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Local volunteers lend a hand in Oaken Grove Park


Local volunteers turned out to help clean the pond at Oaken Grove Park last week, in a community action organised by Friends of Oaken Grove Park

   

Friends of Oaken Grove Park is a community, resident-led organisation that was set up last year with a grant of £2,500 from NHS Frimley Innovation Fund to connect people who care about the park, and who want to take an active role in maintaining and improving its facilities and local bio-diversity.

 

Members of the group were joined by local volunteers from GoodGym, who regularly help out with community projects across the Royal Borough, and tools and waders were provided by the council’s Parks and Countryside team.

 

If you’re interested in volunteering for one of the existing groups, or are even starting your own, visit: Friends of Parks and Green Spaces 

Register to vote - Ascot & Sunninghill by-election


The by-election for the Ascot & Sunninghill Ward of Windsor takes place on Thursday 17 October 2024.

 

If you live in the ward you can check you are registered to vote by calling our electoral services helpline on 01628 683868. If you’ve moved recently and have not re-registered, then visit register to vote on the UK Government website by 11.59pm on Tuesday 1 October 2024.

 

If you don’t already vote by post and would like to visit How to vote: Voting by post - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or call our helpline on 01628 683868 for a paper form. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is Wednesday 2 October and your postal vote will arrive by Wednesday 9 October.

 

For more information call 01628 683868 or email our electoral registration team.

Pick up your free mobility scooter safety pack


Do you rely on, or know someone who uses a mobility scooter? We’re helping to encourage safer journeys by providing free Mobility Scooter Safety Packs from Safer Mobility in all of our local libraries and at ShopMobility Centres in Windsor and Maidenhead

 

The pack aims to encourage users to be confident and safe when driving at night. It has details on Highway Code rules and includes a set of reflective mobility scooter stickers to increase visibility when making journeys during the darker autumn nights.

Join the Ageing Well Expo 2024 in Maidenhead


If you’re interested in health and wellbeing or looking to discover new ways to stay active and engaged in your golden years, then the Ageing Well Expo 2024 is for you.


This free community event takes place at Nicholsons Shopping Centre in Maidenhead on Friday 4 October 2024, from 10am to 2pm, and is a joint collaboration between Leisure Focus, the charitable trust who run our leisure centres, and Maidenhead United FC Community Trust.


The Ageing Well Expo will offer useful information, wellness activities, and community resources, and visitors can enjoy free health consultations, including blood pressure and BMI checks, along with stalls providing advice on fitness, community involvement, and well-being.


There’ll also be live demonstrations on wellness techniques and safety tips for seniors, and free health assessments by seca Ltd, offering advanced body composition data. Also, Three Discovery will provide free digital skills workshops, helping attendees develop confidence in using technology in their daily lives. For more details visit the Leisure Focus website. 

Drive down your parking costs


If you’ve joined our Resident Parking Discount Scheme, you can get an hour’s free parking each day in eight car parks in the borough:

  • Hines Meadow, Grove Road and West Street, Maidenhead
  • Alma Road, Alexandra Gardens and Victoria Street, Windsor
  • Horton Road, Datchet
  • Meadow Lane, Eton.

If you’re a resident of the borough, you can still apply, completely free of charge, for the permits to join the thousands of residents already saving on parking – don’t miss out!

Help design a Healthy Street for Vansittart Road Windsor


We're holding an informal drop-in on Saturday 28 September, 11am to 1pm, at Trinity St Stephen’s First School in Vansittart Road.


We welcome your thoughts on how to make Vansittart Road a greener, safer and healthier environment for all to enjoy as part of the Healthy Streets initiative funded by public health. Your input will help inform the designs as well as helping us get a better understanding of what's important for you to get about more easily on foot or on two wheels.


Don't worry if you can't attend as there are other ways you can take part - an online survey, by email, and by post. We ask that you share your ideas and thoughts by midnight on Sunday 27 October.


To find out more visit the Healthy Streets website.

Work on Holyport Road


Part of Holyport Road will be closed for approximately eight weeks from Monday 7 October, to allow re-routing of essential utilities as part of wider works informed by your feedback to increase capacity and improve safety and connectivity along the A308.


To assist motorists a signed diversion route will be in place and temporary traffic signals will also be needed at times during the work.


Further work to upgrade the roundabout at the junction of Holyport Road and the A308 Windsor Road will take place from January and include better access for cyclists and pedestrians to support a cleaner, greener and safer borough.

Finally conquer cigarettes this Stoptober


You’re five times more likely to stop smoking with personalised support, which we offer via Smokefreelife Berkshire.


