Renewing our partnership with Achieving for Children to deliver children’s and educational services

We've reaffirmed our partnership with Achieving for Children (AfC), which delivers the area’s children’s and educational services, praising the good standard of services and value for money it delivers for communities.

AfC is a not-for-profit community interest company, jointly owned by us and Richmond and Kingston councils, which was established to provide education, health, social care and early help services for children, young people and families, including the most vulnerable families.

Across the board, its services have consistently been graded as 'good' in previous independent inspections, with 94 per cent of schools supported by AfC also rated as good or outstanding.



Recently, our Cabinet agreed to extend the contract for a further five years from August 2024, with senior representatives from both organisations gathering at the Town Hall this week to symbolically renew the partnership.

Read more in our press release.

Yellow Cold Health Alert issued for South East

This Yellow Alert for the South East is due to last until midday on Tuesday 5 December.

If you can, check in on relatives and loved ones aged 65 plus, or with underlying health conditions. But remember, all ages can be affected by this chilly weather.

Try to maintain the indoor temperature in your home at 18°c. And be aware that some healthcare services may be busier due to increased demand.

See advice on keeping warm, well, and safe in cold weather. 

Due to the freezing temperatures, our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is in place, meaning we’re providing emergency shelter to anyone found sleeping rough in our borough.

SWEP is in addition to our usual Rough Sleeper Pathway provision and anyone who is rough sleeping in our borough, irrespective of local connection and current circumstances, will be provided with emergency accommodation.

Take that first step to safety

We are working with The Dash Charity to remind victims of domestic abuse that support is always available to help them take that first step to safety and regain control of their lives.

As part of 16 days of national activism following White Ribbon Day, we are also raising awareness of the different forms domestic abuse can take - whether that be physical, sexual, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic, psychological, emotional or other abuse.

Nationally, it is estimated that one in four women and one in six men experience some form of domestic abuse at some point in their life. In the Royal Borough, there were 3,059 domestic abuse-related incidents recorded by police during 2022/23 – an average of eight reports a day.

The Dash Charity, which provides our domestic abuse support service, received 690 referrals into their adult support service and 103 referrals into their children’s programme.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse:

• In an emergency, always call 999. If you can’t speak, call 999, listen to the call handler and answer questions, either by pushing buttons or coughing. If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it’s a genuine emergency. 

• The Dash Charity helpline – 01753 549865 – is open Monday-Wednesday from 9.30am-2.30pm and Thursday - Friday 9.30am-4pm. See the website for more information. Alternatively, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is free and open 24 hours a day, on 0808 2000 247. For more information, visit the website. 

• The council’s Housing Service can provide advice, support and emergency safe housing 24/7 for victims within the borough. If calling Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, please contact our housing duty team on 01628 683803. The out-of-hours contact is 01344 786543.

• All libraries are designated safe spaces where staff are trained to discreetly seek help for victims. Several local pharmacies also offer safe spaces for victims. See the locations here.

The Dash Communi-Tea Appeal

This winter, for the cost of a cuppa, you can help make sure domestic abuse victims get the support they need.

For many people, support with domestic abuse begins in the safe space of a public coffee shop, with one of The Dash Charity's trained advocates, being listened to and believed. The charity delivers our domestic abuse support service in the borough.

Donate £5 to the Dash Communi-Tea Winter Appeal and your money funds much more than a hot drink. It fuels specialist advice and guidance to local people suffering any kind of abuse at the hands of a partner, ex-partner or family member. Its Independent Domestic Violence Advocates and outreach workers are professionally trained to support families, whatever their circumstances and work alongside them to find a practical pathway to safety.

Last winter, its advocates and outreach workers supported more than 150 clients between October and March. To make a one-off or regular donation to the appeal, visit the JustGiving page.

Speak with our Community Wardens about staying safe this festive season

Our Community Wardens will be holding community safety stands in Maidenhead and Windsor to raise awareness of simple steps you can make to stay safe and protect your loved ones and belongings during the festive period.

