The latest issue of Upstream Magazine is available for download below.

With cost of living pressures affecting people across West Berkshire – and, in particular older members of the community – Laura Farris MP has launched a campaign to increase awareness of Pension Credit, an under-used mechanism that can provide vital support to those that most need it.

For any pensioner who is eligible, Pension Credit provides an average of £3,300 extra per year and is very easy to apply for. However, over a quarter of pensioners who are eligible for this support are completely unaware of it and do not receive it.

Laura has spoken to West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau (among others) and it has also become clear that uptake is a real problem locally.

Pensioners are one of the groups who suffer most from rising inflation and Laura is determined that they should get as much support as possible. With the help of community groups, shops and businesses across West Berkshire, I hope I can achieve this.

Did you know that the Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service provides free, at home 'Safe and Well' Visits to residents in Berkshire?

A safe and well visit provides vulnerable residents with tailored fire safety advice, smoke detection, hearing impaired alarms (if needed) and well-being advice with signposting to additional agencies.

More information can be found on their website: https://www.rbfrs.co.uk/your-safety/safety-at-home/book-a-safe-and-well-visit/

A poster is attached along with a QR Code you can scan for more information.

Home Start West Berkshire are a charity that help parents of young children in West Berkshire.  They are seeking to recruit volunteers for various positions from people who do home visits, to fundraisers to Baby Bank managing and even admin roles.

If you think you can help a young family in our area, and want to know more, there are special open days being held throughout the summer and training courses later on in the year.  Have a look at the information attached.

The Spring edition of Upstream has been published - you can download it below.

Dementia Friendly West Berkshire is a group of individuals and organisations who are committed to working together to make West Berkshire more dementia friendly. The breadth of what we do can be found on our website: https://dementiafriendlywestberkshire.co.uk. The group is supported by West Berkshire Council and AgeUK Berkshire.

There are a number of events, get togethers and sessions that are Dementia Friendly and these can be found by clicking on the additional documents below.

Please share this with people who might benefit from them.

The West Berkshire Countryside Society’s purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside… furthering these objectives through practical conservation work and guided walks and talks from local experts.

Upstream is our quarterly publication designed to highlight conservation matters in West Berkshire and to publicise the activities of the Society. It is produced at our own expense and distributed free of charge.

Upstream contains articles from knowledgeable members & regularly from non-member experts from organisations such as BBOWT & the Environment Agency.

You can download the Summer Issue by clicking below.

West Berkshire Council been working hard to bring as much summer fun to West Berkshire as they can while keeping socially distanced and safe. There are so many activities and great ways to keep children, young people and families happy and active through the summer holidays and you can view them all in the Summer Fun brochure  which you can download below.

Online gaming has seen a massive increase in popularity with children over the COVID-19 pandemic, as result of more time spent at home and restrictions on physical social contact.

The Royal Household has announced that the funeral of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh is to take place in Windsor on Saturday 17 April.

The latest issue (Spring 2021) from Upstream is available to download and read here or click on the document below.

The West Berkshire Countryside Society’s purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside… furthering these objectives through practical conservation work and guided walks and talks from local experts.

Upstream is a quarterly publication designed to highlight conservation matters in West Berkshire and to publicise the activities of the Society. It is produced at our own expense and distributed free of charge.

Upstream contains articles from knowledgeable members & regularly from non-member experts from organisations such as BBOWT & the Environment Agency.  Enjoy!

Neighbourhood Watch announce their February OUR NEWS newsletter. This monthly newsletter, created by Neighbourhood Watch Network (the umbrella organisation for Neighbourhood Watch across England and Wales), is for all supporters of Neighbourhood Watch, from households to volunteers, such as scheme Coordinators or Association Leads.

West Berkshire Council has appointed Hemingway Design to lead a major new master planning study on the future uses of Newbury Town Centre. The design firm will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that also includes New Masterplanning, GL Hearn, and Urban Movement.

Please have your say and support this important project by filling out a 10 minute online survey (linked below). The goal of the survey is to begin to identify the town's needs. This exercise will form the first stage of a broad engagement strategy with the local community.

The study will be developed over the next 9 months to outline how the Town Centre can evolve into the future, resulting in a full masterplan. It will take into account the significant changes in the retail and hospitality industries and the impact of Covid-19 in accelerating the review of alternative uses for town centres and public spaces.

Take the 10 minute online survey

As always, please feel free to join us!