Free accommodation has been made available in the communal areas of Reading’s homeless hostels for anyone who would otherwise be sleeping rough. The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is a partnership arrangement between Reading Borough Council, Hamble Court, the Salvation Army, Waylen Street and St Mungo’s and is activated whenever the Met Office forecasts three nights or more with a minimum temperature of 0°C or below.

This emergency response gives St Mungo’s outreach workers an extra opportunity to encourage rough sleepers into accommodation and support services. Local homelessness charity Launchpad Reading is also supporting this year’s SWEP by providing camp beds, duvets, food packages, toiletries and warm clothes for anyone helped by the scheme.

With the support of one of their sponsors Launchpad has funded additional staffing for the Reading hostels taking part. This has meant they have been able to increase the number of emergency beds available this year, as well as helping to ensure that the accommodation is supportive and secure.

Rachel Eden, Lead Councillor for Reading Housing and Neighbourhoods, said: “It’s essential when the weather turns bitter to ensure everyone finds somewhere safe and warm to sleep. For anyone in Reading who find themselves homeless the council’s partnership with the voluntary sector can be a lifeline at this time, but can also be a step towards more permanent accommodation. If you know of somebody sleeping rough, please let us know so that we can contact them and offer them emergency shelter”.

Reading Borough Council

REA/128500
Employer Reference:

309/1
SOC Code:

9149
Wage

£7.20 to £7.50 per hour
Hours

40 hour per week Monday to Friday
Location

Reading RG1
Duration

Permanent
Date posted

08 February 2012
Pension details

No details held
Description

This Reading Vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Kemp Recruitment Limited who is operating as an employment agency. The client has strategically located distribution centres offering a nationwide service to their customers. They are always looking to strengthen their team and recruit high quality Parts Delivery Drivers. If you have a positive attitude with a number of years driving experience and a good knowledge of the local and surrounding areas, then we want to hear from you. Reading Applicants should also have minimal points on their licence, have a good attendance record with their previous or current employer. If you feel you have what we are looking for then we have vacancies for light van drivers who will provide high levels of customer service. Contact Mark at Kemp Recruitment Ltd on 0330 440 2323 or email your CV to mark@kemprecruitment.com.
How to apply

You can apply for this Reading job by sending a CV/written application to Mark Kemp at Kemp Recruitment Limited, email your CV to mark@kemprecruitment.com.
Employer

Kemp Recruitment Limited

Thames Valley Police has charged a man in connection with the thefts of whisky from a supermarket in Reading.

Matthew Doran, aged 36, from Brighton Road, Reading, had been charged with two counts of shoplifting at Waitrose, in Church Street, Reading, on 18 and 22 January.

He has asked for a further five offences at the same location to be taken into consideration and has been released on bail to appear at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on 22 February.

Police continue to appeal for the public’s help in identifying second man believed to be involved in the Reading incidents. He is white, 6ft, and is seen on CCTV wearing a black zip up Adidas hooded top, black jeans, a black woollen hat and black trainers.

If you recognise this man please contact investigating officer PC Aaron Gibbs by ringing our new single non-emergency number, 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

REA/128433
SOC Code:

5314
Wage

£15.00 – £20.00 PER HOUR DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE
Hours

As and when required basis – no set working pattern
Location

Reading, Berkshire RG1
Duration

Permanent
Date posted

07 February 2012
Pension details

No details held
Description

Must have extensive experience and a current ACS qualification to include CNN1, CEN1, CKR1, HTR1, CPA1. In addition LPG inventive and plumbing experience and/or qualifications are desirable. Must be enthusiastic and skilled engineers with excellent customer service and organisational skills, who are able to demonstrate the ability to fault find on all types of boilers and systems. All applicants must have own vehicle, preferably a van ( mileage paid ). Reading Duties include dealing with boiler breakdowns, servicing/maintenance and new installations and other associated tasks as required. Wage depends on experience. Previous applicants please re apply due to system error all emails have been lost. Successful applicants are required to provide a standard disclosure. Disclosure expense will be met by applicant. Immediate start. No phone calls to be made. Please state the area where you live in the email subject box when applying.
How to apply

You can apply for this Reading job by sending a CV/written application to Jacqui Gallazzi-Ritchie at All England Gas Services Limited, allenglandgas@live.co.uk.
Employer

All England Gas Services Limited

With some of the mature Cedar trees in Cintra Avenue now coming towards the end of their natural life, Reading Borough Council will next Wednesday (Feb 1) be planting five new trees on the edge of Cintra Park and the road.

Local Reading residents and visitors to Cintra Avenue are passionate about the evergreen Cedar trees which are a characteristic feature of the road, and last Autumn residents were assured that replacement trees would be planted.

The planting of those five new Cedars this week is a further demonstration of Reading Council’s on going commitment to planting new and replacement trees where possible, and particularly where trees are an integral part of a local area.

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This delivers on a promise I gave to local residents last October to undertake planting of a new row of 5 trees in Cintra Park, adjacent to a group of mature trees fronting Cintra Avenue originally planted by the Sutton family. It underlines our strong commitment to delivering new and replacement trees as part of the Council’s Tree Strategy.”

Many residents, community groups and several Reading businesses have joined the Council embarking on a campaign to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come in celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by planting trees across Reading this year.

