Berkshire’s

www.berkshirecf.org/vitalsigns

Two years on from the first Vital Signs report, this update explores the changes and challenges facing local Berkshire communities in 2015.

The start pointThe 2013 ‘health check’ explored 12 key themes for Berkshire communities:

This was just the start of an ongoing process to better inform local philanthropy and guide Berkshire Community Foundation in grant making and supporting local charities, community groups and social enterprises.

It led BCF to focus on three priorities in the intervening two years:

Housing and homelessness: Housing affordability and availability is a serious issue across the county. Philanthropy can support action on fuel poverty, homeless hostels, refuges and care leavers.

Safety and crime: There is a mixed picture across the county and the more deprived urban areas face particular challenges. Philanthropy can support improvement through civil society organisations that work to divert young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour towards positive activities such as sport and developing life skills.

Civil society organisations: These face particular challenges due to public sector spending cuts and provide a vital role in delivering services that support local people. Community philanthropy therefore needs to take a more strategic long-term view geared to delivering sustainable impact.

The BCF Impact Report published in 2015 shows how these issues are being addressed.

The 2015 updateInvaluable local insight indicates that the main challenges for Berkshire communities in the next few years revolve around three areas:

• Housing affordability

• Health

• Access to services

This 2015 Vital Signs update concentrates on these three themes and explores them in more depth. This has involved revisiting national statistics, examining the latest research and interviewing key people involved in major community initiatives across Berkshire.

The implications for vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our communities are examined, particularly young people, older people, people with disabilities and those on restricted incomes.

Each section of the report also considers ways in which support for local community groups and charities can help alleviate the difficulties they face, which often seem ‘invisible’ in an otherwise prosperous part of the country.

Berkshire’s Vital Signs report can be downloaded in full from our website www.berkshirecf.org/vitalsigns

Vital Signs Theme Grade

Work and local economy B

Getting started C

The gap between rich and poor D

Housing and homelessness D

Safety and crime D

Learning C

Arts and culture B

Strong communities B

Environment D

Health and wellbeing B

Civil Society Organisations D

Young People D

The low grades (D) indicate that we must take action as soon as possible.

Berkshire’s Vital Signs – Update 2015

Over

£900,000 given to local causes in 2014-15

The key themesNational statistics enable us to create ‘scorecards’ to indicate how Berkshire is fairing relative to the rest of England. Three issues stand out where Berkshire is doing less well, or where scores have worsened since 2013: Housing affordability, Health and Access to services.

A change in score for the worse can mean that other parts of the country have improved and Berkshire has not kept up, or that the way the score is calculated has changed since 2013.

Housing affordability continues to be the most serious issue for Berkshire and the rest of this report shows how this impacts on health and access to other essential services.

Health in Berkshire is generally good, although scores for Reading and Slough have dropped from a ‘C’ to ‘D’, from ‘room for improvement’ to ‘action is needed soon’. In fact, the mortality rate in Reading has improved slightly, but not as much as the rest of the country.

Access to services scores indicate that the situation in Berkshire leaves room for improvement and three areas in particular are not doing so well: Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham. The apparent change since 2013 is because the way in which the score is calculated has changed. It is now based much more on quality and accessibility to services, for example to schools, further education, hospitals, GPs, food stores and employment centres.

This report explores these issues in more detail and the challenges they present, particularly for people who are more vulnerable or disadvantaged due to age related dependency (young and old), disability and restricted income. The role of community groups, charities and social enterprises in alleviating disadvantage is highlighted against the changing demands and pressures that they face.

How is Berkshire doing in 2015?

HoUSing AffordABiliTy 2013 2015

Berkshire D D

Bracknell Forest D D

Reading D C

Slough C C

West Berkshire E E

Windsor & Maidenhead E E

Wokingham D D

HeAlTH 2013 2015

Berkshire A B

Bracknell Forest B B

Reading C D

Slough C D

West Berkshire A A

Windsor & Maidenhead B A

Wokingham A A

ACCeSS To SerViCeS 2013 2015

Berkshire A C

Bracknell Forest B C

Reading B A

Slough C A

West Berkshire B D

Windsor & Maidenhead A B

Wokingham A D

WHAT THe SCoreS meAn: 2015

Everything is great. Let’s keep it that way! A

Things are going well, but we can make them better.

B

The situation is OK, but could be improved. C

Things aren't going very well. We should take action as soon as possible.