The stands will be held on:

• Thursday 7 December, 10am to midday - Maidenhead High Street.
• Friday 15 December, 10am to midday - Peascod Street, Windsor.

In addition to offering bespoke advice and listening to any concerns residents may have, they will also be giving away a limited number of useful items supporting personal safety and crime prevention, including whistles, handbag bells and torches.

Temporary bin collection dates over Christmas and New Year

Make sure you know your different bin collection dates over the festive period.

Check our website for the timetable and ensure your bins are out before 7am on your collection day and no earlier than the night before, or check when your next collection is due via our website.

Thank you for all your recycling efforts this year. Please keep making a difference for the environment and recycling what you can over the festive period. Visit our website for a full list of what can be recycled.

Please ensure all items are placed inside your bins. If you have extra rubbish or recycling this can be taken to Stafferton Way Household Waste and Recycling Centre. 

Normal collections resume on Monday 15 January.

Apply for funding to improve health and wellbeing in your community

Applications close at midnight on Friday 22 December for residents and local groups, with great ideas to improve health and wellbeing in their communities, to apply for funding to make their plans a reality.

Our Innovation Funding scheme, run in partnership with NHS Frimley, offers one-off funding per successful application up to £2,500 to get projects up and running. 

Ideas must show how the project will tackle one of the following:

• Access to services to improve people’s health
• Social isolation and loneliness
• Health prevention to reduce risk factors
• Reduce mental or physical health inequalities.

Successful applications must reflect the local issues and themes raised by residents and groups at the World Cafes recently held in every ward across the borough. And these ideas must be sustainable for at least 12 months. The themes and priorities from each World Café can be found on the World Café section of the RBWM Together website under the documents section on the right of the page.

For more details on the application process, plus how to apply, please visit the Innovation Fund section on the RBWM Together website.

Update: Cookham Bridge essential maintenance

Work is continuing to carry out essential maintenance to Cookham Bridge.

The bridge closed in October for approximately 20 weeks while work is carried out. While shut to motor vehicles, pedestrian access remains. Cyclists need to dismount before crossing the bridge.

The 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.

Businesses in Cookham and the High Street are open as usual and we'd encourage you to continue to support them during the closure period.

Work is currently ongoing both above and below the bridge. On top of the bridge, the concrete deck is now fully exposed and additional structural surveys are being carried out before the final preparation for re-waterproofing work. On the underside of the bridge strengthening works have begun with new steel plates being welded to the existing beams. Temporary lighting to illuminate the pathway over the bridge has also been installed this week.

Further updates will be posted on our website in the coming weeks.

Do more with the NHS App

You can use the NHS App to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

It gives you easy, 24/7 access to a growing range of health services and information. You can: 

• order repeat prescriptions
• access NHS 111 online
• find NHS services
• view your health records
• book appointments.

Find out how to download and use the app. If you experience problems with it, select ‘help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit the NHS Digital Support Centre.

Give your thoughts on site for new Frimley Park Hospital

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is inviting patients, local people and staff to give your views about what’s most important to you when choosing the site for the new state-of-the-art replacement for Frimley Park Hospital.

Frimley Park Hospital needs to be replaced on a new site by 2030 because the current hospital was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

The trust is developing the criteria it will use to assess potential sites – and is seeking views on what is important about the site for the new hospital, and why.

You have until Sunday 7 January 2024 to share your views about the site evaluation criteria. Visit the website to find out more, including details of upcoming events and drop-in sessions.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

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

• Christmas Tree Festival (Friday 1 December to Sunday 3 December, 10am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday, Sunday 10am to 6pm, with morning service between 11am and midday) - Old Windsor Parish Church, Church Road, Old Windsor SL4 2JW. Advent Carol Service 6pm. Enjoy treats with mulled wine and homemade cakes. The festival will showcase decorated Christmas trees provided by local organisations, each telling a story. Plenty of parking. Entry free but donations welcome via card or cash. 

