Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap...Spring is finally here and once again we are pleased to announce that all our activities and ... Thank you also to Alice Tomlin, who ran the

Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap Registered Charity No. 1122662 Suite 2, Oakmede Place Company Limited by Guarantee No. 6407883 Terrace Road South Binfield Berkshire RG42 4JF

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Wokingham Bracknell

& Districts Mencap

Registered Charity No 1122662

Learning Disability News March 2017

W

Message from Our Joint Chief Executives

Spring is finally here and once again we are pleased to announce that all our activities and services will continue to run from 1st April. We have had to introduce charges to some of our clubs – Bracknell Social Group, TGIF and The Friday Alternative – as part of our future planning to make more of our activities and services self-sustaining and as funding especially statutory becomes harder to obtain. On a positive note our membership fee remains at £15 per year and ensures that everyone who uses our services is fully insured. In addition, we have been awarded some funding to run some more workshops for carers as part of our ‘Thinking Ahead’ programme and the first of these will be on Thursday 25th May so please put the date in your diaries.

Another date for your diary is Thursday 11th May when our AGM will take place at Wokingham Masonic Centre, 7 Reading Road, Wokingham. This is an opportunity for you our members to come along and help us celebrate our achievements over the last year and hear what we are planning for the coming year. Once again our Gateway participants will be receiving their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards from the Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Robert Pitts. Come along and support us and the Gateway participants.

More dates for your diary: Carers Week this year is from 12th to 18th June and Learning Disability Week runs from 19th to 25th June. Working groups have been set up with voluntary and statutory sector partners to organise events in both Boroughs for these weeks.

Currently we have vacancies for a number of posts including an Office Manager, Bookkeeper and Gateway Award Co-ordinator. Further information about the vacancies is included on Page 6 so please contact us if you are interested in applying.

Once again we will be taking a stall at the Bracknell Show on Saturday 22nd July and are looking for any unwanted gifts or ‘stuff’ that we can use as a tombola item (most things look good with a bit of cellophane and ribbon round them!) and/or volunteers to help man the stall on the day. Also we have a tin shake arranged for the first week in May at Morrisons, The Point, Bracknell. If you would like to help volunteer for an hour or at either or both of these events please contact the office.

We look forward to seeing you at our AGM in May. Heather and Mary

A local charity supporting local people to be included in their local community Affiliated to but not funded by Royal Mencap Society

Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap


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FUNDRAISING & NEWS

THANK YOU to all those who have donated money to us during the past few months or helped us to fundraise in some way. Special thanks go to McCarthy & Stone, Wokingham Trefoil Guild, Waitrose Community Matters Scheme in Twyford and those who donated to Stuart Rowbotham’s leaving collection, when he moved on from Wokingham Borough Council in January.

Event Amount Raised McCarthy & Stone £500

Wokingham Trefoil Guild £550 Stuart Rowbotham Leaving Collection £102.70 Twyford Waitrose Community Matters £294

THANK YOU

We are still waiting to hear back from Wokingham Waitrose Community Matters, but thank you to everyone who put their green tokens in our box. We will let you know the final total.

Thank you also to Alice Tomlin, who ran the Reading half-marathon for us on Sunday 19th March. It is still possible to support Alice and Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap. Go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=AliceTomlin where you can make a donation.

DON’T FORGET! OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our AGM will this year take place on Thursday 11th May 2017 at 7.30 pm at Wokingham Masonic Centre, 7 Reading Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 1EG

This is a time for us to reflect on our achievements during 2016 and also look forward to the future.

An agenda for the meeting will be sent out in April and other documents, including our annual report and accounts will be available at the meeting. Once again we will be holding a

presentation for our Gateway Award participants with a number of them receiving Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Cllr Robert Pitts, Wokingham Borough Mayor, will be presenting the Award

participants with their certificates. Refreshments of tea and coffee will be available.

Please come along and support us.

