New-look residents’ newsletter 'Wokingham Borough News' was selected for a silver award in the recent Chartered Institute of Public Relations PRide Awards – Thames and Chiltern.

The PRide awards showcase the best public relations work being carried out across the UK’s regions and nations. Shortlisted in the Thames and Chiltern region’s external newspaper or magazine category, ‘Wokingham Borough News’ successfully beat off all other public sector entries to win the silver award. Private consultancy The Twelve Consultancy won the gold award for ‘Hive Talk – helping to save the honey bee’.

Wokingham Borough News has recently been revamped with a focus on improving style, content and design, as well as providing value for money.

Sarah Barrow, head of customer services and administration, said: "I’m really proud of recent issues of Wokingham Borough News, which really reflect the input of our residents.

"As well as working to improve the printed magazine – which residents have told us they would like to continue receiving – we have also made significant improvements to the online newsletter. External recognition such as this silver award recognises that we are moving in the right direction and reinforces our ethos of putting resident feedback at the centre of our communications."

Jane Wilson, CIPR chief executive officer, said: "The CIPR PRide Awards represent the best, most creative and most effective public relations work across the UK and to win an award is a great achievement. Winning the silver award in the External Newspaper or Magazine category at the CIPR PRide Awards – Thames & Chiltern means your work has been judged as amongst the best in your region by your peers."

'Wokingham Borough News’ beat shortlisted from Bracknell Forest Council’s ‘Town and Country’, and Herstmere Borough Council’s ‘Hertsmere News’ to win the silver award.

The magazine is just one way in which Wokingham Borough Council keeps in touch with its residents. In addition to the council’s increasingly interactive website at www.wokingham.gov.uk, email, telephone and face-to-face contact, customer service centre Wokingham Direct also offers live web chat, text messaging and information kiosks. Digital Television is available through Sky and Virgin Media, 3G, iPhone app and via the Nintendo Wii. People can also contact the council through its Twitter and Facebook channels. 

The winter issue of ‘Wokingham Borough News’ – featuring a four-page special on changes to the council’s waste and recycling service – is currently being distributed.