• ECO Action Windsor & Maidenhead Question Time: Heat Pumps (Saturday 2 December, 11am to 12.30pm) – Central Atrium, Nicholsons Centre, Maidenhead. Thinking about getting a heat pump? Question our expert panellists, chaired by Peter Gibbs, from BBC Radio 4, Gardeners’ Question Time. For more details visit the website.

• Old Mother Hubbard, The Lady who Lived in a Shoe (1, 2 and 3 and 7, 8 and 9 December, matinee and evening shows) - Memorial Hall in Old Windsor. Riverside Players are a local, not-for-profit, society that has just celebrated its 60^th anniversary. It makes annual charitable donations to local and national charities that have meaning to its members. For more information contact Vicki Arnold 07799 840599 or visit the website.

• Friends of White Waltham Christmas market (Saturday 2 December 4pm to 7pm) - White Waltham C of E Academy. The Cookham Zoo will be attending and there will Christmas shopping opportunities, a pottery painting café, games stalls and Santa’s grotto. You can buy your Christmas tree and support the school. Food and drink vendors are also on site. Any questions please email pta@whitewaltham.org

• All Saints Christmas market (Sunday 3 December, midday to 3.30pm) – All Saints Church, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead SL6 4HE. Christmas cheer for all the family with the handicraft stall and other craft stalls offering Christmas gifts: gin, candles, treats for dogs, chocolate, cakes, handmade jewellery, knitted items, crochet art and accessories, and cards. Plenty of hot food and drinks and opportunities to win prizes on the raffle and tombola. Children’s activities including a treasure hunt and activity table – and the chance for little ones to meet Father Christmas in his grotto. Music from the All Saints Choir and Boyne Hill Infant School with carols from the Salvation Army at 3pm. All welcome.

• Cookham Village Christmas Street Fayre (Sunday 3 December, midday to 4pm). Cookham High Street has had a Christmas Street Fayre in one form or another since the early 1980s. The event is an amazing opportunity to showcase the incredible High Street businesses. With a cost-of-living squeeze, paired with the temporary closure of Cookham Bridge, the residents want to do all they can to support local businesses. The community-led Stanley Spencer Gallery will also be opening its doors to visitors. The length of Cookham High Street will be lined with an array of artisan gifts, homemade jewellery, glassware, local art and woodcraft, festive floristry, quirky candles, party decorations and accessories. There will be food and drink to suit all tastes. For more information, see Facebook or Instagram.

• Lions Club of Windsor Santa Sleigh (From Tuesday 5 December). The sleigh will be visiting the streets of Windsor, including Peascod Street. Any monies raised will be used to procure gifts for those children who are disadvantaged in the community. The Lions will also be collecting any old spectacles for recycling. For more details, visit the website.

• Decorate the GoodGym Christmas tree (Wednesday 6 December, 4pm to 6pm) - St Luke’s Church, Norfolk Road, Maidenhead. In preparation for the St Luke's Christmas Tree Festival. Following on from the group run to make Christmas decorations, a small team of elves will be taking them to St Luke's Church to decorate the group's contribution to the St Luke's Christmas Tree Festival. For more information about taking part, visit the website.

• Flower arranging demonstration (Thursday 7 December, 1pm to 3.30pm) - Holyport Memorial Hall, Moneyrow Green SL6 2NA. Held by Holyport Flower Arranging Club, there will also be a sale of floral Christmas decorations. Ample free parking on site. Carol Bennett (area teacher) will be making approximately six flower arrangements, all to be raffled at the end of the demonstration. Entrance is £10 per person to include a mince pie and a drink. For more information call Mona van der Knaap on 0776 113 9945.

• Sunningdale Christmas tree lights switch-on (Friday 8 December, 4pm to 7pm) - Broomhall Recreation Ground. Lights switch-on at 6pm. Sunningdale Library will host a Christmas storytime with children's author Fiona Barker the same afternoon from 4pm to 6pm.

