Community event with a difference: Big Society Day - Saturday 4 December

A community event with a difference - that's what's in store for Royal Borough residents, businesses and voluntary groups when the council stages its Big Society Day on Saturday 4 December.

With Christmas just a couple of weeks afterwards, the borough is focusing on family fun as well as Big Society ideas, with children's entertainment including face and henna painting and card making.

There will also be free refreshments and mince pies throughout the day and a free prize draw which will give everyone who puts forward their views on Big Society projects the opportunity to win a packed Christmas hamper or 1,000 RecycleBank reward points to spend in local shops and leisure centres.

Cllr David Burbage, council leader, said: "We are conscious that with Christmas just around the corner people will be in a festive mood and we want to make the day good fun for all the family - as well as the more serious business of getting our residents' views on how we can take forward the Big Society in our borough."

The Big Society aims to make it easy for people and communities to take control and do things for themselves on the issues that matter to them - and the Royal Borough has been chosen as a vanguard authority to pioneer this great opportunity to get involved and make a real difference.

Cllr Burbage underlined that local people hold the key to making the Big Society a local way of life and this special event will kick-start the initiative across the community.

He added: "The day will give everyone the chance to talk about how we can all work together to bring the Big Society to life. It will highlight what the council is already doing and, more importantly, give residents and businesses the chance to come forward with their own suggestions about how the Big Society can work in their communities."

The Big Society Event will be held on Saturday 4 December at Desborough School, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead and the welcome mat will be out between 10am and 4pm. The council's invitation to everyone is: Drop in at any time that suits you and stay as long as you like.

The day will feature displays about the council's Big Society projects and more than 20 stalls/exhibitions staged by groups and organisations from across the borough's community and voluntary sector.

Cllr Christine Bateson, lead member for community partnerships, said she looked forward to welcoming a great mix of local groups to the event.

She said: "I am delighted there has been such a positive response from the voluntary sector. It promises to be a really exciting day with plenty of opportunity for everyone to put forward ideas and suggestions for how we can make the Big Society work for the benefit of people in the Royal Borough.

Details about the Big Society in the Royal Borough are available at www.rbwm.gov.uk

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