I LOVE TEDDY BEARS AND CHOCOLATE

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I love teddy bears and chocolate. I work at TK Maxx. I am a tea lover and hot chocolate lover.  I love seeing my friends.

What makes me feel alive in my locale is the bowling alley and the cinema, listening to music, being in the park reading a book. Home is a place to stay, to keep warm, with a bed and a TV.

In the future I hope Wokingham has more clothes shops, more activities and craft, and more garden centres.I am leaving Wokingham. I like looking in the charity shops and I like going to cafés.

FOR THE FUTURE I HOPE TO GET ENGAGED

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am Russell. I like to go dancing on Fridays with Robyn. I like my food. I like watching YouTube. I like art.

What makes me feel alive in my local area are the birds, Woking vibe, cycling, my dad not living too far away from me, and the shops are not too far away from mine. Home is relax time, family and friends.

For the future I hope to get engaged to Robyn and see more of her. I live in my flat, I came from South Africa and have support. I met Robyn, we enjoyed dancing on Friday night.

WHAT MAKES ME FEEL ALIVE IN MY LOCAL AREA ARE THE BIRDS

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am Robyn. I like to go dancing on Friday with Russell. I love my food. I like doing TikTok videos. I like watching YouTube. I like art. I liked being a bridesmaid for Sam and Steph and Holly-Anthony.

What makes me feel alive in my local area is the birds, Wokham vibe, cycling, my Mum and Dad and Nan next door to each other. The precinct is not too far from me. Holly lives close to my house.

Home, to me, means relax time, family and friends. For the future I hope to get engaged to Russell and see more of him. I live at home with mum and dad and have a carer to take me out and my boyfriend Russell. I enjoy dancing. On Friday night grandma cares for me. She lives next door to me.


I AM VERY CONTENT WITH MY LIFE

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a support worker, wife and mother. I am caring and supportive, with a serious sweet tooth.I feel alive when there is a sense of community, equality and friendship… when there is happiness and colourful, vibrant flowers.

Home is support. It is also loud and crazy, it is ‘organised chaos’. My wish for the future of Wokingham is affordable housing… and that the sense of community continues. I hope the help continues to grow stronger for adults with disabilities.

I have been with my husband since I was 16. We have two beautiful boys, one is autistic. Life can be tough sometimes. I am a support worker for women with down syndrome. My job makes me happy. I am very content with my life.

I AM A COFFEE LOVER AND A CAT “MUMMY“

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a coffee lover! and a cat “mummy“. What makes me feel alive in my locale is living and working in a borough I love! There are so many local events and activities to participate in and socialise with other residents.

Home is a nice bath, clean PJ’s and Chase being on TV, on the sofa under a blanket – with chocolate! 

I hope WBC continues to build and renovate their local parks and community areas making it accessible to all. Being part of a community is something we love in CLASP.

HOME IS EVERYTHING, MY SHIELD

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a carer, student and mum in the future. What makes me feel alive in my locale is the shops, I’m a shopping Holic. Home is everything, my shield.

In the future of Wokingham I hope there is support for the more vulnerable. I hope to have good health, and to be a midwife and wonderful mother. I wish for us all to have long life.

WITH MY LOVE OF TRANSPORT SOMETIMES I GET STRANDED

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I love buses and trains. What makes me feel alive in my local area is nice music. I’m fond of ABBA. Home is somewhere to stay for the night - I’m out and about all day time. I look forward to painting -  I do abstract painting

Sometimes, with my love of transport, I get stranded and I have to get a taxi. My favourite place is Bradbury Centre.

I AM CREATIVE

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am creative, I need to express myself. Hopefully, I am kind and thinking of others. I think a lot. What makes me feel alive in my locale is being around and walking in nature, listening to my music (sounds I trust), cycling on a semi recumbent bicycle with my friends, helping others to achieve things and feel happy.

Home is a safe place where I feel myself can be on my own or with others and feel okay. In the future I hope I have support when I get overloaded and anxious. I want to feel like a whole person and more independent. I have a lot of mental health needs and pain but try not to let it define me.

I AM BLIND BUT I SEE THE WORLD

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am curious, I am real, I am in love. I am blind but I see the world. I am disabled but I am able to create. I am of nature even when disconnected from nature. I am me, entirely.

I love the natural spaces where I can hear the birds, smell the flowers, touch the trees, taste the blackberries, see the light and relax. Home is a place of safety and love, a place where I can be truly me

I wish for true accessibility and inclusivity for everyone, everywhere without barriers or fear.

I'm a mum, wife, friend, blind wheelchair user, minister, poet and artist. I live my life mainly online, meeting others who live fully despite poor accessibility. I talk openly and campaign vociferously about faith, disability, mental health, social justice, climate change and grief.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SPREAD KINDNESS ABOUT YOU

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a retired mechanical engineer who has lived in Wokingham since 1986. I was born in 1930 in Harrow and went to school there as well. I worked for De Havillard as an engineer for many years before joining Nestlé and worked in Switzerland. I have always drawn and painted and when I retired I joined Wokingham Theatre as part of the set building team.

The sound of leather on wood makes me remember all the cricket games I have taken part in at Hurst cricket club. I find changing a blank piece of paper into a painting utterly absorbing and always hope that others will appreciate it too!

Home, to me, means security, safety and the feeling of being loved.