• Volunteer at the Maidenhead Lantern Parade with GoodGym (Saturday 9 December, 4pm to 6pm). The Maidenhead Lantern Parade is back. This magical winter event brings together the local community for a celebration of creativity, light, and live music. There is plenty to get involved with - tasks include handing out lanterns and/or lights to members of the community, carrying lanterns during the parade and helping keep the parade at a suitable pace for the marching band. Dress up warmly and bring a high-vis vest if you have one so you can be easily identified as a volunteer. Sign up here. After the fun and festivities, help out Norden Farm with the clear up to help keep the town looking good. For more information, visit the website.

• Christmas Tree Festival (Friday 8 to Sunday 10 December) - St Luke’s Church, Norfolk Road, Maidenhead. Visit the beautiful church filled with decorated trees. This year will be the 12th annual festival. The church will be open for viewing on Friday, 10am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday midday to 6pm. For more details visit the website.

• Christmas fair (Saturday 9 December, 9am to 12.30pm) - St Nicolas Church, High Street, Maidenhead SL6 0ET. Beautiful range of wooden gifts handmade from local trees, ‘New2You’ stall, Christmas and greetings cards, exclusively designed Taplow tea towels, book stall, tea, coffee and cake.

• Christmas carols and music (Saturday 16 December, 7.30pm) - United Reformed Church, William Street, Windsor, SL4 1BA. The Royal Free Singers and the United Reformed Church invite you to join them for an uplifting evening. Suitable for everyone. Coffee and mince pies will be served in the interval. Admission free - retiring collection for the NSPCC and Alexander Devine Children's Hospice in Maidenhead. Disabled access.

• Mum & Baby Gentle Movement & Exercise for Mental Wellbeing (Tuesdays 11am to midday - runs within Maidenhead term-time dates) - Maidenhead URC Church, West St, Maidenhead, SL61RL. Light movement and exercise for mums and babies. These sessions are for mums and babies (under one) experiencing low mood, isolation or loneliness or difficulties with their mental health. This group is provided free by mental health charity Sport In Mind for the benefit of local people. Booking required. For more information, visit the website.

• New Dementia Café (First Monday each month, 11am to 12.30pm) – The Fox and Castle, 21 Burfield Road, Old Windsor. A relaxed and friendly gathering for those navigating dementia. Any age, any stage welcome with carers or family.

• Drive a minibus for People to Places. The Maidenhead-based charity is seeking volunteers to drive its accessible minibuses, which provide transport to residents of the borough with mobility challenges. The charity has experienced a significant increase in journey requests for its dial-a-ride service since the pandemic and desperately needs more volunteer drivers to meet this demand. By becoming a volunteer driver with People to Places, you'll have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of those in your community who rely on their service. For more information on the driver roles, visit the website, call 01628 587922, or email info@people2places.org.uk.

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

Rail - industrial action

The ASLEF union has announced strike action on Wednesday 6 December and Thursday 7 December and a ban on overtime working from today (Friday 1 December) to Saturday 9 December that will affect train services. Check the SWR and GWR websites for updates.

Rail - engineering work

Work on a new HS2 station will affect train services into London Paddington this winter. The construction of Old Oak Common Station will involve engineering work on the existing railway.

The impact of these works mean that on 24 and 27 December there will be no train services into or out of London Paddington station. More information on the GWR website.

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

Keep up to date with news and information from the council by signing up to Nextdoor and following us on X and Facebook.

Other accounts you may be interested in:

• Royal Borough official tourism web page.  
• Libraries on Facebook and X.
• Royal Borough Registrars on Facebook and Instagram.
• Communities Team on Facebook and X.
• Windsor & Royal Borough Museum web page.
• MyRoyalBorough on X, Facebook and Instagram.
• Make Maidenhead on X and Facebook.