D

Things are going badly. We must act now! E

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Affluence and vulnerabilityBerkshire is home to more than 860,000 people and is one of the most affluent counties in the country, with very high levels of productivity and employment. It is at the heart of a growth corridor stretching from London to Bristol, with Slough, Reading, Wokingham and Windsor & Maidenhead all in the top 20 local authorities for growth or dynamism1. A highly skilled workforce is one of the county’s key competitive advantages.

Fostering employment can produce a ‘double dividend’ of driving growth and reducing inequality. However, success depends on retaining talent locally, and balancing the needs of more vulnerable groups, including those who are low paid or reliant on care services, education and health provision.

There are areas of the county where everybody knows there are high levels of deprivation and also significant small pockets of deprivation, producing a ‘double whammy’ for those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged in the midst of an otherwise very affluent area.

1 Grant Thorton (2014) ‘Where growth happens: The high growth index of places’, Place Analytics Insight, London.

How do local charities and voluntary groups make a difference?There are many independent charities and voluntary sector organisations in Berkshire working hard to enable vulnerable residents to participate in local communities and find support.

Developing county wide strategies is challenging, given the very different characteristics of Berkshire’s six unitary council areas, from urban Slough and Reading, to sub-urban and rural Wokingham, Bracknell, Windsor & Maidenhead, through to very rural West Berkshire.

The six councils have different priorities that naturally focus resources on people who live within their own area, whereas health issues or social care needs do not necessarily respect local government boundaries. Renewed pressure on councils to reduce spending is forcing them to cut back on discretionary grants to the voluntary sector.

Local charities and voluntary groups therefore have to become more inventive and creative in finding sources of funds, securing non-monetary contributions and encouraging volunteering.

Housing affordability continues to be the most serious issue for Berkshire

Areas of the county have significant pockets of deprivation

Renewed pressure on Councils is forcing them to cut back on discretionary grants

3

Housing affordability

This is not good news for Berkshire, where low affordability and continued undersupply of homes is a major issue.

oVer oCCUpAnCy, Under oCCUpAnCy And no oCCUpAnCyThe effects of housing stress include high density and high occupancy in Slough and Reading. National statistics indicate at least 20% of homes in Slough are overcrowded.

Rank District (2009)

Region overcrowded % (2011)

National Rank

1 Slough South East 20.77 18

2 Reading South East 13.63 37

3 Windsor and Maidenhead

South East 6.68 117

4 Bracknell Forest South East 6.17 136

5 West Berkshire South East 4.97 186

6 Wokingham South East 3.74 287

Source: Census 2011

Homelessness statistics also showed a worsening situation between 2012 and 2014, particularly in Reading, Bracknell Forest and Wokingham.

In August 2015, Reading and West Berkshire councils won a High Court action to block government proposals to exempt new developments of less than 10 homes from affordable housing contributions to local authorities, in view of acute housing need. Reading has around 10,000 people on its housing waiting list5.

But despite housing shortage, instances of under occupancy are relatively high across England and Berkshire is no exception. In 2014 almost half of owner occupiers had two or more spare bedrooms.

One suggestion for this inefficient use of existing stock is a mismatch between what people want and what is available. The housing market is stuck, frustrating the ability of older people to downsize and families to acquire larger homes6.

What can the voluntary sector do about housing?

HoUSing SUpporT And SUpporTed HoUSingBerkshire charities provide supported housing for vulnerable adults and care leavers, for women and children that need refuge from domestic violence and abuse. They are concerned about extension of the ’Right to Buy’ reducing social housing stock and that many private landlords are refusing to let to benefit claimants, now that housing benefit is paid to tenants instead landlords.

Local advice and debt counselling services are aimed at avoiding homelessness wherever possible. Citizens Advice Bureau across Berkshire have experienced increased demand and in 2013-14 assisted over 4,500 people on nearly 44,000 issues, including debt, benefits, employment and housing.

Homelessness is intensified for young people and is usually a symptom of interlinked problems that can include family breakdown, abuse, unemployment and mental health issues. Finding settled accommodation is one component that can enable access to support services that help get lives back on track.

Several local charities are social landlords. To build homes to let, they have to overcome severe difficulties in obtaining finance, which is more expensive than commercial loans because banks view housing charities as a higher risk for borrowing. They must therefore turn to social finance, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who are willing to invest in community projects.

