4 Volume 1, Issue 1 Reading RESCUE Spring 2015 in Katesgrove Katesgrove NEWSletter It was a cold, bitter and wet last Sunday of March. Several hardy souls braved the inclement weather to don fluorescent jackets and take part in Reading Rescue. Bravely they marched on Waterloo Meadows in wellies and coats; armed with grabbers and gloves and industrial bin Dates bags they attacked the litter that blighted the landscape. for the Diary Underpass Tunnel MAY They picked and bagged all the way through from the Childrens’ Centre to 6 The entrance Rose Kiln Lane Bridge; finding delights like a fully working wheelbarrow, Thames Valley Police: sweet wrappers, and copious cans (which were whisked away to the Sea Clean Up Have your say meeting. of a happy Scouts to raise 1p per can for them). Having finished working through the 12 pm -1 pm May 6th at Meadows they stopped briefly for a quick cuppa and a biscuit; and some new Milman Road Surgery Foyer. home should volunteers arrived. give a warm The attack then focused on the litter infested corner of Elgar Road APRIL MAY JUNE and Berkley Avenue. It was badly strewn with piles of rubbish. They 8 14 10 and welcoming bravely gathered bottles and traffic cones and even a bike seat until all was cleared from this often forgotten corner. KCA General Meeting feeling towards 7pm April 8th, May 14th those entering. Reading Rescue is a bi-annual event. The next one is in October, let and June 10th Waterloo Meadows Childrens Centre, us know if you want to help! Elgar Road For further information visit: http://readingrescue.org.uk/ The IDR underpass that buckets of warm soapy through the underpass MAY leads to Katesgrove water provided by the that the people I live was filthy, grimy, Hook and Tackle pub we among care enough to Katesgrove Community Association extends our sincere thanks to 4 unpleasant and did not scrubbed with sponges the come together and take those who braved the weather, came out and kindly volunteered May Fair give this impression. It until the tiles shone. We direct actions to make their time to make our community a nicer, cleaner place. 12pm - 4pm May 4th at was depressing to walk all spared what we could things more pleasant, Waterloo Meadows Childrens through every day on our of our precious Sunday off homely and welcoming Contributed by Abby Knowles Centre, Elgar Road way to work and school. and some of us were there for us all. Last year a group of us for almost five hours. decided to do something Contributed by Acorn APRIL MAY JUNE about it. This project showed the Jack Brissenden 7 6 3 might of community On November 16th elbow grease and the If you would like to help Starting Up Board Game Club fifteen residents took effectiveness of seeing on projects like this 7pm April 7th, May 6th, June to the underpass to tidy a good idea through please let us know at Three community organisers are Katesgrove Community Association is the new name for Katesgrove Residents 3rd Great Expectations up the entrance of their to completion. I now katesgrovecommunity@ looking to start up a new group in mutual home. Armed with feel pride when I walk gmail.com the area with Acorn (Association Association. While we would like to acknowledge the history of our organisation of Communities Organisations for having been around since 1971; we also believe that we are much more than Inside this issue: Reform Now). Residents and are becoming more focused on being a community group. We will still cover issues such as planning and crime and to this end are incorporating a NAG Christmas Fair To find out more information meeting to the start of our monthly meetings. We are also expanding our focus and Success 2 Big Lunch in June please take a look at hope more of the community are willing to join and support us in our new endeavors. www.acorncommunities.org.uk Knit and Natter 2 On the 6th June Katesgrove Community Association will be hosting their 2nd annual or email We raise money for good causes and to use in our community and drive ideas, groups Big Lunch. This year it will take place on the grass area behind Aveley Walk near the Where is it?? 2 [email protected] and projects which enrich, improve, or grow the community and local area. playground. Access to this area can be found on Waterloo Road. We will be there from 11.30 - 2.00pm so please come and join us for lunch. Your Community You should see us around and Your Cash 3 about talking to people over the KATESGROVE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many next couple of months, with a 57 Sherman Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2PP May Fair 3 people as possible across the whole of the UK to view to properly starting the have lunch with their neighbours annually and our group around the start of the Phone: 07877 602805 Useful Numbers 3 event this year will be “bring and share” so bring your summer. E-mail: [email protected] favourite food along and share it with the rest of the Reading RESCUE 4 community. Contributed by R.Stirling We are on the web... www.katesgrove.org and find us on Facebook! 