Wokingham Walk - Sunday 7th May

Registration for this event is now open. Registration costs £15 for those aged 18 and over, £5 for 12-17 year olds (parental consent is needed) and is free for under 12s. Registration for the walk has to be completed online and further information about the event including routes and registration can be found at https://www.wokinghamwalk.co.uk. There are 3 routes of 5, 10 and 15 miles and all walks will start from Elms Field, Elms Rd, Wokingham, RG40 2LD between 9am and 11am on the morning of Sunday 7th May All proceeds raised from entry fees will be donated to our charity and will be used to help fund the Family Liaison Worker supporting families with children post. In addition walkers can choose to get sponsorship for our charity (or the charity of their choice) to increase the amount raised.

So get your teams ready!


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NEWS

Hellos and Goodbyes

In March we said goodbye to Jayne Harper, our Wokingham Smiles for Sibs Co-ordinator. Jayne has another job at a local nursery and this role has increased, so reluctantly she had to give up her job at our Sibs group.

Marion Drew, our Autism Trainer, also left our employment in March. Marion was working with us for a specified amount of time and these hours have now been completed. Currently Marion is in Australia visiting her daughters.

Alan Dale’s contract as our Gateway assisted support worker ended in March, but Alan may continue to volunteer for us.

Finally, Vesela Miloeva, our Office Manager and Bookkeeper, is leaving us on 7th April to focus on her bookkeeping course and exams. We wish her well!

Our new Wokingham Smiles for Sibs Coordinator will be joining us in April.

Please check our job opportunities on Page 6

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

The Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board’s next Big Meeting on Wednesday 19th

April from 10am to 12 noon will focus on carers. Speakers from Wokingham, Borough Council and the Wokingham Outreach Service and others will talk about services for carers. The meeting takes

place at The Bradbury Centre, Wokingham. PLEASE COME ALONG

MEMBERSHIP FEES 2017: NOW OVERDUE!

Membership fees for 2017 were due on the 1st January 2017 and remain at £15. Please would you be kind enough to send in your payment as soon as possible. You can pay by standing order by completing the appropriate form at any bank. Here are the details of Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap’s bank account, which you will need to set up a standing order:

BANK DETAILS

Name of Account: Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap Ltd Account Number: 03839646 Sort Code: 30-91-11 Lloyds, High Street, Bracknell, RG12 1BT

Payment can still be made by cash or cheque (cheques should be made payable to Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap) or you can pay by online transfer (please use your name as reference or we won’t know who the payment is from). If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at the office on 0300 7778539.

Bracknell Show Saturday 22nd July

12-5pm Wildridings Playing Fields

Once again we will be having a tombola stall at this local event. If you have any new but unwanted gifts then please bring them to the office or hand them to a staff member so that

we can use them to raise funds for our charity.


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SOCIAL GROUPS & EVENTS

@ THE ACORN SOCIAL GROUP

Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm at the Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, RG41 3DR

A social group for all people aged 16+ with learning disabilities including people

with more complex needs.

An opportunity for people to meet with their friends, do fun things and make new friends in a relaxed and suitable venue. They can play games, listen to music,

‘chill’ in the sensory room or just hang out with friends in the Rainbow Café.

Activities this Spring will include seed planting, Easter crafts and games, bongos

and a St George’s Day Tea Party.

COST: £3 per session

For more information contact the office on 0300 777 8539

1:1 support is not currently provided (Funded by WBC Short Breaks, fees, donations and

fundraising)

THE FRIDAY ALTERNATIVE

A social group for young people (16+) and adults with Asperger Syndrome

Meeting for a curry at The Tamarind Tree, Peach St, Wokingham on:

Wednesday 12th April at 7.00pm

Meeting for a meal and drinks on: Friday 28th April at 7.00pm

at Ye Olde Leathern Bottel, 221 Barkham Road, Wokingham, RG41 4BY

If you are over 16 and fancy a chat with friends and like-minded people come and

join us for a fun night.

Please note from April there will be a club charge of £5 per month (to be invoiced)

Contact Ruth on [email protected]

or call 07929 1114179.

[The Friday Alternative is funded by WBC Short Breaks, charges, donations and fundraising]

BRACKNELL SOCIAL GROUP

A social group for adults aged 18+ with mild to moderate learning disabilities.

