Bracknell

Ensuring the right start for your Bracknell baby is crucial and next week National Breastfeeding Awareness Week will promote that "every day makes a difference to your baby".

From Sunday (May 11) until Saturday (May 17), the Bracknell week aims to highlight that breastfeeding is the healthiest feeding option for babies and mothers. Research has shown it reduces risk against infection, enhances vaccine response, protects against allergies such as asthma and eczema and enhances the development and intelligence of the baby. Long term benefits include protection against diabetes, childhood cancer and high blood pressure.

Breastfeeding is also good for mum - it promotes post partum weight loss and reduces the risks of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also strengthens the bond between baby and mum.

The campaign focuses on encouraging women to access the support that will help them to breastfeed for longer, and the strapline - "Breastfeeding: every day makes a difference to your baby" - reflects the message that each day a women continues to breastfeed is another day the child receives important health benefits from its mother's milk.

Cath Lowther, Bracknell Rowans Children's Centre manager, said: "Breastfeeding is a skill that is learned and needs practise. It isn't instinctive and takes a little time and effort, but help is out there. The children's centres run by Bracknell Forest Borough Council offers support to new and expecting mums."

The Rowans in Easthampstead runs a breastfeeding café each Monday between 10.30am and 12pm. The Oaks in Great Hollands also runs a breastfeeding café on Mondays between 2pm and 4pm. Both cafés offer support from health professionals and trained breastfeeding counsellors. The Rowans also offers antenatal breastfeeding workshops throughout the year to make sure mums are ready when baby is born and know where to get any support they may need. The next workshop will take place on Monday, May 19, from 3pm until 5pm.

Sam Marshall, is a Bracknell mum who has been breastfeeding her son since he was born in October last year.

She said: "Going to the breastfeeding café has been a real help. It's good to meet other mums who are breastfeeding because we all have similar problems and we can have a good chat about them. It is also comforting to know that there's a professional available if we need one."

Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Bracknell Children's Services, said: "This national campaign highlights the many health benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and mum.

"The Rowans and The Oaks are excellent facilities which brings together health professionals and counsellors so that families can get any help or support they need.

"I encourage all families to come to our children's centres and see what services they can offer you."

For more information on the breastfeeding cafés, call The Rowans on 01344 312800 or The Oaks on 01344 317020.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

In April two new Bracknell officers joined the Crown Wood and Forest Park neighbourhood policing team: PC Lucy Chimerek and police community support officer (PCSO) Debbie Preedy. Their arrival means there are now five Bracknell officers dedicated to the area: Sgt Noel Thackaberry, myself and PCSO Matt Wright, as well as Lucy and Debbie. We also have PC Rob Newton with us for a few weeks on attachment as part of his training before he joins a reactive shift team.

In response to Bracknell residents’ concerns about people hanging around in public places, the team have been carrying out high visibility patrols around the shops off Opladen Way and Horndean Road to prevent anti-social behaviour. We’ve also had officers in uniform and plain clothes patrolling the local parks to deter under-age drinking and any associated disorder.

It’s important to engage with Bracknell youngsters rather than just moving them on: the great majority are not troublemakers and we want to establish a positive relationship with them. We make a point of dropping by the youth cafés at Crown Wood School and Forest Park community centre to say hello and have a chat.

Another of the neighbourhood priorities is theft from motor vehicles. While on our routine patrols of the area in the past few weeks, we’ve come across a number of parked cars with sat navs left on the dashboard in full view. We knocked on the owners’ doors and explained to them the importance of removing all valuable items from their vehicles. Hopefully this combination of visible police patrols and preventive action by car owners will help to reduce further incidents of theft in our neighbourhood.

Still on the subject of cars, we carried out a speed enforcement operation in Opladen Way recently, and will repeat the exercise if the need arises.

If you have any concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in Crown Wood and Forest Park, I and my colleagues can be contacted on 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Bracknell's much loved South Hill Park is set to receive a multi-million pound renovation following a successful National Lottery grant bid by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

The Bracknell Council’s parks and countryside service has been awarded £209,000 design and development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund’s national Parks for People programme following a successful bid.

Following on from previous consultations, Bracknell Council will work with residents and park users to finalise proposals to greatly improve this popular park before making a detailed bid for further funding to the lottery funds. The project’s total cost is expected to be £4.4million and would include three years of works on site and then 10 years of ongoing maintenance.

