Free trees from the Woodland Trust

As it has before, the Woodland Trust is offering community groups, youth groups and schools the chance to apply for packs of free trees for delivery in March 2014.

Applications are being accepted up until 9 January next year. Whether groups are
interested in helping wildlife; creating a faith, or inter-faith, green space; planting for
remembrance, creating a community garden or allotment; or just want to enhance their local area - any community groups are very welcome to apply for free packs of saplings.
 
They have over 3,000 packs to give away in spring and they come in three sizes – 30 saplings, 105 saplings and 420 saplings in various themes (hedge, copse, wildlife, wild harvest, year -
round colour, working wood, wild wood and wetland).
 
Find out more and how to apply from the Woodland Trust

Are you passionate about your local NHS and care about its future?

NHS England has called on the public, NHS staff and politicians to have an open and honest debate about the future shape of the NHS in order to meet rising demand, introduce new technology, and meet the expectations of its patients.

Join them and have your say at the Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) Call to Action events being held this November.

These events provide an opportunity for Berkshire West residents to come and meet GPs, representatives of other NHS services, and their local councils to discuss health plans for the next five years.

Date: Tuesday 12 November
Time: 7.00pm-9.00pm
Venue: Kennet room, Reading Borough Council, Civic centre, Reading, RG1 7AE, Headley road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ

Date: Thursday 14 November
Time: 7.00pm-9.00pm
Venue: Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury RG14 2DR

Date: Tuesday 19 November
Time: 10.00am-12.30pm
Venue: Oakwood centre, Headley road, Woodley, RG5 4JZ

To book your place at one of the events please email: nhs.calltoaction@nhs.net  or telephone: 0118 982 2709.

All feedback from these meetings, as well as national events and online contributions via NHS Choices, will be published and used to help shape a longer term strategy for the NHS.

Become a ‘wildlife warrior’ at the Nature Discovery Centre

The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is running a ‘wildlife warriors’ activity on Wednesday 30 October for youngsters between 8 and 16 years old to have a go at practical conservation work.

Ed Sweetman, project officer with the Linking the Landscape project, explains: “There are lots of things that young people can do to help their local wildlife. This ‘taster’ session will show them how to use tools safely and have a go at clearing paths, cutting reedbeds and clearing scrub.”

The ‘wildlife warriors’ runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham and starts with a safety talk and explanation of the tools that will be used during the activities. Then the warriors will get a chance to get stuck in and find out more about local wildlife. 

Ed Sweetman adds: “We hope the youngsters will want to come back for more ‘wildlife warrior’ activities that we plan to set up in the spring with a Team Rangers group.”

For more information and book your place, please contact the Linking the Landscape team on 01635 500886 or wbll@bbowt.org.uk.

VACANCY: Reading Refugee Support Group - Manager

Reading Refugee Support Group – Manager

£29,000 per annum (pro-rata) 30 hours per week + pension – six months fixed term contract

Reading Refugee Support Group provides essential advice and support to Asylum Seekers and integration services to those with Refugee or other status in the UK.
 
They are looking for an experienced manager, preferably with an advice service background, to lead our paid and voluntary staff during a period of significant change.

You will work with their capable and engaged trustee board to help review services and develop the opportunities they have already started to explore for partnership working with other local organisations, whilst ensuring that we continue to provide the assistance our clients need.

A job information pack is available to download at http://www.rrsg.org.uk/3.html Applications should be sent to admin@rrsg.org.uk to be received no later than midday Monday 4 November.

Interviews will be held in Reading on Friday 15 November. Regrettably we can only contact short-listed candidates. 

Neighbourhoods Conference 2013, 30th October, Reading Town Hall

Strike Action by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is in dispute with the Government over changes to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme and conditions of service, and they have announced that further strike action will take place on Saturday 19 October from 18:30 to 23:30.  The timing of this action may mean that you are more likely to be at home, entertaining or visiting friends – whatever you are doing this Saturday evening please ‘Take Extra Care’.

Although Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has contingency plans in place, during any period of industrial action they will have significantly fewer resources. They will therefore be prioritising ‘life critical’ incidents, such as house fires and road traffic collisions where people are trapped.

RBFRS will still be responding to 999 calls but they are asking members of the public to take extra care to reduce the risk of fire and road traffic collisions. 

For further details of advice and guidance please visit their website www.rbfrs.co.uk.

VACANCY: Healthwatch Wokingham Non -Executive Director

Board Governance & Compliance Non-Executive Director - Vacancy

This portfolio holder will provide leadership in the Board to ensure good governance in the way that Healthwatch Wokingham Borough conducts its business.

They will:

• Support and guide the Chair and Board on all issues, including leadership and governance of Healthwatch, to enable it to fulfil its statutory responsibilities as applied by the Healthwatch Commissioners.
• Oversee the (non financial) compliance of statutory and regulatory requirements of the Company
• Ensuring the Board follows best practice in its Governance
• Comply with the Code of Conduct for Directors of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough
• This post is responsible for staff leadership, management and administration of the organisation in the execution of the Board’s policies and decisions.
• Have a knowledge of either the health or social care system.

For further details please click here.