BracknellForest

279150

3318

20142012

9594

120112

149147

214158

Reading

Slough

WestBerkshire

Windsor andMaidenhead

Wokingham

Rank out of 326 local authorities

2 Nationwide House Price Index Q2 2015 3 Valuation Office Agency Private rental market statistics (England only) June 2014 4 ONS Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, January to March 2015 5 Reading Borough Council, ‘Council’s secure comprehensive victory against Secretary of State’, Press Release, July 2015 6 Council of Mortgage Lenders, ‘When building more homes isn’t enough’, Opinion, September 2015

Quarterly figures show that at the start of 2015 two of the national hotspots for annual house price growth are reading (13%) and Slough (21%), with the rest of Berkshire between 8% and 11%2. nationally, house price growth slowed, but continues to outpace earnings. in the South east, private housing rental prices are the highest after london3 and increased 2.3% in the year to march 20154.

4

HomeleSSneSS rAnk oUT of 326 loCAl AUTHoriTieS

Case Study – Reading YMCA supported housing

Operating since 1846, Reading YMCA’s primary service is to provide supported housing for young disadvantaged people aged 16-25, helping them to live independently and contribute to their community. Young people are referred to the YMCA service by Reading Borough Council.

Refurbished in 2007, the 40-bed rental accommodation at Parkside Road offers 32 self-contained studio flats, plus 12 studio flats with shared kitchen facilities, located close to town and bus routes.

The residents rights and responsibilities as tenants are set out in a licence agreement, together with what they can expect from Reading YMCA as their landlord. A Residents Guide provides information about rent payments and what to do if repairs are needed. This helps young people learn about managing housing costs and the way rental agreements work, so they are better informed when they move on. In 2013-14, 86 young people were housed, with 50 moving on to independent accommodation.

Reading YMCA has planning permission for a new development in Parkside Road and is working on a finance package to fund the scheme. It is also looking to provide other housing opportunities.

Alongside supported accommodation, the YMCA offers a wide range of services and activities geared to enabling young people to better manage their physical and mental health; gain experience through work-like activities; engage with their local community and participate in education or training to gain qualifications and employment. The YMCA believes that all young people deserve a safe place to live and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

SoCiAl CAre And iSolATionThe housing situation has accentuated social isolation in a variety of ways and many voluntary groups run social clubs, befriending and support services. In rural West Berkshire, low housing affordability is a major drawback to retaining care workers in the community.

When young people move away to find work and homes they can afford, mutual family care and support is reduced for young and old alike. Isolation affects older people in both affluent and poorer areas. Within extended families in Asian communities, grandfathers often provide day care at home for young children which limit opportunities to socialise with their peers.

AdApTed And SpeCiAl needS HoUSingThere some quite complex issues around housing for vulnerable and disabled people that are being addressed by social landlords and local charities. Help is given in finding the right home, preferably in a good safe area close to town centre facilities, close to people that they know and free from instances of hate crime that have sadly been more prevalent during the last year.

Adaptions include improving access for the physically disabled, providing assistive equipment for the visually impaired and sound insulation in flats for people with autism and mental health conditions who have particular difficulty coping with noise.

5

Health

Sadly in 2013 suicide rates reached a 15 year high. Reading and Slough have the highest mortality rates in the county. Deaths from circulatory diseases are particularly high in Slough, which ranks 17th out of 326 local authorities in England for high mortality.

National statistics also indicate that there are over 55,000 households in Berkshire with at least one person who has a long term health problem or disability (but no dependent children). Most of these households are in West Berkshire (19%) or Reading (18%) – see table below.

Health and povertyAmongst Berkshire’s working age people of 16-64, there are around 19,000 whose day to day activities are limited a lot by health issues. Most live in Slough (23%) or Reading (21%) - areas showing the greatest income deprivation and housing stress. Nationally, 21% of children in families with at least one disabled member are in poverty, a significantly higher proportion than in families with no disabled member (16%).

Unpaid care and social careOver 50,000 Berkshire residents provide unpaid care, help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others due to long-term physical or mental ill health or disability. At least 14,000 people care for someone for more than 50 hours per week.

In 2011/12, West Berkshire council supported 4,604 adults with a disability, including 3,096 older people. The number of older people living alone in West Berkshire is predicted to rise by from 8,654 in 2011 to 14,722 by 2030, an increase of 70% - which is more dramatic than that expected across the UK and South East as a whole.

What can the voluntary sector do about health?

CHroniC And long Term CondiTionSBerkshire charities and voluntary groups support people of all ages, including children, their families and carers, who are coping with disabilities, chronic long term health conditions and life limiting illnesses. One of the few specialist children’s hospices is being developed by a Berkshire based charity.