Major work is expected to include restoring the terrace garden including disabled access improvements; de-silting the southern lake; and conserving and enhancing woodland areas.
New paths and access points are proposed and a more welcoming park entrance from the main car park will be created. Information for visitors around the park will also be improved.

There are also several smaller projects being planned including wildlife improvements, better facilities for Bracknell young people, improving the landscaped features and restoring the amphitheatre. A project manager will oversee the work and will also help set up a friends group for the park.

This is Bracknell's second major heritage grant success following on from the 10-year, £2million restoration of Lily Hill Park. The second phase was officially opened last year.

Michelle Davies, on behalf of HLF and the Big Lottery Fund, said: Lottery money has already played a vital role in the renaissance of our historic parks, but there is so much more to be done.

"South Hill Park plays an important role in the community and this additional investment will transform it into a place people can be really proud of.”

Bob Angell, Chair of the South Hill Park Arts Centre Trust, said: "We are proud of our position in South Hill Park in the heart of Bracknell Forest life, and are really pleased with this grant.

"We are looking forward to working with the Council to further enhance South Hill Park for future generations."

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: This is a tremendous achievement coming hard on the heels of the Lily Hill Park funding and significantly the only successful bid in the south east of England.

"All credit to our parks and countryside team for securing this funding for the borough. I am looking forward to working with residents and seeing South Hill Park develop and improve over the coming years.

”We now have a wonderful resource in Lily Hill Park, and I have no doubt that we can achieve the same results in South Hill Park.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council this month will launch a campaign to attract local people into fostering.

On Wednesday, May 14, the Bracknell Forest Family Placement Team will be holding an information session at the Bandstand in the town centre where foster carers and members of the team will be on hand answering questions about fostering. The team will also be available on Tuesday, May 20, in front of Charles Square water fountain. Both days the team will be in the town centre from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has joined the UK-wide campaign Foster Care Fortnight as the Council needs to recruit foster carers who can provide short break, short-term, or long-term care for children and young people.

Foster Care Fortnight (May 12-May 25), co-ordinated by fostering charity Fostering Network, raises awareness of fostering and highlights the shortage of foster carers across the UK - Bracknell Forest is currently experiencing a shortage of foster carers able to take in teenagers.

Penny Reuter, Chief Officer: Children's Social Care, said: "We need to recruit at least five new fostering households this year, and we particularly need carers for teenagers.

"We have a number of teenagers currently in need of a placement.

"Teenagers can move out of their homes for any number of reasons. Sometimes they may just need a break outside the family before returning home. Sometimes, they need to stay in foster care longer term. But whatever their individual circumstances, we really need people who can offer a stable and supportive environment for teenagers."

Jock and Nina are currently foster carers and have cared for a number of teenagers. Jock believes the young people have a huge difference to their lives.

He said: "Nina and I have fostered for eight years and the word I often associate with fostering is 'rewarding' - to see young people safe, achieve academically, participate in sports and most importantly, return to or have contact with their own family.

"Sometimes young people need time in a different environment for many different reasons. To be able to offer this for young people is the most rewarding thing we know."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council offers a comprehensive package for foster carers which includes:
* excellent support throughout the training and assessment process and beyond;
* paid respite;
* financial allowances, with extra allowance for training and NVQs gained;
* a local carers' support group;
* out of hours and emergency support; and
* a dedicated social worker for each carer.

The Bracknell Forest Family Placement Team are also holding a open evening on Wednesday, July 16, at the Bracknell Family Centre, Warfield Road, 7-9 pm. The evening will be an informal meeting where interested residents meet others interested in fostering, as well as members of the Council's fostering team.

Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Children's Services said: "Anyone over 21 can apply to foster - gender, marital status, disability, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, employment status or home ownership don't matter.

"If people have even considered fostering, they shouldn't hesitate in calling the family placement team. It could be one of the most important phone calls they ever make and could change a child or young persons life forever."

For more information and a pack about fostering, call 01344 351582.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Officers investigating a snatch theft in Bracknell are appealing for a key witness to come forward.

At around 11.45am on Monday 28 April a woman in her eighties was driving her mobility scooter near Jubilee Court in Hazell Hill, Bracknell when she had her handbag snatched from her lap.

Police are particularly keen to trace a white woman in her late twenties or early thirties who witnessed the incident and spoke to the victim shortly afterwards.

Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Neil Slocombe of the Priority Crime Team in Bracknell via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

A drab Bracknell mini roundabout by the entrance to Sainsbury’s in Birch Hill has been given a sustainable face lift thanks to Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s landscape services team.

The landscape team took the decision to replace the traditional shrub planting with cutting edge sedum matting as part of this year's annual Bracknell Flowers campaign.

Sedums are tiny succulent plants that require virtually no water but flower throughout most of the year providing habitat for insects and butterflies. These little plants are much more diverse than short mown grass and won’t require frequent mowing. The original shrubs were very old and needed constant pruning to maintain the sightlines across the roundabout. This new planting is very low growing so this is no longer a problem.

This is one of many projects that the Bracknell Flowers team are hoping will impress the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom judges during their visit to the borough in July.

Steve McKenna, Landscape Manager, said This first area of sedum matting is a trial and if it is successful we will look at other sites around the borough which could benefit from similar treatment. So far I am very pleased with the result”.

Helen Barnet Marketing Manager for BRP, which works alongside the Council on Bracknell Flowers, said We all need to look for more sustainable solutions to everyday problems and this is a great example of innovation, lets hope the judges are impressed.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Harmans Water Primary School, Bracknell respects the rights of others, according to a UNICEF initiative.

The Bracknell Forest school has achieved the UNICEF Level 1 award as a “Rights Respecting School”. The award, an initiative by UNICEF, is based on children having an awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Having learnt about their rights, the pupils at Harmans Water Primary have come to understand that rights bring responsibilities. For example, the right for children to receive a good education gives all children the responsibility to listen, to take part and to do their best.

To this end, all classes have discussed and devised their own 'class charter', where they have all agreed a set of rules and the responsibilities that come with them.

Michael Harris, Harmans Water Primary School headteacher, said: "We have found that respect for each other and general behaviour around our school has improved dramatically. Our pupils have become aware that their actions have an immediate impact on others. It has given our children a voice.

"It has improved their self-esteem and their belief that their school cares about them. It has broadened their global knowledge and made them question political issues happening around the world.”

Governors, parents, dinner staff and teaching staff have worked hard to drive this whole school initiative.

Anne Smith, co-ordinator of the project at the Bracknell school, said: “This is not just a certificate, trophy or a plaque for our wall, it’s a working document - an ethos. With everyone on board, we all can benefit from the Rights Respecting Initiative."

Harmans Water Primary School is now working towards the Level 2 award. This not only reinforces the Level 1 bench marks, but raises the profile of global issues affecting children’s rights and makes valuable links with the local community.

Mrs Smith said: "The children should emerge from our school as well informed, responsible and caring young people."

The Bracknell primary school recently hosted a training day for more than 140 colleagues from local schools, all of whom are interested in, or are already working towards their own UNICEF “Rights Respecting School” awards. With presentations by school children and with guest speakers including the Head of Education for UNICEF Edward Waller, the day was deemed a great success by all.

Cllr Alan Kendall, Executive Member for Education, said: “Congratulations to Michael and his team for being the first primary school to reach Level 1: Rights Respecting School.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Warfield C of E Primary School Summer Fete
Saturday 7th June
12.00—3.00pm

Pre-Auditioned (pupils only) Talent Show 3.00pm
Organised by Warfield C of E Primary School PTA

Our annual PTA fete, to include - Bouncy Castle, Bouncy Slide, Bungee Run, Go-Karts, Lucky Dip, Jam-Jar Ping Pong, Panda Pops, Hoopla, Crossbow Inflatable, Penalty Shootout, Tombola, Alcohol Tombola, Silent Auction, Teddy Tombola, Coconut Shy, Mini Train, Scalextric Challenge, Football Table Challenge, Duck Pond, Second Hand DVD, Computer Games and CD's Pony Rides, Raffle, Cake Stall, Guess the Weight of the Cake and Guess the Number of Sweets in the Jar, BBQ, Popcorn, Beer Tent, Ice Cream Van, followed by Warfield Primary School Talent Show (pupils only- pre-auditioned) to be Judged by: Quentin Jones who plays Roger Kiddle in Hollyoaks.

Quentin will be with us to open the fete, and staying all afternoon to sign autographs etc, and then will be judging the Talent Show at the end of the fete. Come along and meet a real live TV/Film Star!

Warfield CofE Primary School, All Saints Rise, Warfield, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 3SS.