2 3 Christmas Fair Your Community Your Cash Bids Open Your Community Success Your Cash Tell us your ideas Your Community Your Cash gives residents for projects which will help The Katesgrove Residents Association annual Christmas your community grow! living in your community the power to decide spectacular was held on 22 November, 2014 at the DJ WORKSHOP SOUTHCOTE East Reading Childrens’ Centre at Waterloo Meadows. how Decent Neighbourhood Funding should MAY FAYRE be spent on improving the appearance of your COLEY PARK GRANGE Many hardy souls braved the not so great November weather and were rewarded for their ambition with good food and fun PRE-SCHOOL games; such as pin the nose on Rudolph and the ever popular Chocolate Tombola. estate and improving the quality of life for people living in the neighbourhood. Money DEE PARK Faces were painted and little trinkets were decorated at the childrens craft table while parents took the opportunity spent must be shown to benefit Council to look at the book stalls, or have a cup of tea from Marys Pantry. housing estates or the tenants and their The Neighbourhood Initiatives Team 0118 937 2298 Santa was there and he put a smile on many a face (young families living there. [email protected] www.reading.gov.uk/ycyc and old!) with entertaining carol singing, requests to feed his reindeers and little gifts for those who came to see him. This year we are looking for bids to spend the funding which email: [email protected] Over 70 prizes were given away to lucky winners from the is a maximum of £ 6,000 per bid. You can download a bidding phone: 0118 937 2991 Associations raffle and lots of money was raised for the form at www.reading.gov.uk/ycyc or by requesting a form post: Neighbourhood Initiatives Team, Association to chan-nel towards local good causes. from the Neighbourhood Initiatives Team on the contact Floor 1 South, Contributed by Daniel Knowles details shown. We are also happy to talk through your ideas Civic Offices, in more detail, so please also contact The Neighbourhood Bridge Street, Initiatives Team if you would like some advice and support in Reading, bidding, or visit the website above. RG1 2LU. Knit and Natter Where is it?? Contributed by Joe Northcote Can you identify where in Katesgrove this photo Useful Numbers: Do you want to learn to knit or crochet was taken? Housing Enquiries: or just have a natter? 0118 937 3757 Highways / Street We have a Knit and We also offer a library Cleaning: Natter group every of patterns we have Spring time means 0118 937 3787 Tuesday afternoon managed to acquire from between 1 and 3 pm at freegle which members Council Enquiries: Waterloo Meadows. We of the group can rent out Fun time - May Fair Approaching 0118 937 3787 have a wide age range for a small fee to save Out of hours Emergencies: The first signs of This year we will be having a fancy dress competition. The and everyone is welcome on the expense of buying 0118 937 3737 no matter if you are an new patterns when sunshine and spring are theme is open and there will be judging categories of 0-3, experienced knitter or starting out! 3-6, 6-9, and 9+. Police Non Emergency are just beginning and beginning to appear; This will be judged at Number: want to learn. One of us Hope to see some new from the blossoming 1pm so please get 101 will teach you! faces at the group! “We will have our daffodils, to the turning there by then! Reading Buses: usual stalls like the 0118 959 4000 We can help with a skill Contributed by Jan Neale. back of the clocks. On We will have our Readibus: you are stuck on or just Submit your best guess (while be-ing as specific as usual stalls like ever popular raffle and May 4th Katesgrove 0118 931 0000 be a place for you to possible) to [email protected] and one the ever popular chocolate tombola but also drop into and have answer will be randomly selected from the correct ones as Community Association raffle and chocolate NHS Choices: a cuppa.