There are specialist support groups for neurological conditions, including MS and Parkinson’s disease, although sustaining local peer support for Huntingdon’s disease and Motor Neuron disease is proving challenging, because the severity of these conditions means volunteers often have demanding caring responsibilities.

Disability groups are experiencing growing demand and working hard to maintain core services, while many funding streams call for innovations in service provision that must then be sustained.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Cancer Circulatory disease

Per

100,

000

popu

lati

on

Suicide

Area Name No. of economically-inactive residents

who are long-term sick or disabled,

aged 16 to 74 (2011)

No. of residents, aged 16-64,

whose day-to-day activities are

limited a lot by health. (2011)

No. of households with one person with

long-term health problem or disability,

but no dependent children. (2011)

% of households with one person

with long-term health problem or

disability

% aged 16-64 whose day-to-

day activities limited a lot

Bracknell Forest 1770 2420 7329 13.29% 12.82%

Reading 3227 3965 10102 18.32% 21.01%

Slough 3388 4279 8202 14.88% 22.67%

West Berkshire 2420 3163 10559 19.15% 16.76%

Windsor and Maidenhead 1834 2551 9599 17.41% 13.52%

Wokingham 1742 2496 9348 16.95% 13.22%

Berkshire Total 14381 18874 55139

Since the late 1990s mortality rates from cancer and circulatory diseases had been falling in Berkshire, but have shown an increase since 2011.

6

Case Study – West Berkshire Therapy Centre

The centre opened in April 2014 and provides inexpensive, high quality exercise therapy for people with a wide range of disabilities and chronic health conditions, but who are ineligible for NHS physiotherapy. Clients typically suffer from circulatory and neurological conditions, post-surgical pain, head and spinal injuries, diabetes, obesity, dementia, mental health conditions and visual impairment.

The Therapy Centre environment is very different to a ‘normal’ gym, with ample space for wheelchair users, guide dogs and carers. Power assisted exercise on user-friendly equipment is adaptable to individual physical limitations and benefits include muscle strengthening and stretching, improved circulation and burning calories. Exercise can also help reduce hospitalisation from falls, accidents, infections and serious conditions that often arise from inactivity. People who have become socially isolated are helped to take control of more aspects of their lives, improving their mobility, psychological outlook and social involvement, finding it ‘exhilarating to be able to take exercise safely at last’.

In 2015, a volunteer team including five trustees and 25 other supporters ran about 200 exercise sessions per week for 240 people, supported by two part-time physiotherapists and three gym supervisors. Around 85% of clients are from West Berkshire, though some travel from Swindon, Slough, Abingdon and Farnham. Less than 5% travel more than 20 miles or 40 minutes to attend the centre, which although moving to new premises in October 2015, will remain close to the current site to remain accessible to the widest number of people.

menTAl HeAlTHLocal charities are finding that mental health is the biggest challenge, right across the spectrum, and recognise the benefit of early intervention that is largely unavailable through public sector health provision. Mental health problems for younger people often stem from a breakdown of family relationships, lack of vision about where their careers or lives are going, and inability to afford independent housing.

For older people, isolation and loneliness can accentuate dementia, the likelihood of falls and hospital admissions.

Employment support for working age people is particularly important, because a mental health diagnosis can improve access to health care, but the associated stigma can increase difficulty in obtaining or maintaining a job.

VolUnTeering And WellBeingSocial activity that brings people together and promotes healthy lifestyles is a very important priority over the next five years for all communities.

Local charities run projects throughout Berkshire that encourage fitness, healthy eating and social involvement. They offer opportunities for people to volunteer in their local community. Volunteering makes an enormous difference to well-being for the people served, for the volunteers themselves and for the community.

People of all ages who do things for others feel a lot better through making a contribution and making a difference.

7

Access to services

The services score is based on the proportion of users in an area who have access to key services within a reasonable travel time. Transport is taken into account, by car (including congestion), public transport, cycling and walking.

By comparison with 326 local authorities in England, West Berkshire ranks low for accessibility to employment (231), food outlets (250) and doctors’ surgeries (259), while Wokingham ranks low for access to primary education (276) and secondary education (243).

By comparison Slough ranks highly in England for accessibility to further education (7) and employment (17).