This free service offers a range of 12-weeks support to suit your needs which includes a self-help digital app, plus physical aids such as patches, gum, and non-disposable e-cigarettes.


If you live in the Royal Borough, you can refer yourself to the service or via a healthcare professional.


Visit the Smokefreelife Berkshire website to find out more.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight


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


  • Seed workshop (Saturday 28 September, 10am to 4pm) Waltham Place Farm, White Waltham. Join estate manager André Tranquilini (bio-dynamic farmer and gardener) for this step-by-step workshop to help you to obtain the best quality seed from your gardens. Learn how to select, harvest, dry, clean and store your seeds for maximum effect. The workshop is community led and is free. For more information and to book a place email


  • Desborough Bowling Club Family Open Day (Saturday 28 September, 11am to 3pm) Green Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1XZ. Why not try your hand at indoor bowls, combined with other fun activities at one of the premier bowling centres in the country. All age groups welcome. All equipment will be provided by the club on the day. There will be club members on hand to get you started and to explain the fundamentals of the game. For more information or to register your interest visit, email or call 01628 629403.


  • Free PSA blood test to all males over 40 (Saturday 28 September, 10am to 4pm) Desborough Bowling Club, Green Lane, Maidenhead, SL6 1XZ. Did you know 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and more than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year - that's 129 men every day. Maidenhead Lions aim to provide a FREE PSA blood test to as many men over 40 as possible. It’s proven that early detection and treatment may vastly increase your chances of survival. Holding the event costs Maidenhead Lions approximately £30 for each test but we don’t make a fixed charge, although we strongly encourage a donation from those taking part. Don’t delay, book today. For more info and to book your time slot visit


  • An afternoon piano concert (Sunday 29 September, 3pm) Old Windsor Parish Church, SL4 2JW. Featuring the music of Hayden and others with James Norton at the piano, followed by refreshments. Ample Parking. Donations on the day for church funds.


  • A Celebration of Coffee (Sunday 29 September, 9am to 4pm) Desborough Theatre, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead. Come and visit Maidenhead’s biggest celebration of coffee. Vicky Weddell from Moneyrow Beans is hosting Maidenhead Coffee Festival, a spectacular celebration of coffee that sees local coffee people and customers come together to celebrate all things coffee. For more information email or to book your ticket visit


  • Join us for a glorious afternoon of crafting at the Green Skills Library (Tuesday 1 October, 12pm to 2pm) Nicholsons Centre in Maidenhead. We'll be making I CAN CAN's, which are cans you can decorate however you like and fill with positive thoughts and affirmations. It's time to celebrate what we CAN do! Enjoy a social crafting session with a cup of tea, a chat, and a short uplifting talk. This is a FREE event. For more information and to book your space email


  • River Church Maidenhead community lunches (Sunday 6 October and the first Sunday of every month) Larchfield Community Centre, off Desborough Crescent, Maidenhead, SL6 4BB. This is a free event, so just come along for some company and home cooked food. Feel free to bring something to add to the table if you’d like to. For more information email


  • Alzheimer’s Dementia Support Boundary Walk (Sunday 6 October). The annual event sees hundreds of walkers raising thousands of pounds for their chosen charities as they retrace the route of the old Maidenhead Borough. Organised by the Rotary Clubs of Maidenhead Bridge and Maidenhead, the event is a ready-made fundraiser. The route is fully signposted and marshalled by Rotarians and all participants have to do is register, raise sponsorship and complete the walk. Last year, walkers raised more than £4,000 in sponsorship while the event raised another £2,500 for Rotary good causes. This year we're proud to be supporting Alzheimer's Dementia Support, with any proceeds from the event being donated to this amazing local charity. For more information visit


  • Illustrated talk by Hugo Vickers - Q2 to K3 (Wednesday 9 October, 7.30pm) St Michael’s Church, Bray. Hugo Vickers, a renowned royal biographer and commentator will talk about the last years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II with stories from behind the walls of Windsor Castle, the death of Prince Philip and the transition to King Charles III, bringing us up to date with issues relating to the future of the British Monarchy. Proceeds go to the Friends of St Michael’s. For more information and tickets email or call 01628 778054.


  • Downsizing Your Property - Upsizing Your Lifestyle (Thursday 10 October, 3pm) Join us for an enlightening and informal step-by-step guide on the emotional and practical support available for downsizing your home and potentially transforming your lifestyle for the better. There will also be tea a cakes! For more information visit


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

Our consultations - 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.


Our current consultations are:

Local travel updates


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   


  • Road improvement works: Holyport Road, Maidenhead from 7 October until 29 November for utilities work. Residents are advised to follow diversion signs.

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