By Cllr Stephen Conway
Times are tough for many people in Wokingham borough.
I’ve shared with you on numerous occasions the financial challenges that the council faces with inflation, rising demand for statutory services, higher interest rates and very little core funding from central government.
These challenges are forcing us to make difficult decisions about savings and income generation.
Residents across the borough face their own challenges, as the cost-of-living crisis persists and more and more people are experiencing hardship, some for the first time in their lives.
And, of course, there are members of our community for whom life is a daily challenge, as a result of physical or mental health problems. Their struggles will go on when inflation falls and the economic situation improves.
But there are reasons to be positive. One of them is the wonderful work being done by volunteers to help those who are struggling, either as a result of financial pressures, or physical or mental health challenges.
I had the good fortune to meet and speak with some of those doing such good work last week.
On Tuesday, I was privileged to listen to a presentation by CLASP, a local charity that helps adults with learning difficulties.
The work being done by CLASP is remarkable. It makes a significant difference to the lives of those who are helped, as I learned from two members of CLASP who attended the presentation and have benefited from the opportunities it has given them.
Then, on Friday, I met members of Wokingham Positive Difference, in the Town Hall in Wokingham.
Founded in 2016, Wokingham Positive Difference links community-minded local businesses with charitable and voluntary bodies, and local councils.
It was truly uplfiting to see what efforts are being made, with the aid of local businesses, to support vulnerable people and those who need help.
Similar voluntary activity is going on across the borough, in all of our villages and towns.
In Twyford, two examples (amongs many) are the Polehampton Charity, which supports those in financial need in Twyford, Ruscombe, and Charvil, and Building for the Future, which provides activities, therapy, and help for children and young people with disabilities and their families.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who are giving of their time and money to make a real difference; your efforts are greatly appreciated.
When I went to Wokingham Positive Difference’s meeting, I spoke about the borough council’s commitment to working with businesses and the voluntary and charitable sector as part of its partnership agenda.
For the borough council, partnerships are vital not only with the charitable and voluntary sector and businesses, but also with the town and parish councils of the borough, the other Berkshire unitary authorities, educators (including the University of Reading), youth organisations, faith groups, the emergency services, and many others.
In cash-strapped times, we need a new model for how local government operates in the best interests of the people it is there to serve. To deliver what the community needs, the council is going to have to work more closely with partners.
It will continue to be the primary provider in some areas, but will increasingly need to pool its expertise, experience, knowledge, and resources – human, material, and financial – with those of other bodies.
This is not, I hasten to add, about off-loading responsibility. It’s about working productively alongside partners to solve problems, meet challenges, and make sure the needs of the community are met.
A good example is the Hardship Alliance, which brings together local charities and the borough council in a partnership of equals that has maximized our ability to help those in financial difficulties.
The partnership agenda is underpinned by a very simple principle: we can achieve more together than we can on our own.
I believe in working together as the way forward; from what I have seen in the borough over the last year, so do many, many others.
Cllr Stephen Conway is the leader of Wokingham Borough Council and ward member for Twyford