An opportunity for people to meet new people, make friends and have fun!

The group meets every Tuesday evening at venues within the community.

Activities for April include:

Tuesday 4 April – Group meeting at The Bridge (parents welcome) to discuss the new charges

Tuesday 11 April – Night Hike at Mill Pond followed by McDonalds

Tuesday 18 April – Meal at Pizza Hut Tuesday 25 April – Cinema at The Point

For more information including times, costs and how to book please contact 07557 231360 or email [email protected]. From 1 April there will be a charge of £3 per person week (to be invoiced)

Funded by Bracknell Forest Council and club fees

TGIF Social Group

A social group for young adults aged 18+ with mild Autism or Aspergers.

They are meeting for bowling at Hollywood Bowl on

Wednesday 5th April at The Point, Bracknell

And meeting for a trip to the cinema on Wednesday 19th April

At The Point, Bracknell More information about future meetings will be sent by email to the TGIF members. To

be added to the mailing list please call Ruth on 07929 114179, email

[email protected], or phone the office 0300 777 8539.

(Funded by Bracknell Forest Council and

charges)


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SOCIAL GROUPS & EVENTS

Paul’s Karaoke

Kirsty Regan and volunteers run karaoke evenings on a Wednesday for everyone over 16 years old with a learning disability. Come along and

join in the fun!

Soft drinks provided.

7.30 – 9.00 p.m.

In the Rose Room, Rose Street Methodist Church, Rose Street, Wokingham

PLEASE NOTE NEW COST FROM APRIL £3 per session

Dates of Future Meetings: 12th & 19th April 8th & 15th May

14th & 21st June (Funded by Donations & Fundraising)

CARERS’ GROUP MEETINGS

Our Carers Group meetings bring together family carers from a wide range of backgrounds and offer an opportunity to meet the local Wokingham & Bracknell Mencap staff and share

experiences and offer support to one another. We often have guest speakers and we welcome your suggestions for activities.

WOKINGHAM MENCAP CARERS’ GROUP MEETINGS

This group has been running for 14 years. We hold a lunch and a coffee morning on alternate months in the Rose Room, Rose Street Methodist Church, Wokingham.

If you would like to attend please let us know at the office on 0300 777 8539.

Future Meetings Tuesday 11th April – Carers’ Coffee Morning, 10am-12noon.

Tuesday 9th May – Carers’ Lunch 12.15pm-2pm

BRACKNELL MENCAP CARERS’ GROUP MEETINGS

This group has been running for 7 years. We alternate between a lunch held at the New Priestwood Community Centre, Priestwood Court Road, Bracknell, RG42 1TU and a coffee

morning in our Binfield office. If you would like to attend please let us know at the office on 0300 777 8539.

Future Meetings Thursday 20th April – Carers’ Coffee Morning 10am-12noon

Thursday 18th May – Carers’ Lunch 12.15pm-2pm

Carers Workshop

25th May 2017

We are holding another in our series of ‘Thinking Ahead’ workshops for carers. The workshop will focus on health and well-being for carers and lunch will be provided. Further details and a booking form will be included in our April mailing. If you would like to receive further information about this workshop contact the office on 0300 777 8539


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CHILDREN’S GROUPS & EVENTS

YOUTH CLUB @ ADDINGTON SCHOOL

Every Wednesday during Term-time, 7pm – 9pm

For young people with learning disabilities between the ages of 13 (Year 9) & 19

Activities after Easter include a quiz night, tag rugby, cooking, outdoor games, basketball, and a trip to the cinema. The club starts back after Easter on Wednesday

19th April 2016

For further details please contact the office on 0300 777 8539

[This club is funded by Wokingham Borough Council’s Short Breaks]

Smiles for Sibs Groups – Wokingham & Bracknell

We run two siblings groups, one in the Wokingham Borough, and one in Bracknell Forest providing the opportunity for Sibling children to have some ‘Me’ time;

meet other siblings; try out various activities; play games together and have FUN!

