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Israel - Statement from the Mayor of the Royal Borough


Councillor Neil Knowles, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said: “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with all those affected by these abhorrent terror attacks in Israel.


"As a borough and a council, we strongly condemn these horrific acts of violence. We are proud to be a diverse borough, including an established Jewish community, and we know that many residents will be worried for the safety of family and friends living in the region. As a mark of respect for all those affected, I led a one-minute silence at this week's full council meeting.”

Reminder: Essential maintenance work to historic Cookham Bridge to get underway next week

 

If you usually use Cookham Bridge, please remember to plan your journeys as the bridge is due to be closed for essential maintenance work from Monday (16 October) for approximately 20 weeks.

 

This important refurbishment project will help extend the life of the Grade II listed structure, ensuring the bridge continues to serve the community for many years to come and will avoid more disruptive work in future years.


The diversion route will follow the A4094 south from Cookham, west along the A4 Bath Road, north on the A404, and then along the A4155 Marlow Road, with this route in reverse for traffic on the northern side of the bridge.

 

The project includes bearing replacement, re-waterproofing, resurfacing and joint replacement. The bridge will close to motor vehicles, but pedestrian access will remain. Cyclists will need to dismount before crossing the bridge.


If left unattended, extensive and longer-term strengthening works would be required in future. By making this investment now, we can ensure the bridge is fit for purpose for everyone to use for decades to come and avoid more disruptive work in future years.

 

Read more in our press release.

Household Support Fund Awareness Week - funding to help residents in severe financial hardship

 

Household Support Fund Awareness Week takes place next week, and if you're struggling financially and having to make difficult decisions, help is available.

 

The Department for Work and Pensions fund aims to help households in need to deal with the rising cost of living. If you're facing financial difficulties and are at risk of problems escalating, you may be able to receive a £145 cash payment.

 

If you’re not already in contact with one of our delivery partners, please contact Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB) for help with applying for the scheme. Email CAEB as this is the best and quickest way to request support.

 

CAEB also have a drop-in service at its office at 4 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7YR on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and midday. For more information about the Household Support Fund, visit our website.

 

For further support around the cost of living, please visit our Here to Help webpage. You can also call 01628 683800,or visit your library for more information and support.

 

Please be aware that the Household Support Fund is a discretionary scheme, allocated on a case-by-case basis, to mitigate serious financial hardship and prevent crises. Our partners have responsibility for identifying households to the scheme and will provide residents with a unique reference number, which is needed to make an application. Residents are not able to apply to the council directly.

Recycle Week 2023 - Increasing recycling in the Royal Borough


We're getting ready to support Recycle Week, Recycle Now’s flagship annual event which is a celebration of recycling across the nation, taking place from Monday 16 October.


This year’s theme - The Big Recycling Hunt - focuses on 'missed capture' - the items that can be recycled but are commonly missed in the home.


Our campaign next week will raise awareness of the items that can be recycled that you may not be aware of, encouraging the recycling of more of the right things while promoting responsible disposal of waste to avoid contaminating your bin.


Take a look at our website to see the items you can and can't recycle, and keep an eye out on Facebook and X for handy information, tips and advice.

Are you interested in becoming a foster carer?


Informal online drop-in sessions for those interested in becoming a foster carer are being held by our children's services partner Achieving for Children.


These will take place on Tuesday 17 October 7pm to 8pm and Thursday 19 October at 10am. To join, visit the website.


We need foster carers from all walks of life to look after children of differing ages, from babies to teenagers up to the age of 18. Fostering is a way to support a child in an emergency over a short-term period or provide long term stability.


Whether it has been a fleeting thought or something you have strongly considered, we are here to talk you through it all. Many different kinds of people can provide a secure and caring environment for children and young people who, for whatever reason, cannot live with their families.


For more information on fostering visit the website, email or call 020 8547 5355.

Free online and face-to-face mental health support

 

If you’re aged 18 plus and live in the Royal Borough, you can access free online and face-to-face mental health support from the charity Mind.