Bracknell Businesses Against Crime (B:BAC), a partnership initiative designed to make Bracknell a safe place to shop, has appointed a new co-ordinator.

Katie Simmons works closely with the Bracknell Town Centre neighbourhood policing team and is based in their office at Bracknell police station. Since taking up her new post in February, she has been getting to know the existing members of B:BAC, as well as encouraging more businesses to join.

“B:BAC currently has 35 members, including three who joined this month,” said Katie. “It is chaired by Clare Rebbeck, the manager of Millets, who is very proactive. Membership of B:BAC includes local retailers and businesses, the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, the Town Ranger and security officers.

“The group has bi-monthly meetings, at which we review the latest CCTV figures for incidents in the town centre and discuss any concerns about crime and disorder. There is a list of people, mainly prolific shoplifters, who are banned from the premises of all B:BAC members for one year. Members vote on whether to include target individuals or remove them from the list.”

B:BAC members exchange information about the activities and whereabouts of known Bracknell criminals, ensuring that everyone is alerted to any potential threat. Having signed up to strict data protection protocols, members are issued with descriptions and pictures of any possible suspects in the area. The scheme works on the basis of members holding town link radios and sharing information with town centre CCTV and the police.

“Our aim is to help B:BAC members to help themselves,” said Katie. “For example, the police provide crime reduction tips so that retail staff can join in the fight against crime. If staff see a shopper whose purse is visible in an open bag, they will advise her to put it away safely and thus prevent a potential crime.

“By working as a team, we make it very difficult for people to commit crime in Bracknell town centre.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

New bird boxes to encourage Bracknell biodiversity at Clinton's Hill

A series of bird boxes have been installed at Clinton’s Hill in Bullbrook, Bracknell, to encourage more of our feathered friends to nest in the woodland.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s tree service put the bird boxes up for the Bracknell Natural History Society, who have received a Breathing Places grant from the National Lottery to improve biodiversity and help residents learn more about local wildlife.

There will soon be new picnic benches and an information boards at the bottom of the hill, near the children’s playground; and children from Holly Spring Infants School have helped plant wild daffodils and wood anemone to supplement the natural bluebells.

Volunteers have cleared scrub to allow planting of hawthorn and field maple, created beetle loggeries, built dead-hedging, improved paths and removed litter.

Another litter pick is being held on Sunday, June 8 - all help will be welcome.

Gillian Martin, from Bracknell Natural History Society, said: We have been working hard at Clinton’s Hill to improve it for the wildlife and people living near it.

”I hope the new bird boxes will lead to greater biodiversity, and mean there is even more for residents to see.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: "When Gill Cheetham approached me as one of the ward councillors for Bullbrook to sponsor her bid I was happy to do so and I am delighted our tree officers were able to help the natural history society with this worthwhile project.

”I’m looking forward to seeing even more wildlife flourish at Clinton’s Hill thanks to the hard work of these volunteers.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s learning disabilities team has won the regional heat for the Dignity in Care category of the Health and Social Care Awards, 2008.

The Bracknell learning disabilities team, based at the Council’s Time Square offices, impressed the judges with the way they have changed their way of working during the last 18 months. People are now supported to have the same opportunity as all residents in the borough, rather than having to use traditional services.

The Bracknell team picked up their accolade at an award ceremony held at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, last Wednesday (April 23). There were over 90 submissions for the awards and the team will now compete against other regional award winners to be shortlisted for the national finals which take place in London in July.

Glyn Jones, Chief Officer: Adult Social Care, said: This award is a credit to the hard work of our team during the last 18 months or so and it is a privilege to be recognised for this.

We will certainly be keeping up the work we are doing within the learning disabilities team and keep our fingers crossed that we may receive a national award.”

The award was also in recognition of new services provided by the learning disabilities team, like the Green Machine, which is a social enterprise aimed at employing people with disabilities and which will offer quality gardening and maintenance services to residents in the Bracknell borough. It also recognised other initiatives including the council teaming up with national employment agency A4E to help people with learning disabilities find jobs and to support their families.

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: Our learning disabilities team are driving forward our agenda for modernisation and change and have introduced an ethos of empowerment for our learning disability residents which now allows them to live a much fuller and more active life in the community, if they choose.

I think it is fantastic that the team has been recognised in this way and I congratulate them on receiving this award. They are making such a difference and are genuinely changing people’s lives for the better. Congratulations to them and I wish them the very best for the national finals.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council