Black and Minority Ethnic Forum

The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Forum is a consultative body, which aims to influence the policy and practice of the Council with a view to making its services more inclusive. Anyone is welcome to attend Black and Minority Ethnic Forum meetings and events. The Forum meets 4 times a year and is jointly chaired by a Community Member and a Member from Wokingham Borough Council. Currently the Chairs are Parry Batth and Councillor Bob Wyatt who alternate from meeting to meeting. If you would like to become a member, call Ashwani Gupta, Social Inclusion Officer, on 0118 974 6790, or email: ashwani.gupta@wokingham.gov.uk 

The January 2011 school census data (for pupils aged 5 Plus) showed 21.4% BME, and 10% with a first language other than English.

Forums and partnerships

• Wokingham Borough Strategic Partnership (WBSP)
• Wokingham Interfaith Group - Meetings from people representing a wide range of faiths: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Mormon, Ba’Hai We also have strong links with: Borough Council representatives for community development and social inclusion, Local Strategic partnership (LSP), Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE), Fire Service, Wokingham Borough Voluntary Action (VAWB)
•  Learning Disability Partnership Board
• Centre Forward Group - The Centre Forward Group in Rainbow Park and Winnersh, put on an over 50s lunch club which meets every other month
• Wokingham Ability Partnership
• Housing Management Working Group
• Communication and Customer Care Working Group - covering housing matters.

• Older People Forum  - The Borough has 5 Forums operating. They are in Earley, Woodley, Twyford and the northern parishes, Wokingham and Finchampstead. The aims of the Forum are to ensure that older people are able to lead active, fulfilling and independent lives.
• Junior Warden Schemes
• Hate Crime reporting drop in with CLASP - Internet cafe and hate crime reporting centre drop-in service for adults with a learning disability who don't get any service from Community Care. Learn how to use a computer, how to use the printer, get help to use the internet, report a hate crime or browse through the library's books.
• Creative Kids - offering children to experiment with a variety of materials, creating their own masterpieces to take home after each session. There is a holiday club too.
• Safer Places Scheme - Designated 'Safe Places' for people who are feeling vulnerable or scared when they are out and about in the Wokingham Borough.
• Supporting people programme - housing support for vulnerable adults via a grant funded programme called Supporting People.
• S.H.I.N.E - Physical Activity Programme for Older People
• Homebound library service 
• Forget me not Service - aimed at elderly groups, providing items from social history from the 40’s to the 70’s.
• Traveller Education Service 
• The Mall Gallery - run by us and sponsored by The Cultural Partnership.