Mondays 4.15pm - 6.00pm at Woodley Airfield Community Centre (returns Monday 24th April)

Thursdays 4.30pm – 6.15pm at Braybrooke Community Centre (returns Thursday 20th April)

There is a small cost per session of £1.00

For further information contact the office on 0300 777 8539. Please note these clubs run during term time only.

Funded by Children in Need

JOB VACANCIES

We are looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated people to join our charity. Experience of working in similar positions is desirable, but full training will be given for the successful applicants.

OFFICE MANAGER 20 hrs per week - £18,200 pro rata (based on 35 hr/wk)

BOOKKEEPER 6 hrs per week - £21,840 pro rata (based on 35 hr/wk)

Closing Date for these vacancies is Tuesday 18th April at 12 noon

GATEWAY AWARD PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR (BRACKNELL) Average 11—12 hours per week (£11 per hour)

Closing Date for this vacancy is Thursday 13th April at 12 noon

For further details and a job specification please contact the office on 0300 777 8539 or email [email protected]

References and an Enhanced DBS check will be carried out on the successful candidates


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NEWS & EVENTS FROM OTHER GROUPS

World Autism Awareness Week – Bracknell Monday 27th March – Sunday 2nd April

Autism Berkshire and Bracknell Forest Council have organised a week of events including:

Friday 31 March – 10.30pm-3.30pm Open Learning Centre

Cost: Free Information Day hosted by Kevin and Claire from Autism Berkshire with information stands from other

groups. No booking needed.

Saturday 1st April – 12noon-4.00pm South Hill Park

Cost: Free A picnic followed by a walk at The Lookout.

To book contact: [email protected] NB In the event of heavy rain on the day, this activity will be cancelled.

Sunday 2nd April – 10.30pm-4.30pm Bucklebury Farm Park, Bucklebury, RG7 6RR

Cost: Adults - £10, children - £7.50 plus booking fee (this includes a BBQ lunch, entrance fee and swing band)

For details of how to book tickets go to: www.autismberkshire.org.uk

World Autism Awareness Week – Wokingham Borough

There are events being held in the Borough to celebrate this week including:

Building For The Future are running an extra session at ‘Our House’ on Saturday 1st April – click here for more details http://www.bftf.org.uk/whats-on/4590584840

Autism Berkshire: Fun Day at Bucklebury Farm and BBQ on Sunday 2nd April from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Please see paragraph above for more details and how to book.

Young Carers and Looked After Children (Bracknell)

Drop in For Advice, Guidance and Information TUESDAY(starts 25 April)

NRG Coopers Hill Bracknell RG12 7QS

THURSDAY(starts 27 April) The Spot

Owlsmoor Road Sandhurst GU47 0SD

Open 4pm-6pm weekly Ages 11-16

For more information www.xpresionz.co.uk


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MORE NEWS & EVENTS FROM OTHER GROUPS

Book group

Bring a library book to talk

about and have a cup of tea/ coffee

Monday 2nd May

– Harmanswater library

1 The Square, Bracknell RG12 9LP

Please call Emma Shaw on 01344 354499 or email –

[email protected]

VOLUNTEER WANTED IN BRACKNELL The cooking group needs an experienced person to help run the session.

The cooking group helps people with learning disabilities with their cooking skills and helps them learn about healthy eating. We would like the group to be led by a person who has experience of working with food. The Occupational Therapist could then spend more time with people in the group. The cooking group starts on 5th June and will be for 2 hours every Monday 11:30 to 1:30pm at the Bracknell and Wokingham College. Ideally the volunteer should have Basic Food Hygiene training and also be DBS checked, but this is not essential.

If anyone is interested could you please contact Emma Shaw on 01344 354499 or [email protected] by Tuesday 18th April.

CLASP COMMUNITY CHOIR

(Caring, Listening And Supporting Partnership)

In partnership with

singhealthychoirs

Do you enjoy singing?

Would you like to join a friendly and supportive community choir?

