News

A campaign to increase the uptake of bowel cancer screening is being launched in Reading on January 14th.

Pharmacists will be taking part in a month long campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer and encourage more people who are aged 60 years and over to take the bowel cancer screening test.

Bowel cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in England. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age – approximately 72% of bowel cancer cases develop in people who are 65 or over; however, screening can lead to earlier diagnosis and early diagnosis can save lives. Screening can detect early signs of bowel cancer in people who may not yet have any symptoms. Importantly those aged 60-74 and registered with a GP will automatically receive a test invitation followed by a screening kit to do the simple test at home every two years.

Information leaflets about the bowel screening test in are available in 20 different languages, large print and a DVD in British sign language can be ordered free of charge from http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/publications/information-leaflets.html

Reading Borough Council will again back Reading’s voluntary sector in 2014/15 with a total of £3,092,904 in direct grants – maintaining last year’s figure of £3,092,884.

Reading has a particularly strong and active voluntary sector and the proposed grant support for next year is in recognition of the significant benefits voluntary and community groups bring to communities across Reading, and in helping the Council to tackle key issues in the town.

The Council’s proposed grants budget for 2014/15 has been maintained for a number of reasons, not least to support the important work voluntary sector groups do to help people in times of hardship. These groups have again reported a major increase in requests for support locally from changes arising from the Government’s programme of welfare reform. Readifood, the town’s food bank, is set to have their grant increased from £10,000 to £15,000 due the threefold increase in demand for emergency food parcels.

Charities, businesses, voluntary groups and residents in Reading are again being invited to bid for funding if they can come up with innovative ways to get people to consider more sustainable ways of travelling around town.

Last year it was Caversham’s ‘Beat the Street’ which grabbed the headlines as part the Reading Borough Council’s first round of grants from its Travel Reading Challenge Fund.

The Council is now offering groups a second chance to bid for funding. Whether it’s a local community group with an idea to help friends and neighbours walk or cycle more around their neighbourhood, or a local business which has developed a proposal to encourage their workforce to choose greener ways of getting to work, the Council’s Travel Reading Challenge Fund could help get the project off the ground.

Any voluntary, community, charity or commercial organisation, group or club that proposes a project that successfully meets the Fund’s aim may apply. Grants will be between £500 and £30,000 for the 2014 application period. The total funding pot for 2014-15 is up to £150,000.

Interested parties are being asked to fill in and return a Large Grant Application Form if they are seeking more than £2,000. For groups or organisations seeking between £500 and £2,000 they need to fill in and return a Small Grant Application Form. Projects receiving grant funding must be complete by 31st March 2015.

Forms are available to download from http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/challenge-fund-2014.aspx. Grant guidelines are also available. Alternatively, groups or organisations can email [email protected], phone 0118 937 2653 or write to Reading Borough Council, Transport Strategy, Level 9, Civic Centred,. Reading, RG1 7AE.

All application forms must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 28th February.

The annual Reading Youth Cabinet elections were held in mid-December in Reading schools and youth venues, with the ballot count held in the Reading Civic Centre Council Chamber on December 17th.

A total of 4,712 young people across town took the opportunity to vote, which was over 800 more than last year. A record number of 25 candidates stood in the election, representing 13 different schools and split into the North, East, South and West areas of Reading.

The 14 young people – aged 11 to 17 – who scored the highest number of votes for their area were successfully elected on to the cabinet for the next two years. These are Bradley, Bryony, Caleb, Charlie, David, Faith, Gabrielle, Georgina, Jana, Jaydee, Jenna, Katie, Tomisha and Tyler. They join six existing members going into their second year; Ellie, Aisha, Shivani, Sukanya, Beth and Aishwarya, and so making up a very varied, representative and dynamic group of young people.

This year’s successful candidates campaigned on a variety of issues including: better sports facilities; improved support for parents who are mentally ill or misuse alcohol; anti-bullying in schools; more volunteering opportunities for young people; and improving community cohesion between adults and young people, as well as a common theme of a stronger voice for young people.

A fresh bid to help conserve Reading’s historic Abbey Quarter, is being planned, as the Council prepares to bid again for Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) money next month.

Reading Borough Council is in the process of pulling together proposals for the conservation and promotion of the town’s Abbey heritage – a unique site of both local and national importance, and a key destination for residents and visitors of Reading.

An online survey has been published today (Jan 3) which residents and visitors are being encouraged to complete over the coming weeks. The survey can be found at http://www.reading.gov.uk/abbeyquarter and asks people how significant they think the Abbey is in heritage terms, whether they support the Council’s HLF bid to conserve the Abbey Ruins and Abbey Gate, and if they have any suggestions that would help the Council’s bid for funding.

People have until January 31st to submit their completed survey forms. Copies will also be sent to residents and groups who have expressed an interest in the Abbey Quarter in the past.