This is in addition to the Council’s continued committment to plant replacement street trees following the adoption of Reading’s Tree Strategy in 2010

Last year Reading Council planted 5,000 trees and shrubs as part of the M4 Junction 11 improvements and over 300 trees in other areas of the Borough. This planting season, Reading Borough Council is planning to plant a further 300 trees to demonstrate a continual commitment to greening Reading from a host of funding opportunities.

Reading Borough Council

REA/128406
SOC Code:

9121
Wage

EXCEEDS NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE
Hours

20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, Days
Location

READING RG1
Duration

Permanent
Date posted

06 February 2012
Pension details

No details held
Description

Previous experience in a similar role and full driving licence is essential. Must have own tools and transport. Reading Duties are to provide general caretaking duties, building maintenance and cleaning services to properties throughout Reading. This would involve carrying out basic DIY tasks and general checks on all properties to ensure they are presentable and well maintained.
How to apply

You can apply for this Reading job by sending a CV/written application to Ricky Bashier at RB Estates, info@rb-estates.co.uk.
Employer

RB Estates

At about 11.40am, a 16-year-old boy was cycling through Prospect Park, Reading texting on his phone. As he came to a stop, he was kicked off his bike and his black BlackBerry 9360 phone was stolen.

The Reading offenders are two black men, about 5ft 9ins, wearing white trainers and dark blue hooded top with the hoods up. One was also wearing a black bandana.

There were people in the Reading park at the time, including dog walkers, and police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the offence or saw the offenders hanging around the park.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Andy Beeney via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

This job is disability friendly
Job No:

REA/128342
Employer Reference:

EDC1285
SOC Code:

6124
Wage

£23,708 – £28,636 pa, pro rata
Hours

37 hours per week, term-time only
Location

Reading, Berkshire RG30
Duration

Permanent
Date posted

03 February 2012
Pension details

Pension available
Description

Term Time Only. Cranbury College provides education for Reading pupils who have been excluded from school, awaiting Statutory Assessment or placement in a special school, or who have medical needs. We are seeking a Coach Mentor to join our friendly and professional team. You will have expertise in supporting and leading Teaching and Learning and experience of positive behaviour management. We are a Team Teach organisation. The Reading post requires experience of working with children and young people experiencing emotional, behavioural and social difficulties and a flexible, resilient attitude. For further information, please contact Sarah Blunsden on 0118 937 5644. Application forms can be downloaded or completed on-line at www.reading.gov.uk. An Enhanced Criminal Records Disclosure will be sought from the successful candidate.
How to apply

You can apply for this Reading job by visiting www.reading.gov.uk and following the instructions on the webpage.
Employer

Reading Borough Council

Ranikhet Primary School in Tilehurst, Christ the King Primary in Whitley Wood and Caversham Children’s Centre are all having solar panels fitted on top of their school buildings this week.

By using solar panels to generate power, energy bills will be cut. Solar energy is environmentally friendly and will help reduce bills too.

The Reading Council launched a significant investment scheme last year to invest in schools and public buildings – such as children’s centres, libraries, sheltered housing units and community centres – in order to generate energy efficiency savings in the long-term.

The scheme sees an initial spend to save investment of around £5million, which would be repaid, with a Government tariff scheme funded by the energy companies, paying Reading Borough Council for each unit of electricity the panels produced.

The solar panels are due to be installed by British Gas at all three sites by the end of this week. Each school will then put up real time energy monitors in their reception areas to demonstrate to its pupils the renewable energy being generated by the sun and the carbon savings being achieved as a result.

Paul Gittings, lead Reading councillor for environment and climate change, said: “The Council is committed to using forms of renewable energy to generate savings on the energy bills of public buildings and this project is a great example of how that can be achieved. The investment will ensure some real savings in the medium to long-term which will benefit everyone living in Reading.”

John Ennis, lead councillor for Reading education and children’s services, said: “Its great to see children’s centres and schools being the first in the borough to receive solar panels and benefit from the savings produced from using solar energy. I am sure many children at our primary schools will get a lot out of seeing how renewable energy is generated.”

In addition to the panels being installed at Christ the King, Ranikhet Primary and Caversham Children’s Centre, solar panels are also being introduced at EP Collier Primary School in York Road.

The Reading school has recently reached its target of raising over £10,000 from businesses, community and individuals to install solar panels on its roof after signing up to take part in the Solar Schools scheme run by the charity 10:10.

Reading Borough Council

REA/128301
SOC Code:

1231
Wage

£8 per hour
Hours

30 per week, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Flexible
Location

Reading, Berkshire RG1
Duration

Temporary
Date posted

02 February 2012
Pension details

No details held
Description

Must have access to own vehicle. Previous experience working with older people would be essential. Main duties are to manage two sheltered housing schemes in the Reading area duties include door to door welfare checks and visits to residents, giving advice on housing issues and advice on tenancies, helping settle in new residents, monitor empty properties and liase with 3rd parties and be a point of contact for residents. You can apply also by calling Lawrence on 0117 9103800
How to apply

You can apply for this Reading job by sending a CV/written application to Lawrence Whiffin at Eden Brown Recruitment Ltd (Bristol Branch), l.whiffin@edenbrown.com.
Employer

Eden Brown Recruitment Ltd (Bristol Branch)