Twyford

Twyford And Ruscombe Pre-School Present our ever popular Annual Toy Sale on Saturday November 10th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. At Loddon Hall, Twyford in aid of Twyford and Ruscombe Pre-School registered charity number 1022334. Admission / Donation: 50p

How about clearing your home of unwanted toys and baby equipment? we will sell any good quality toys and baby equipment for you. You decide the price per item and at the end of the sale you will receive 2/3rds of the money raised from your goods and any unsold items will be returned to you. The remaining 3rd will go towards Twyford and Ruscombe Pre-school.

Twyford And Ruscombe Pre-School

Parents with children under five in Twyford are a step closer to seeing a brand new, purpose-built children’s centre after it got the green light from Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday October 17.

The Twyford children’s centre is one of eight scheduled to be up and running in the Wokingham Borough by Spring 2008. The Wokingham Borough has received funding of £2.3million from SureStart to develop these centres in the second phase of a national programme.

The Twyford children’s centre, set to be located on the site of Colleton Primary School, will join a growing national network of children's centres across the country, providing some health visiting and health promotion services, family support, information for parents and carers including signposting to Jobcentre Plus. This proposal is fully supported by the Colleton Primary School’s governing body and headteacher.

By 2010, there will be 3,500 children's centres across the country - one for every community, offering a range of services for young children and their families, tailored to meet local needs.

In the Wokingham Borough one centre is already open – Ambleside in Woodley. The Brambles Centre, based in the former Keephatch Infant School building in Wokingham, will be offering some services from November 2007. Other children’s centres in the borough are moving forward, with Earley and Shinfield offering services from Spring 2008. The council is currently working with local partners to develop children’s centres in Finchampstead, Winnersh and Wokingham town west which are also set to be offering services from Spring 2008.

All children’s centres in the Wokingham borough are different, as they meet the needs of the local community, but all offer a range services, including:

·Information and advice to parents / carers in order for them access services in their area. Outreach services may be available, meaning that staff will be close at hand for families.

·A childminding network – there would be a network of childminders established for each centre.
·Drop-in sessions for parents/carers and their children. There would be activities for parents with children aged under five and could include sessions such as stay and play and parent and toddler groups.
·Adult education – family learning courses and opportunities for adult learning would be available if there was demand by the local community.
·A “signposting” service to Job Centre Plus.
·Access to antenatal care and health visiting services.
·Access to health promotion services such as stop smoking sessions. The centres would not offer medical services.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Twyford children’s services, said: “It is very important that every local child has the best possible start in life and to do this families must have easy access to a wide range of services. The importance of these centres is that they will help achieve better outcomes for children. Through them we can extend our services into more areas, reaching more families as we do.

“Although children’s centres are national initiatives, the borough council is responsible for the planning and delivery of children's centres in the local area. We will continue to consult with parents, the private, voluntary and independent sectors, and other key partners to develop the centres to meet the needs of local people.”

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Twyford

Young people in Charvil are a step closer to a new multi-use games area at East Park Farm in Charvil after getting the green light from Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday September 26.

Wokingham Borough Council and Charvil Parish Council have been working together on proposals to provide children and young people with a new multi-use sports pitch. Many of them play sport on the field at East Park Farm but at times of bad weather, the field becomes waterlogged and very muddy. There have also been issues of anti-social behaviour in the local area and it is hoped that by building a dedicated facility like this it will encourage youngsters to use it and become more actively involved in sport and leisure.

After the planning committee’s decision, the Charvil multi-use pitch will now be tarmacked and will provide year-round access for a range of activities including football, netball, basketball and other sports. A football pitch will be marked out and there will be basketball hoops at either end. Work is set to start in November and will take approximately two months to complete depending on the weather.

The multi-use pitch will cost in the region of £52,000 with the funding being split between the parish council and the borough council through developer contributions known as S106 money.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for Charvil youth and leisure, said: “Youth involvement is a key strand of the council’s leisure, sport and recreation strategy, which was launched in June 2006, and the borough council is keen to improve sporting facilities for young people across the borough. We want to encourage more children and young people to get active and create a life-long interest in sport and leisure. I am pleased the borough council is working in partnership with the parish council to provide such facilities in Charvil.

“This multi-use games area will enable football, hockey and basketball to be played on a hard surface which will not be open to the vagaries of the English weather.”

