Every other week we share stories that celebrate the fantastic work of our local communities. The groups, charities and individuals behind these stories all have one thing in mind – making Wokingham Borough a better place to live. 

In 2023 we set out with our partners to create the Communities Vision, a plan for the future shaped by local voices and aspirations. 

The vision sets out six clear ambitions for the next decade, from improving our neighbourhoods and making services easier to access, to strengthening community life and supporting fair opportunities for everyone. 

These goals were shaped by our residents, with organisations across the borough helping to capture the ideas and lived experiences of hundreds of people. 

Last year the Communities Vision was formally adopted by its partners and now sits at the heart of our work. In this edition of Community Matters we highlight how organisations across the borough are already bringing these ambitions to life. 

The charity helped by doing a full benefits check. This meant they were able to get money the person was entitled to, reduce their council tax and sort a blud badge for them. They also arranged a carer’s assessment, mental health support and a Household Support Fund payment.  

Regular calls reassured her at a time when she felt overwhelmed. The combination of practical help and emotional support eased her financial strain, reduced her caring burden and helped restore her confidence and wellbeing.  

She said: “I am no longer waking up in the middle of the night worrying about how at my age I can make it through another day.” 

Through stories like this, Age UK Berkshire shows how community partners are bringing the Communities Vision to life by helping residents feel supported, connected, and able to live well. 

CLASP, a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, marked its 20th anniversary last year with a programme of challenges and new experiences that showed how it helps people with learning disabilities live happy, healthy and independent lives.  

Inspired by the number 20, members set themselves a wide range of goals. Throughout the year CLASP supported people to stretch themselves in ways that felt meaningful. Barbara completed 20 Hama bead designs, which she said made her feel “happy and calm”. Steven wrote 20 letters to stay in touch with friends. Mandy completed 20 word searches. Michelle and Sarah created 20 hygiene bags while volunteering with The Cowshed. Others took on food, fitness and creative challenges. Lorna said she “enjoyed getting guidance around how to put different plant-based foods into my diet at home”. 

Alongside individual pledges, CLASP offered new experiences including a drumming workshop, variety show, swimathon, berry picking and even becoming journalists for Wokingham Today. The year ended with a celebration disco. 

The Local Plan Update is our long term guide for how the area grows. It sets out where new homes, jobs and facilities should go and how our towns, villages and countryside should change over time. Put simply, it helps make sure future growth happens in the right places and supports the things that matter most to local people.

It is also one of the key ways the council is bringing the Communities Vision to life. The vision shows what residents value: protecting green spaces, making it easier to reach the things they need, feeling part of strong and welcoming communities and having fair chances to live well. The Local Plan Update takes these ambitions and builds them into everyday planning decisions.

This includes stronger protection for much loved countryside and parks, better access to services and facilities and neighbourhoods where people feel they belong. It also tackles concerns about affordability by planning for a mix of homes for different needs.

By turning the Communities Vision into real, practical choices about how the borough grows, the Local Plan Update helps ensure Wokingham Borough remains a place where people can live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives for many years to come.

Places Leisure’s Move Through Menopause programme is helping local women feel healthier, more confident and more connected.  

Many participants joined feeling low in energy, unsure where to start or nervous about stepping into a gym. By trying a different activity each week in a supportive and private setting, they built confidence, found new routines and discovered what worked for them. 

Angela, a resident participating in the programme, said: "It was brilliant to try a different exercise every week in a safe and private area to see what I liked doing and also build up confidence that I can exercise." 

The programme reflects the Communities Vision ambition to help residents live happy, healthy and independent lives, and to make it easier for people to access what they need close to home.  

It also sits alongside other inclusive opportunities such as Parkinson’s Move and Shout, strength and balance classes, seated exercise sessions and the Big Sister project for teenage girls.  

The University of Reading is helping to build stronger, more connected communities by bringing people together through shared experiences.  

Its recent Community Iftar welcomed around 150 people of all faiths and backgrounds to share a meal at sunset during Ramadan, creating a warm and open space for neighbours, students and staff to meet, listen and build trust. The event focused on the importance of dialogue and understanding, helping people from Reading and surrounding areas to feel part of a more connected community.  

At the same time, the university is investing in places that support active, healthy lifestyles. The new sports pitches at High Copse in Shinfield, now home to Shinfield Rangers Football Club, hosted their first matches to the excitement of local young players. The modern facilities, which include high-quality pitches and a purpose-built pavilion, provide much-needed space for community sport and create long-term benefits for local residents.  

Together, these examples show how the University of Reading is helping communities thrive by strengthening relationships and improving the places people use and enjoy every day. 

The Wokingham Volunteer Centre plays an important part in supporting the Communities Vision by helping residents stay independent, connected and included. 

Through its Green ’n’ Tidy gardening service, volunteers help those who can no longer manage their gardens, creating safe outdoor spaces and reducing the risk of rogue traders - who have been known to target vulnerable older people.  

The Wokingham Transport Scheme also makes a real difference, offering low cost volunteer‑led transport to medical appointments, social activities and shopping trips, helping to reduce isolation and support healthy, independent living.  

Its volunteer hub connects people with roles that match their interests and skills, strengthening community groups across the borough. 

One volunteer said the experience transformed their wellbeing after the pandemic, helping them rebuild routine, improve their physical health and reconnect with others. Their time outdoors even inspired them to study environmental science in the future.  

This is the impact volunteering can have and why it matters.