The Royal Borough Mental Health Recovery Service sessions are held both online or in-person at Maidenhead Library or the Windsor Family Hub, depending on the topic. There are more than 20 topics to choose from, on a rolling programme, until next March. You can just attend only those topics that interest you.


The service is aimed at anyone on a journey of recovery from mental health issues and has, or is, experiencing challenges to their overall wellbeing. You might have a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health condition, or are recovering from addiction, homelessness, trauma, or abuse.


The sessions focus on helping you understand your mental health, develop awareness of your personal coping strategies, and give you the opportunity to feel part of an understanding support network with your fellow attendees.


To find out more and/or to book, visit the Royal Borough Mental Health Recovery Service website.

Black History Month - Saluting Our Sisters


October is Black History Month and the theme this year is ‘Saluting our Sisters’, highlighting the crucial role that black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities.


Our libraries are supporting the month by hosting an online book group. Join our library staff to explore black women in literature, with upcoming events including discussions on Andrea Levy's Small Island on Thursday 19 October, 12.30pm to 1.30pm and Alice Walker's The Colour Purple on Thursday 26 October, 12.30pm to 1.30pm.


Books are available in Maidenhead Library. Please ask at the desk and receive your invitation to the events by emailing advocacy@rbwm.gov.uk.

Get Online Week - free help sessions


We will be hosting free drop-in help sessions next week across our libraries during Get Online Week to help you get the most out of your Library Online Resources.


Come along with your smartphone, tablet or laptop and we can help you access Libby, Borrowbox and Pressreader.


These offer thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspapers and eMagazines, all of which are free with your library card.


See our Library events page for details of all the sessions across the week.

Get Around for £2 scheme extended until December 2024

 

The £2 bus fare cap on single journeys in England is being extended until 31 December 2024 by the Department for Transport (DfT).

 

Bus operators serving the borough who are part of this national scheme include Thames Valley Buses, Reading Buses and Red Eagle Buses.

 

More information is available on the DfT’s website, and a list of routes included in the scheme can be found using the link. 


Using the bus is often a more cost effective way of travelling than by car and helps lower the number of vehicles on the road, helping to reduce congestion and air pollution.

Will you carve a path to victory in our pumpkin competition?

 

Calling all creative carvers, we want to showcase the best pumpkin carvings the Royal Boo-rough of Windsor & Maidenhead has to offer!

 

Whether it’s the classic zig-zag smile or a truly artistic creation, make sure you share your carvings with us via X or email.

 

We had some excellent entries last year so we’re looking forward to seeing what you make this year. We’ll share the best pumpkin carvings in an upcoming edition of Residents’ Newsletter.

Halloween crafts at our libraries


Our libraries will be hosting a number of fun, Halloween-themed crafts later this month. These include a children's Spooky Watercolour Session, suitable for ages eight to 12, at Dedworth Library on Tuesday 24 October, 3pm to 4pm.


There will also be pumpkin carving at the library on Thursday 26 October, 3pm to 4pm. Suitable for ages six to 12. Booking essential. Please phone Dedworth Library on 01753 868733.

 

Windsor Library will host a Halloween a crafts and story time on Tuesday 31 October, from 4:30pm. Come dressed as your favourite spooky character. Suitable for under nines.


Other events include drop-in craft sessions for under eights at Cookham Library (26 October) 2.30pm to 3.30pm, at Cox Green Library (27 October) 3pm to 4pm, at Datchet Library (24 October) 2.30pm to 3.30pm, and at Old Windsor Library (25 October) 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight


Here are just some of the upcoming community events and volunteering opportunities in the Royal Borough:


  • Cantorum Choir’s autumn concert (Saturday 14 October, 7pm) - St Nicolas’ Church, Taplow SL6 0ET. This year will be a celebration in music of the gypsy life through songs by Brahms, Bizet, Schumann and Gorecki, among others. Cantorum will also be joined by Hungarian Folk band Unicorn Frequency. Book here. 