My wish for the future of Wokingham is a greater human understanding and a great and human understanding amongst nations of the world. Always remember to spread kindness about you.

I HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES WITH THE GROWTH OF WOKINGHAM

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a local resident from 1976. I have seen many changes with the growth of Wokingham from a small market town. Love the community feel, local groups e.g. choir, theatre groups, art society.

What makes me feel alive in my local area is: plants, flowers, trees, birdsong, insects, people chattering, children playing, marketplace, sky/clouds, breezes, sunshine.

Home, to me, means family, warmth, comfort, support, community, closeness, familiarity

For the future of Wokingham, I hope that community events continue, vibrant lively town centre, preservation of past history/conservation

I am an enthusiastic member of thriving local choral Society. Children grow up/went to school here.

I AM FINDING STRENGTH

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a mother and partner, a textile artist, a volunteer, a maker of stained-glass.

What makes me feel alive in my local area is being together with friends and like-minded people, people responding/looking around at small things.

Home means family and friends, they are part of life’s journey. Spiritual home - things that are passed and times that are to come. A safe place, an inspiration place.

I am finding strength to carry on after trauma. Slowly being aware that life is improving.

I AM (FEELING) OLD (ER)

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am (Feeling) old (er), still alive (but not fit) still (enjoying being) alive free (from work) (too) busy involved/overwhelmed valued curious creative

What makes me feel alive in my local area is sunshine, fresh (mostly) air, birdsong, space trees/plants/grass/water, sky.

Home, to me means comfort, my own space, seclusion and companionship, inside and outside, time for me/us

My thoughts for the future of Wokingham borough:

Optimistic - friends, cultural activities, less traffic, more equal, ethnically more varied 

Cynical – noise, more building, dormitory, anonymous, selfish

Discovering Wokingham – people, places, no more commuting! Time for my many interests

I AM A SURVIVOR, A MOTHER, A WARRIOR

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a survivor, a mother, a warrior. I have walked a difficult path and come out stronger but not unscathed. You can’t see my scars, they are healing every day.

To walk around Dinton pastures in the early morning and see the lake quietly ripple. Nature in all its forms just outside the walls of the town though. Flowers, arts, love.

Home is me and my son. We were made homeless in November and now, after a couple of moves, have an amazing home, full of light. When we shut the door it’s just us. There are pictures everywhere ☺

For the future of Wokingham, I hope there are less cars, more outdoor spaces for people to meet, eat and socialise. A holiday!

I am the result of my experiences but they do not define my future.

I NOW REALISE WHAT HAPPINESS IS

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a woman, an artist, a mother, an excited spirit. A nature lover, someone who loves feeling alive.

What makes me feel alive in my local area is birdsong and green – I love being in nature, the shape of trees, the smell of foliage. Sitting outside with a box of paints and capturing the world.

Home, to me, means being with the ones I love, feeling secure in my relationships and financially. My studio filled with inspiration and my creations.

For the future of Wokingham, I wish for more creativity and acceptance of all forms of creativity. I wish for more time to be creative and space to nurture it.

I grew up in Wokingham as one person. I have become someone totally new and no longer recognise myself in the girl who wants gold in Wokingham. I thought I was happy then. I now realise what happiness is.

I AM A JUDGEMENTAL REDHEAD

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a judgemental redhead. Too flighty, too fiery, too temperamental. Wokingham people always seem calm and confident. Sometimes I wonder where “my people” are, and how I can find them.

What makes me feel alive in my local area is the bustling market, with independent traders. The pubs! But then the countryside just a stroll away.

Home is a place where your quirks are celebrated. Wokingham is friendly – with a group or society for every interest or hobby you could possibly have. Working people love to come together – pubs, restaurants, clubs…

I don’t want Wokingham to grow any bigger. As a teenager I rebelled against Wokingham because I felt it was small and too interested in my life.When I became a mother, I moved my children and I back here – all the “faults” had become benefits.

I AM A SEEKER, A SEEKER OF COLOUR, OF PATTERN OF DECAY

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a seeker, a seeker of colour, of pattern of decay. I am a listener, for birdsong, engines and people going about their day. I breathe in the smells, the plants flowers, freshly baked goods and the traffic open to the movement that life brings. 

What makes me feel alive in my local area is the connection with others, the community. The sense of belonging.

Home, to me, means a peaceful place, warm and cosy, where are you rest and recoup from the every day.

 I hope that Wokingham will be known as a creative town with an engaging art community.

I have lived in Wokingham all my life. (Introverted and neuro divergent) but I’m learning to step out and become involved in the local community – using my voice.

LET THE WILDNESS OF NATURE NOT BE TOO TAMED

This is an anonymous story collected from the public as part of THE WOKINGHAM ARC PROJECT.

I am a serial hobby-crafter, cat lady, avid reader, chocoholic, counsellor, computer geek, gamer, friend, creative, tomboy, teacher’s pet, feminist, and rebel (just a little).

Nature makes me feel alive in my local area – how close the “countryside “is to town that you can walk for 5 – 10 minutes from the town centre and be completely surrounded by open fields and beautiful Woodlands.

To me, home means comfort, peace, cats and books, the place to completely relax and just be. The place you feel the everyday stresses get put away to be picked up again only when you leave.

I wish for preservation of our natural world, finding a way to live en-masse without draining or natural resources or destroying our environment any further. Let the wildness of nature not be too tamed by tidy and sanitised green spaces amid all the new developments.