ACCeSS To SerViCeS rAnking oUT of 326 loCAl AUTHoriTieS in englAnd

Dis

tric

t( 2

009)

Empl

oym

ent

Food

sto

res

Prim

ary

educ

atio

n

Seco

ndar

y ed

ucat

ion

Furt

her

educ

atio

n

GPs

Hos

pita

ls

Slough 17 87 134 18 7 40 38

Reading 68 86 119 149 73 62 37

Windsor and Maidenhead

151 228 179 196 145 182 42

Wokingham 179 232 276 243 162 201 179

Bracknell Forest

210 168 188 177 76 163 160

West Berkshire

231 250 192 227 157 259 198

Access and employmentAnalysis of commuting patterns show that in Wokingham and Bracknell Forest more than 50% of the working population commute out of area while West Berkshire has a net gain of over 5,000 people commuting into the area for work.

These three areas score lowest in Berkshire for accessibility to employment and also have the highest car use for travel to work and low use of public transport

Rural areasIt is Berkshire’s more rural areas where access to services has become a bigger issue. Research7 shows that although 10.6% of West Berkshire households have no access to a car or van, this is lower than across rural areas in England (14.1%).

However, 72.9% of households are more than 10km from principal job centres, which is higher than across England (50.4%), highlighting the sparse pattern of West Berkshire’s rural settlements.

Many services cost more per person to deliver to rural communities and programmes intended to target resources to vulnerable people wherever they live, must also support those who live outside the most deprived areas8.

For people with disabilities, in poor health and / or on low incomes, running a car is often too expensive or otherwise impossible, while public transport is inaccessible and limited. Missing out on social activity increases isolation and adversely affects physical and mental health.

What can the voluntary sector do about Access to services?

TrAnSporT And ACCeSSTransport is the biggest enabler to accessing services and many local voluntary organisations are grappling with transport difficulties on behalf of disabled and vulnerable residents so that they can attend health appointments, go shopping and access social activities.

in Berkshire overall, and in the Bracknell forest area, the services score based on national statistics is ‘C’, indicating room for improvement, while Wokingham and West Berkshire have a ‘d’ score meaning: ‘Things aren’t going very well. We should take action as soon as possible’

BracknellForest

74.72%

11.35%

7.03%

51.61%

21.86%

20.96%

67.22%

12.8%

15.61%

70.31%

12.63%

8.69%

66.36%

12.8%

10.89%

71.12%

9.55%

10.64%

Reading

Slough

WestBerkshire

Windsor andMaidenhead

Wokingham

Car Foot, cycle or motorcyle

Public Transport

7 OCSI (2010), Access to services in West Berkshire: Report for the ACRE Rural Evidence programme 8 OCSI (2012) Getting the measure of rural deprivation in Wales

8

ACCeSS And TrAVel To Work

Case Study – Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau

Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau is a fine example of a small local charity providing a vital transport service for older people and people with disabilities. It uses volunteer drivers who give lifts in their own private cars to residents of Earley, part of the Wokingham Borough. People attending medical appointments are prioritised and can use their Wokingham Borough Council bus pass for these journeys, with the council then reimbursing costs to the driver bureau. For other trips such as shopping, going to clubs, day centres and other outings, there is a standard rate to reimburse drivers’ mileage cost.

In the last few years in the order of 30 to 35 volunteer drivers have been active at any one time, with about 25 available each month. There is usually a waiting list of prospective clients wanting to use the service on a regular basis and new drivers are constantly sought. A small team of office volunteers, based at Earley Centrepoint in Lower Earley, co-ordinate in the region of 2,235 journeys per year.

The bureau issues a regular newsletter, including information for clients about other services that they might find useful, such as help with gardening, the home library service and social clubs.

For local people it is important that the driver bureau keeps providing a regular reliable service. The service receives support from the town and borough councils, but local donations and charitable grants are essential components towards balancing the books each year.

Community transport services, including ‘Readibus’ in Reading, Handybus in West Berkshire and volunteer car services in the county are a great help for older and disabled residents, but demand still outstrips supply. A number of community groups also run their own minibuses and have constant campaigns to recruit more volunteer drivers.

ACCeSS To employmenTBerkshire charities are particularly concerned that young people are given a good chance to secure local jobs. They work with schools and colleges to help young people address lack of skills and understand how their skills relate to the workplace. They also help with budgeting for the costs of going to work, such as buying clothes and travel.

ACCeSS To SerViCeS for VUlnerABle groUpSCharities and voluntary groups across Berkshire have been working hard to meet increasing demand for their services in the last couple of years.

Changes in the benefits system and a squeeze on local authority services have been a source of anxiety, especially for disabled people and adults with learning difficulties. Some have developed mental health problems due to the ongoing uncertainty.

