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Thank you for enjoying the Coronation weekend with us
Thousands of you joined us in Windsor to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
A few hundred braved the inclement weather on
Saturday to watch the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey on our big
screens on the Long Walk. Then when the sun shone on Sunday, more than
10,000 of you joined the Coronation Big Lunch on the Long Walk and
watched the Windsor Community Coronation Showcase with performances from
local groups.
Later the BBC Coronation Concert, attended by and
audience of 20,000 people rom across the UK, was beamed live from inside
Windsor Castle to be enjoyed on the big screens.
We hope you enjoyed your own celebrations in your
gardens and communities, with family, friends and neighbours, or took
the time to volunteer during the Big Help Out on Bank Holiday
Monday.
A huge thank you to all staff from the council and
partner organisations, along with the volunteers who helped with the
events in Windsor for this historic occasion, including our Royal
Borough Ambassadors, Stewards and Ceremonial Wardens.
Here are just a few images from the weekend,
including the surprise visit from Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales to the Long Walk on Sunday. You can watch a video of
their visit on Twitter here.
|  | BBC Coronation Concert stage- Copyright Nicola Bell | Above images courtesy of Jodie Humphries and Ollie Cassells | |
Lots of fun at Optalis Community Lives Coronation Celebration
More than 150 people congregated in the warm spring sunshine at Boyn Grove Park, Maidenhead, for a Coronation celebration.
The party was hosted by Optalis Community Lives,
part of our adult social care partner Optalis, and welcomed people with
learning disabilities and their supporters from our Royal Borough.
The day was filled with Scottish and maypole
dancing, music, traditional sing-alongs, and those attending listened to
a performance by an Indian drummer.
Everyone shared a picnic lunch and were treated to
delicious specially made Coronation cakes. It was a fantastic
opportunity to create lasting memories together, for such a momentous
occasion.
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Children and Young People’s Plan launches in the Royal Borough
Local
health and education organisations, the Royal Borough, and the
voluntary sector, have launched their first system wide Children
and Young People’s Plan.
The
organisations involved in this new plan include NHS Frimley, Achieving
for Children, the Royal Borough, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust,
voluntary and community organisations, and the borough’s Youth Council.
By
working together, the aim of the plan is to better address inequalities
so that all children and young people in the borough can reach their
full potential.
You can read the plan in full and see a short video about it on the Achieving for Children website.
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World Café is coming to Riverside ward
Our next World Cafe will be in Riverside ward on Friday 19 May, from 10am to midday.
There’s
no need to book. Simply pop along to Riverside Children’s Centre, on
West Dean off Ray Mill Road West, in Maidenhead (SL6 7JB).
Refreshments are free and complimentary goodies will also be available.
Our
informal Royal Borough World Cafés allow you to chat with our
representatives, as well as those from community organisations, about
what matters most in your neighbourhood.
The aim is to find solutions to local issues, as well as discover relevant support and meet fellow residents.
The theme for the Riverside event is emotional wellbeing, though you can of course still talk about other subjects.
For more details visit the RBWM Together website.
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Young Windsor netballer shooting for success
An up and coming Windsor netball star now has a
fixed netball hoop to practise her game, thanks to our World Café
programme and our parks and countryside team.
At the World Café in Clewer and Dedworth West last
summer, borough staff saw 14-year-old player
Jasmine Akrasi on the courts near the Hanover Way venue, where
the café was held.
Mum Kamila explained that as the court didn’t have
a fixed hoop, they both had to carry their own heavy hoop up and down
several flights of stairs from their nearby flat on a daily basis.
Following a call to our parks and countryside
team, a fixed netball hoop was installed on the court which is available
for use by the community.
Jasmine is a member of Eagles Netball Club in Maidenhead, which recently won the U14’s South Region League, and is currently training to qualify for the U14 National Netball Club finals in Sheffield at the end of this month.
Kamila said: “It’s a small thing but it’s made the
impossible possible. Not only can Jasmine practice daily, but also any
other local girls can practice their shooting and stand a better chance
in competitive netball.”
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Castle Hill improvement works: Phase two getting underway
The second phase of work designed to improve the
overall experience and safety of residents and visitors in Windsor town
centre will start on Monday.
The improvements in Castle Hill and St Alban’s
Street will see Castle Hill partially pedestrianised with a wider
pavement on the southern (shops) side of the road, as well as a
significant reduction in vehicle movements limited to castle access only
during its visiting hours.
The project is designed to help drive economic growth, and provide additional safety benefits.
As part of the works for the second phase, Castle
Hill is being closed temporarily to traffic, with pedestrian and
guard change access only.
Phase two will see the construction of kerbing on
the shop side of Castle Hill, which will ensure that the road will be
ready for re-opening in early July.
Traffic will be directed to use St Alban’s Street, which will be converted to two-way traffic.
During the works, a system of traffic lights
will be installed either end of St Alban’s Street temporarily, to
control the flow of traffic and allow access to the top of Castle Hill
and the castle itself.
Residential properties, and private car parks off
St Alban’s Street can still be accessed, and shoppers will still be able
to access businesses in Castle Hill and the surrounding area.
There will be a summer pause in the programme,
with no work taking place during most of July and August, before the
next phase is scheduled to start in September.
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Reminder: Energy bill support schemes
There are two
national energy bill support schemes to help specific eligible
households which have not received automatic payments:
The application deadline for both schemes is Wednesday 31 May.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding
This provides
£400 to those who do not have a domestic electricity meter and do not
contract directly with an electricity supplier.
For example, if you live in a park home, mobile home, houseboat, on a farm or a care home where you pay towards your care.
To qualify, the property must also be your sole or main residence, not a second home or holiday home.
You cannot
receive this payment if you received the monthly £66/£67 directly off
your electricity bill, unless you moved into the new property before the
end of that scheme.
Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP)
Separately, the
£200 Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP) is for households not connected to
the mains gas grid which use alternative fuels as their main form of
heating, such as tank or bottled gas, LPG, oil, wood and solid fuel.
This can be
paid on top of the £400 off your electricity bill and most homes that
are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on
their electricity bills.
If you think you should have got a payment but have not, contact your electricity supplier.
If you do not have a contract with an electricity supplier then you need to make an application.
How to apply
To apply for these schemes and for more information, please visit the government website or contact the national call centre on 0808 175 3287, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
Applications cannot be made directly to councils so please do not contact us.
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A safe space for everyone affected by dementia
Do you suffer from dementia, care for someone who does, or a family member or friend of somebody living with the condition?
Meet others in the same situation at an informal drop-in on Thursday 18 May at Boyn Grove Library in Maidenhead, between 10am and 2pm.
No need to book. Just pop along at any time
between those hours and stay for as long as you like. Dementia-friendly
activities are planned, and light refreshments will be available.
Optalis dementia care advisors will also be there
with details about community resources, as well as practical
information, advice, and guidance.
The event has been planned to coincide with national Dementia Action Week, 15 to 21 May.
If you need more details, call 01628 683715 or email dementiacareadvisor@rbwm.gov.uk
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Habitat and wellbeing go together
Starting Monday, we are launching our Habitat and Wellbeing Go Together campaign which runs until the end of month.
It will highlight the strong link between our
environment, and our mental and physical health, highlighting what we
are doing in the borough to promote active travel and biodiversity as
well how you can get involved.
Next week, we start off with national Walk to School Week for primary aged children and their families across the borough.
Each day has a different theme. Tuesday suggests
skipping or using a scooter instead of walking, while Wednesday focuses
on noting the wildlife and nature seen usually missed when in a car.
The second week we will be looking at our projects
to improve biodiversity and how you can investigate your local area and
enjoy the hidden gems in our wonderful borough.
The final week will look at how we are encouraging active travel among school children and adults.
Please follow our Twitter an Facebook feeds @RBWM,
for inspiration on how to factor in alternative ways to make short
journeys rather than hoping into a car, and what you can do to make it
fun.
Such small changes can have a significant impact on our local environment and our own wellbeing.
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Highways measures for Royal Windsor Horse Show
This year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show is continuing until Sunday 14 May.
To help ensure the smooth flow of traffic, and
ensure the safety of all road users, please be aware that several
temporary highways measures will be in place. These include:
- No vehicles, except coaches, will be allowed to make a right
turn onto the B470 King Edward VII Avenue from any gateway off the Home
Park (public) between 3pm and 10.30pm each day
- No vehicles will be allowed to make a left turn onto the B470
King Edward VII Avenue from the King Edward VII Avenue Car Park from 3pm
until 10.30pm each day
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Calling all jobseekers! Attend our jobs fair
A jobs fair will take place at Maidenhead Library on Tuesday 16 May from 10.30am to 1pm.
Jobseekers
will have the opportunity to meet local employers and find out about
their current vacancies. There’s no need to book, just turn up on
the day.
Employers who wish to attend the event should contact maidenhead.library@rbwm.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit our employment support webpage.
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Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
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Community Wardens' Community Safety Stand (Thursday 18 May, 10am to 12noon) – outside the Post Office, Peascod St, Windsor. Come and speak to our Community Wardens and get
advice and information leaflets on scams, property security, and bike
safety and security. There is also advice on our council services.
Weather permitting
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The Quince Players present ‘Murder Weapon’ (Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 May) – Cordes Hall, Sunninghill. The Quince Players, a not-for-profit amateur dramatics society, will be performing the gripping Murder Weapon by Brian Clemens. For
the opening night, they will be selling tickets at half price (£7 only)
with £5 of every ticket sold going to their nominated charity, Thames
Hospice. Book and learn more on the Quince Players website
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St Marks Crescent Methodist Church Spring Fair (Saturday
20 May) - Allenby Road, Maidenhead. The Spring Fair will have lots of
stalls to browse with plants, books, CD's, DVD's, bric-a-brac, and
home-made cakes for sale, as well as a raffle and tombola. The fair is
to raise money for the church fund. For more information email the church
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Holyport Summer Fair
(Saturday 3 June, noon to 5pm) – Village Hall, Moneyrow Green. Holyport
Community Trust are holding their annual Summer Fair. Perfect for the
whole family, with a BBQ, tea and cakes and a beer tent plus loads of
stalls and games. There's also a fantastic raffle with a top prize of
£200 and more than 20 other amazing prizes. Learn more on the Holyport Community Trust website
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Volunteers wanted at Thames Hospice
– Local charity Thames Hospice are appealing for volunteers to join
their eBay commerce team, including packers, listers and researchers.
The roles are easy with full training given, and are a great way to add
online sales to your CV. To learn more, please visit the Thames Hospice website
If you have
an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to
promote in this newsletter, simply send basic information about your
event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with more than 21,000 local residents.
You just
need to include a brief description, when and where it takes place, and a
link to a website/social media page/contact where people can find out
more.
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Have your say
We regularly hold consultations and surveys to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.
Participating, sharing ideas, and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.
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Local Travel Updates
The
Aslef union has announced industrial action which will affect local
Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Western Railway (SWR) services on:
- the rest of today, Friday 12 May
- Wednesday 31 May
- Saturday 3 June
The RMT union is also on strike affecting services tomorrow Saturday 13 May which will impact local rail services with South Western Railway warning of significantly reduced services.
There will also be further disruption to services from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 May and on Saturday 13 May and Thursday 1 June due to action short of a strike.
For more information, please visit the GWR website or the SWR website.
For details of council works on highways, visit our website. For full local roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network website.
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