of adult social care and recognising the importance of the words we use.
If you, or someone you care for, uses adult social care services, it would be great to hear your views. There are two sessions and you’re welcome to book on to both:
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Words in social care that make us go “Hmm…”
Tuesday 21 October, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Emmanuel Church, Woodley
Some words in social care can feel outdated or unclear – join us to find better alternatives together.
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Talking about social care jobs
Wednesday 5 November, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
The Bradbury Centre, Wokingham
The way we describe social care jobs affects whether people want to apply – help us find words that show their real value.
 Local school honoured for mental health support
Waingels in Woodley has been recognised with the Excelling Award by EduPod for its whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
A key part of this has been the creation of a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub, offering early help and advice to pupils and their families. In one half term alone, more than 750 students got support through the hub.
The school has also introduced quiet and sensory spaces such as “The Den”, mindfulness areas and even a therapy dog, Winnie.
A mental health and wellbeing coordinator, health advisor and careers advisor are also on hand to support.
Waingels continues to work closely with local partners including Tellmi, ARC Counselling, Sport in Mind, Samaritans and the NHS Mental Health Support Team to run workshops and events promoting wellbeing.
 Plans to keep up crackdown on car cruising
We’re asking for your views on a proposal to renew the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) tackling car cruising across Wokingham Borough.
The order, first introduced in 2022, has helped reduce reported incidents by 41 per cent each year. It gives the police and us powers to act against anti-social driving behaviour, like racing, aggressive acceleration or braking and dangerous driving.
More than half of the incidents reported under the current order led to offenders receiving a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
Renewing the PSPO would continue these powers for a further three years to help keep our roads and communities safe.
What you might have missed
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