Join us on a Friday morning from 10.30am – 11.30am The Bradbury Centre

Rose Street Wokingham RG40 1XS

Try your first week for free! (£1 per week – all members will receive a CLASP Community Choir T-shirt for performances)

Contact CLASP on 0118 9796364 or [email protected]


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COURSES, TRAINING & WORKSHOPS FROM OTHER GROUPS

MORE NEWS & EVENTS FROM OTHER GROUPS

A Well-Being Courses in and around Wokingham

Courses in Wokingham aim to target specific symptoms such as having trouble sleeping, stress, or feeling anxious or low, and are open to people who fit the eligibility criteria with any postcodes

beginning with RG apart from RG12, RG42 or RG45. MW/M/PX065 Relax with Aromatherapy and Massage Learn about the properties of different aromas and how to apply them to daily life to unwind and relieve stress, as well as basic massage techniques using scented oils. Waingels College, Woodley Wednesday 19th April – Wednesday 24th May 2017 6:30pm – 9pm

MW/M/PX074 Reducing Stress through Yoga Waingels College, Woodley Wednesday 3rd May – Wednesday 14th June (no class on Wednesday 31st May) 7pm – 9:30pm

MW/M/PX073 Understanding Anxiety Tuesday 9th May – Tuesday 20th June 2017 (no class on Tuesday 30th May) Woodley Hill House 6:30pm – 9pm

MW/M/PX075 Refocus with Digital Photography Unwind by learning the basics of digital photography and using the techniques you learn with a variety of different environments and subject matter. Woodley Hill House, Earley Monday 15th May – Monday 26th June (no class on Monday 29th May) 6:30pm – 9pm

MW/M/PX076 Creative Verse to Map Your Mental Landscape Location TBC Thursday 11th May – Thursday 22nd June (no class on Thursday 1st June) 6:30pm – 9pm

Well-Being Courses in and around Bracknell Courses in Bracknell are general adult community learning courses, similar to the standard courses

we offer at the college, but only open to people who fit the eligibility criteria. These courses are available to people with postcodes beginning with GU, RG12, RG42, RG45 and SL.

MB/M/PX067 Yoga for Wellbeing (daytime) Priestwood Community Centre, Bracknell Tuesday 21st March – Tuesday 9th April (no class on Tuesday 4th/11th April) 12:15 – 2:45pm

MB/M/PX068 Cooking for Wellbeing Bracknell & Wokingham College, Church Road, Bracknell Friday 21st April – Friday 26th May 11am – 1:30pm

MB/M/PX045 Spring Walks Various locations around Bracknell Dates TBC

MB/M/PX062 Discover Italy This course aims to offer some basic Italian language and knowledge of Italian culture, in a relaxed and friendly environment. Bracknell & Wokingham College, Church Road, Bracknell Tuesday 18th April – Tuesday 23rd May 2017 12pm – 2:30pm More courses TBC – please get in touch or check our website which is regularly updated at bracknell.ac.uk/wellbeing.


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MORE NEWS

Registered Charity No. 1135718

A social group for adults (17+) on the Autistic Spectrum

Come and join us for an informal night out where you can make friends, enjoy a meal and have a chat. Partners, friends and carers also welcome.

We meet at the Three Frogs Pub in Wokingham, usually on the third Thursday of every month.

The next dates are (but they may be subject to change):

Thursday 20th April 2017

Thursday 18th May 2017

Thursday 15th June 2017

7.00pm till 10.30pm (Through the pubs front door, turn right and go straight ahead into the main dining area)

The Three Frogs

222, London Road, Wokingham, RG40 1SW

We also have occasional days out and excursions to places of interest For further details please contact: [email protected] or call/text Jayne on 07733 601755

Dispatches, Channel 4: ‘Under Lock & Key’

The other week, Channel 4 showed a programme about young people with profound learning disabilities who are kept locked up at St Andrew’s hospital. A petition has been started to ask the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, to stop sending people with a learning disability to large inpatient units where they are at risk of abuse and neglect. If you would like to sign the petition, please click on this link: https://www.change.org/p/simon-stevens-enough-is-enough-nhsengland-stop-keeping-people-underlockandkey-in-institutions. To watch the Dispatches TV programme, please click here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/under-lock-and-key.