Cllr Nick Ray, chair of finance at Charvil Parish Council, said: “The multi-use games area is a vitally important addition to play facilities in Charvil, particularly for older children. The project has been made possible by the active cooperation of Charvil Parish Council and Wokingham Borough Council.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Singing for the brain is a project organised by the Alzheimer’s Society & has been recognised as a positive therapeutic experience, for people who are coping with dementia or memory difficulties & their carer’s.

It is a weekly session of singing for stimulation & fun, led by an inspiring facilitator & supported by volunteers. The aim of the group is to give everyone the chance to enjoy a social activity together, in a warm & friendly atmosphere.

Refreshments are available at the beginning of the session, giving the opportunity to chat & get to know others. The singing includes a variety of old & new songs to give pleasure to all.

Groups will be held in Charvil & Wokingham, 10.30am - 12pm as follows;

Charvil Village Hall: Nov 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th , Dec 6th

The Cornerstone, All Saints Church: Nov 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

If you would like to join us or require further information, please contact:

Anne Day - tel: 0118 966 6968  email: annecday@hotmail.com Or Gwen Turner - tel: 0118 978 4815  email: gnturner@supanet.com

Anne Day, Singing for the Brain

Sat 6 Aren’t Birds Brilliant RSPB Walk

Morning stroll around Dinton Pastures, meet main car park at 9am. £1

 

Sat 13 Junior Rangers Wildlife Watch Group - Trip

Trip to Wildlife Trusts Warburg Nature Reserve

 

Sun 14 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Bird Walk

Morning stroll around Lavell’s, meet Sandford Lane car park at 9am. £1

 

Sun 21Fungus Foray Coombes Lane

Walk through the woods to find out about fungus, 11am, Booking Required, Free

 

HALF TERM ACTVITIES – GOLF and PIRATE WORKSHOPS         

Mon 22, Tues 23, Wed 24 Oct Tri-Golf

Mini version of golf with games and skills challenges suitable for 7-11 year olds. Hurst Golf Course, practice area, Dinton Pastures entrance. 9am-12pm £12 per session. For more information and to book call Wokingham Borough Council Sports Development on 0118 9746264.

Mon 22, Tues 23, Wed 24 Oct Xtreme Golf

Combines some of the best parts of traditional golf like being able to hit balls long distances at targets, with scoring systems you create yourself and team games, suitable for 11-14 year olds. Hurst Golf Course, practice area, Dinton Pastures entrance. 1-4pm £12 per session. For more information and to book call Wokingham Borough Council Sports Development on 0118

Mon 22  Pirate Ship Lanterns

Make your own pirate ship! Using willow and tissue we’ll make dramatic pirate lanterns. Decorated with leaves and feathers, our galleons will bring together ideas from pirate stories, wild seas and the Dinton Pastures..

Tues 23 Oct Pirate Treasures at Dinton Pastures

Today our pirates will set off to find some natural treasures, turning leaves, seeds, feathers and nuts into rich jewels and flakes of gold. We will make treasure chests to store our discoveries in, tell stories and draw aged and crumpled maps of Dinton Pastures’ secret places. We might even find a parrot or two to perch on our shoulders!

FOR BOTH PIRATE WORKSHOPS:

Led by nationally renowned artist and environmentalist Gordon MacLellan. Suitable for children 5 years and over. Children under 8 must be accompanied.  Dinton Pastures Country Park.  10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm –4pm.  £5 per child. Please book in advance by emailing countryside@wokingham.gov.uk or calling 0118 934 2016

 

Sat 27 Halloween Fright Night

An evening of spooky fun at Dinton Pastures , 4pm-8pm, don’t forget to dress up and enter the carved pumpkin competition. There will also be an unlucky dip and body hunt on the park. Call 0118 973 5519 for all the gory details.

 

Sun 28 Friends of Lavell’s Lake Work Party

Practical conservation, meet Sandford Lane car park at 10am

 

Wed 31 Halloween Fright Night

An evening of spooky fun at California Country Park, 4pm-8pm. Welcome to Hotel California, check in from 4pm and hotel staff will be happy to show you your bedroom of horror and the moorland where you can search for the bodies of missing guests. Don’t forget to dress up and enter you carved pumpkin into the competition! Call 0118 973 5519 for all the gory details.

For more details contact the Countryside Service on 0118 934 2016 or email: countryside@wokingham.gov.uk

Lynn Yardley    lynn.yardley@wokingham.gov.uk  
Countryside Ranger (Education and Interpretation)
Wokingham Borough Council Countryside Service, Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Berkshire RG10 0TH
Tel: 0118 9342016, Fax 0118 9341987