  • Maurice and Shelagh Bond Memorial Lecture (Wednesday 18 October, 7pm) - St George’s Chapel. King Henry VIII’s Reformation in Windsor: the Symonds family and the Windsor Martyrs of 1543. For more details visit the website. More information also available here.


  • Wild About Datchet is proud to present its first environment event (Thursday 19 October, 6pm to 9pm) - Churchmead School Hall, Slough Road, Datchet, SL3 9JQ. Five guests will be talking about what is happening in the area to protect the environment, and suggesting ways we can all contribute. (Please be seated by 7pm). There will be around 30 stalls, which include environmentally-friendly local groups, businesses and organisations. Available stall space has nearly been filled, but there is still room if you would like to join. Email for more information or join the Facebook group.


  • Monthly bazaar (Saturday 21 October, 10am to 11.30am) - St Marks Crescent Methodist Church, Allenby Road, SL6 6BQ. Stalls available with items at reasonable prices. Delicious home baked cakes, stationery, books, CDs, DVDs, bric-a-brac, and this month Chris's Crafts will be at the bazaar with home-made items for gifts or the home. Raffle with various donated prizes. If you are new to the area, come along and meet up with others in the community. All welcome - free entry. All proceeds go to St Marks Crescent Methodist Church Fund. Contact info@stmarksmaidenhead.org.uk.


  • Tales for Children (Saturday 21 October, 2pm) - Maidenhead Quaker Meeting House, West Street SL6 1RL (next to the Portland Arms). If you’re three or 30, nine or 90 this, and other tales, are for you. Storyteller David England will be reading the tales.


  • White Waltham Village Association bonfire and fireworks display (Saturday 28 October, gates open at 5.30) - in the field behind the cricket club. Cake stall, BBQ, bar, mulled wine and hot drinks available. £7.50 per adult, accompanied school age children free.


  • Stanley Spencer Gallery summer exhibition (until Sunday 5 November) - High St, Cookham, SL6 9SJ. A Brush with History, Stanley Spencer and Modern British Art in partnership with Southampton City Art Gallery. For more information, and gallery opening times, visit its website.


  • Alexander Devine Santa Dash (Sunday 26 November) Bring your friends, family and colleagues together and join the charity in Windsor and kick start the festive season. Dash, jog, or walk 5km and raise vital funds for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire and into surrounding counties. Tickets £20 per adult; £10 per child; £50 per family, under fives free. Suggested sponsorship of £72 per adult. By raising just £72 you could help give a child with complex healthcare needs a session of specialist care from an Alexander’s nurse this Christmas. Book your tickets by Friday 27 October and get a 10% discount with the code SANTA23. Sign up via the website.


  • Come and visit the oldest wheeled vehicle in the Royal Borough. Maidenhead Heritage Centre is happy to provide a permanent home for a historic wooden fire engine or 'fire pump' belonging to Bray Parish Council. It looks forward to welcoming visitors to come and explore the fire pump's fascinating history and the technology of a bygone era. The Bray Fire Pump, unveiled this week, was presented to the village in 1737 by Lady Anne Coleraine who lived at Canon Hill House, where The Binghams now stand, and is now believed to be the oldest wheeled vehicle in the Royal Borough.


If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or appeal for volunteers 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.


To see further volunteering opportunities in the borough, or for another way for community organisations to promote volunteering opportunities, please visit RBWM Together.

Local Travel Updates


M4 works


The M4 will be closed westbound between junctions 6 and 8/9 from 9pm tonight (Friday 13 October), until midday on Sunday 15 October.


This is so essential bridge joint repairs, surfacing, and waterproofing on the Thames Bray bridge can be carried out. A fully signed diversion will be in place via the A355, A332, A308 and the A308(M).


Council highways works


For details of further council works on highways, visit our website. For full local roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network website.

Keep in touch


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