Support groups have therefore sought to increase the availability of social activities to make sure that people have times in the week when they know they can talk to someone and find help.

9

What can we change?

THe WAy We CommUniCATeIt can be very difficult for people who are struggling at home to find out where to get help and how to access it. We need to communicate in a variety of ways, at all levels and through all media, from personal contact and outreach, through to new technology geared to people who want information via their mobile phones.

The internet is helpful, but we must also be mindful that it can be a dangerous place for vulnerable people.

AmBiTion for BerkSHire’S yoUng peopleThere are areas of Berkshire where there is a range of social problems, and lack of ambition continues to pass down the generations.

We should prioritise programmes that seek to inspire young people and foster their ambition to want to do a lot more than anyone else in their family has ever done, because that would make a huge difference for the next generation.

Berkshire Community foundation works with many groups across the county, providing grants, guidance and support. people interviewed for this report were asked what they would like to see change, and what small change they believed could have the biggest impact towards alleviating disadvantage. These are some of the ideas they put forward:

10

Case Study – Aik Saath: inspiring young people

Aik Saath means ‘Together As One’ in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. Originally established in Slough in 1998, in response to gang violence between young people from Asian backgrounds, the group believes in working together to prevent violence and hatred and to strengthen community cohesion. Aik Saath’s work is led by a group of over one hundred young volunteers aged between 11 and 19. These young people deliver training to their peers and organise events and exhibitions with a view to making their community a safer, more cohesive place in the future.

In 2015, Aik Saath’s volunteers have organised Slough’s first ever “Young People’s Question Time” to help ensure young people are more engaged in politics and their local community, hosted a learning visit of delegates from Libya to further understanding around youth engagement, delivered workshops in schools under the rubric “Magna Carta, Awesome Charter!” to mark the 800th anniversary of the document, organised activities to build relations between young people and the police and trained mentors in five Slough schools in order to give them the skills to resolve conflicts and support peers with issues such as racism and anger.

A young volunteer said:

‘Being part of a great community group has provided me with many opportunities, which I know will help me in the future when looking for a job. Aik Saath is brilliant for young people and adults alike. It helps people understand the importance of what a community is and how working together can make all the difference in the world.’

ACCepTAnCe And UnderSTAnding of diSABiliTyRelatively small changes that demonstrate acceptance and understanding of people with disabilities can make an enormous difference to their lives.

This includes saying ‘hello’ to someone with a learning disability, rather than avoiding them, and ‘decluttering’ public spaces to improve access for mobility and visually impaired people.

VolUnTeering And loCAl engAgemenTRecruiting volunteers is a number one issue for many local charities. They recognise that it has become much harder for people to volunteer alongside their profession due to long

working hours, resulting in a loss to society.

There is more interest from corporate organisations engaging with local communities and young people volunteering as part of their education, but sometimes this means people are ‘required’ to volunteer, which is not the same. Recently retired people can also offer very valuable skills and experience.

Volunteering is being reconfigured and the challenge for community groups is working out the positive forces for change and really encouraging them.

11

Tell us what you think!

if you would like to know more about Berkshire’s Vital Signs, please contact:

Think local, give local.

Berkshire’s Vital Signs is an ongoing process of discussion. We continually listen to the views of local people, businesses, public bodies and community groups to improve our knowledge of what is happening in Berkshire and what local people regard as important.

We WelCome yoUr feedBACk – Tell US WHAT yoU THinkDo you agree with the priorities we have identified? What are the areas in which you think community philanthropy should be investing?

Can you help us with Vital Signs 2016?

Find out more at www.berkshirecf.org/vitalsigns

Email your feedback to:

vitalsigns@berkshirecf.org

Berkshire Community Foundation 100 Longwater Avenue, Green Park Reading, RG2 6GP, Berkshire

Telephone: 0118 930 3021 Fax: 0118 930 4933 Email: info@berkshirecf.org Website: www.berkshirecf.org

AcknowledgementsBerkshire Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of people from the following organisations in the production of this update:

• Berkshire Vision

• Bracknell Forest Homes

• Community Council for Berkshire

• Greenham Common Trust

• Reading Mencap

• Reading YMCA

• Slough Council for Voluntary Services

• West Berkshire Therapy Centre

• Whitley Big Local

• Earley Volunteer Driver Bureau

• Aik Saath

• Place Analytics, Grant Thornton

• The Ivy Fund

• Alan Downie

registered Charity number 115517312