News

Reading RESCUE takes place this weekend with groups starting work on Thursday 21 March when they collect their litter pickers, gloves and sacks from the Council to take part in the annual Spring clean up event (21st-24th March).

Last year the event attracted 1,500 volunteers, making 46 clean up teams. Reading Borough Council – which runs the event – is aiming for similar numbers this year. There are 20 clean up teams to sign up to. Go to http://www.readingrescue.org.uk for full team lists.

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are combining with the Kennet & Brunel Community Association to work along the popular towpath from town to East Reading on Sunday and Thames 21 are coming to work with Friends of Waterloo Meadows, off Elgar Road on Saturday from 10am.

Last year volunteers collected two large bins full of rubbish suitable for recycling, in addition to all the other rubbish. This year RESCUE organisers are also asking groups to complete a litter survey to identify where the litter comes from.

Text ‘RESCUE’ to 81722 to join a group and get involved. Also find Reading RESCUE on Twitter and Facebook.

Oxford Road Reading residents are to be asked how £1.5 million from David Wilson Homes as part of a planning agreement when permission was granted for the construction of homes on the site of the old Battle Hospital, is to be spent.

The 2012 Residents Survey and 2011 Let’s Talk consultation showed people identified education, green spaces, transport and health services as their priorities.

A questionnaire will be distributed in the area or online at www.reading.gov.uk/battlesurvey.

There will be a drop-in event at Battle Hospital, in Oxford Road, on Tuesday, April 16, from 11am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm.

Reading Borough Council is setting up a Time Banking Scheme, giving people the opportunity to share their skills and make new friends in their local community.

The Council has funded Circles Network – a charity that works to support people at risk of social isolation to participate in their community – to run three pilot Time Bank projects in the Southcote, Katesgrove and Whitley Wood areas of Reading which will benefit both young and old.

Time Banking is a way for people to share skills with others in their community and be rewarded for it – in time. For every hour of time a person gives providing a service for another participant, they will receive one time credit, which can then be exchanged when they need something.

There are already over 100 time banks across England and members can earn credits through exchanges such as gardening, car washing, cooking a meal, shopping, other neighbourly tasks or even just by having a coffee with someone.

If residents would like to know more they can contact Angela Butcher of Circles Network on e-mail at: [email protected]

Reading Borough Council’s learning and employment service, NEW Directions, is celebrating after a record 55th year.

Part-time Adult Education has exisited in Reading since 1958. It was initially organised by the Reading Education Committee, Workers’ Educational Association and Reading University Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes.

The 2011-12 academic year was the most successful year to date with over 93% (over 6200 learners) of learners successfuly achieving their learning aims.

Enrol now at http://www.newdirectionsreading.co.uk or call 0345 842 0012.

Berkshire Record office is now offering free public access in it’s searchroom to Ancestry and Find My Past. These are two of the biggest online family history resources.

Both sites provide searchable indexes for census returns; births, marriages and deaths; parish register entries and various other national and local sources. In many cases they also provide digital images of the original documents.

To use Ancestry or Find My Past you need to book one of the three new PCs in the searchroom. The PCs are bookable for up to two hours at a time. There is also a new printer should you wish to make copies of anything you find.

Please phone to book an appointment on 0118 937 5132.