Also, the Challenging Behaviour Foundation have produced some information to support people affected by the programme which you can read here - http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/cbf-articles/latest-news/dispatchessupport.html

Info for Carers visiting RBH

The Royal Berks Hospital has a leaflet to support carers get the right level of support when the person they care for is going into hospital: http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/Carers_oct16.pdf .

More general information for carers can be found here: http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/information-for-carers.htm


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MORE NEWS Friday Night Project

Great Music, Great People

Put your dancing shoes on and come and join us every week for our disco and social night in

St. Crispin’s Wokingham Where: St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, London

Rd, Wokingham, RG40 1SR When: Every Friday from 7pm-9pm

Cost: £5 admission (10th week free with loyalty card)+bar, tuck shop & raffle

Coffee and Chocolate Club

Mondays

14.00-16.00 At the Lookin Café

Starts 27th March 2017

Contact Emma Shaw on 01344 354499 or by email: [email protected]

Each week there will be a different activity to join in with: Week 1: Games Week 2: Hobbies Week 3: Craft Week 4: Sensory Week 5: Music Week 6: Fun with Sport (at a different venue)

The Ark offers a variety of activities and courses including:

Tuesday Beats Jammin’ - 10.30am-11.30am at TRAX, Mill Ride, North Ascot Cost: £60 per term or £6 per session

Kick Boxing – 10.00am-11.00am at The Space, Market Street, Bracknell Cost: £90 per term only

Thursday Visual Art – 10.30am-12.30pm at The Space, Market Street, Bracknell Cost: £120 per term or £11 per session

Drama – 10.00am – 2.30pm at TRAX, Mill Ride, North Ascot Cost: £180 per term or £17 per session

Friday Crafty Coffee – 10.30am-12.30pm Cost: £55 per term or £6 per session (11 week term)

Term starts Monday 24th April. For more information and to book contact The Ark on 01344 266899


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DIRECTORY OF USEFUL INFORMATION

Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap 0300 777 8539

Royal Mencap Society 0207 4540454

Mencap Learning Disability Helpline 0808 8081111

Benefit Enquiry Line (For People with Disabilities and their Carers) 0800 882200

Autism Berkshire 0118 9594594

Carers Trust 0844 8004361

Carers UK Advice Line 0808 8087777

Cerebra 0118 9497000

Citizens Advice Bureaux 0118 9890389 (Wokingham) 0118 9598059 (Reading) 0844 4994107 (Bracknell)

National Autistic Society 0845 0704004

seAp Advocacy 0330 440 9000

Stop Hate UK 0808 802 1155

BRACKNELL ORGANISATIONS

Adviza 0845 4085001

Be Heard 01344 485509

Breakthrough (Employment) 01344 829926

Carers (UK) Bracknell 01344 451656

Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD) 01344 354466

Family Information Centre 01344 352000

Friday Night Project (Hosted by the Ark) 01344 266899

Healthwatch Bracknell Forest 01344 266911

InnerSense 01344 779222

Involve (formerly BFVA) 01344 304404

Kennel Lane School 01344 483872

Kerith Community Church (Hilltop & Konnections) 01344 862699

Parent Partnership Network 01344 354011

Short Breaks (formerly Aiming High) 01344 352736

SIGNAL 01344 266088

The Ark 01344 266899

The R Bus 01344 352002

Well-Being & Leisure 07887 632627

WOKINGHAM ORGANISATIONS

ASD Family Help 07707 660599

Addington School 0118 9669073

Bracknell & Wokingham College Courses for Carers Project 0118 9847600

CAN Network 0118 9746818

Crossroads 0118 9795324

Healthwatch Wokingham 0118 4181418

Optalis 0118 9746832

REACH Wokingham 07917 142748

The Acorn Centre 0118 9746341

West Berkshire Down’s Syndrome Group 07847 327528

WBC Disabled Children’s Team 0118 9746881

Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board 0118 3246484

Wokingham Outreach Carers Service 0118 324 7333

Documents

Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap...Spring is finally here and once again we are pleased to announce that all our activities and ... Thank you also to Alice Tomlin, who ran the