6
COMMUNITY
december 2023
MyWokingham
www.mywokingham.co.uk
Cllr Stephen Conway
C
hristmas is an important moment in the year, for people of all faiths and of none. For churchgoers, and those like me who are not regular attenders at church but believe in the Christian message, this is a time of hope and expectation for a better future. For most people in the borough, whatever their religious beliefs, Christmas is a time of merriment and celebration. They, like me, will be looking forward to spending a few days away from the pressures of work. The prospect of time off with family and friends is made all the more enticing by the short days and long evenings. Hunkering down at home in the warmth, surrounded by those you know and love is a very comforting experience. I’m looking forward to it very much after a challenging few months, with long and exhausting days, grappling with the council’s many problems. But I am also acutely aware of how lucky I am. I have a warm and welcoming home to go to; I have a loving family and good friends to spend time with over Christmas. For a growing number of people, the reality will be very different. Every year, for people on their own, Christmas is an occasion to be endured rather than enjoyed. There is no starker reminder that you’re on your alone than everyone else seeming to have family and friends with whom they can share the festive season. For others, Christmas will be hard to celebrate because their financial circumstances are desperate. Homelessness is a growing problem, much of it associated with private landlord no-fault evictions, but also family
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
C
hristmas for me means family. Being together with those closest to you and remembering happy times with those who are no longer here. Taking time away from the busyness of everyday life, those constant distractions and demands on our attention. Eating turkey and playing games. Board games and Lego technic are particularly popular in our house. I’d love to be able to say everyone’s a winner, but we’re all too competitive for that. This Christmas will be a different one for us. We will be hosting two very fluffy and highly discerning VIP guests: our son’s cats while he and his partner are away. So, one of our important pre-Christmas preparations will be cat-proofing the tree and decorations. It’s the first Christmas that my husband and I will spend just the two of us since the pandemic. Before that, I can’t remember a Christmas we had on our own! Christmas is also a time for giving. It’s important to remember Christmas isn’t a happy time for every-
one, for lots of different reasons. If we can look out for our friends and neighbours, we can give in a seemingly small way that might have a big impact. Perhaps by asking how they are and stopping for a friendly chat, we can make a difference. I am reminded of Scrooge’s famous words at the end of A Christmas Carol, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Dickens was trying to impress on us the idea that the spirit of goodwill towards each other is for every day, not just for Christmas Day. Many of us will receive gifts. And if you’ve been a lucky recipient, the New Year might prompt you to clear out old things you no longer need. If you can, please consider donating items to local charities close to your heart, for example WADE, The Cowshed and First Days – check their websites to see what they need. I wish everyone, wherever you are and however you’re celebrating, a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I am hoping for snow!
breakdowns, all too often involving violence and abuse. Behind the stark statistics of homelessness lie individual and family tragedies. High rents and a shortage of available properties make it impossible for a growing num-
ber of people to afford a place to live. Shortage of money is also affecting many families and individuals who still have a roof over their heads. Headline inflation figures may be falling, but food inflation remains stubbornly high. And
even when the rate of inflation falls, all it means is that prices are rising less quickly, not that they are actually falling. The number of people in our borough forced to use foodbanks is a sign of the seriousness of the situation. Imagine the plight of parents struggling to buy their children the Christmas presents that others take for granted. The borough council is working with its voluntary and charitable sector partners in the Hardship Alliance to do what it can to help, and I know there are a lot of local initiatives, often the work of parish and town councils, which are making life easier for many in need and for those who are experiencing loneliness. But we can all do our bit – by giving money or goods to the charities that work so hard to help those who are struggling, by giving some time to help these organisations in the invaluable work they do, or by looking out for a neighbour who we know to be on their own. My personal ambition, then, is to have a good Christmas break but to remember those less fortunate than I am and do something practical to help.
Pictures of the Week... Photo by Kersten Reiss taken at Old Forest Road in Winnersh
Photo by Lynsey Queensborough taken at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst
Photo by Samantha Whelan of her beautiful new grandson Louis
Readers Photos Roe Deer in Rooks Nest Wood, Finchampstead by Nick Baldwin
My husband son and grandson at Elms Field having fun by Karen Breadmore
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