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.

I FELL OUT OF LOVE

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

I fell out of love. We moved to a lovely town called Wokingham 20 years ago in the 5 or 6 years it’s been spoiled with overpriced boxes, it’s not nice anymore

Nothing about my local area makes me feel alive. I tend to go elsewhere. It doesn’t feel safe, it’s dirty and there are open displays of drugs on every corner.

I love my home - just hate the Town

I hope for the future of Wokingham to go back to what it was - sadly it’s falling, I hate it now.

I WAS THE YOUNGEST OF FIVE CHILDREN

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

I was the youngest of five children. My dad had one arm and he was wonderful; still riding a bike and maintaining his allotment.

Something that makes me feel alive in my local area is lots of bird sounds from my bird table in the back garden.

Home is something to keep dry, like a house.

In the future I wish to have a peaceful death.

ENDED BACK WHERE I STARTED

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

I am a left-handed community worker, artist, mother, wife and mad dog owner.

Sunshine! Peace! Wine! Birdsong! Bacon cooking! Cuddles and laughter are all things that make me feel alive in my local area.

Home is safety, relaxation, comfort, family, friends, comfy bed and a hot bath. For the future, I wish for health, happy children, and grandchildren hopefully soon! 

I was born in Wokingham, married a soldier, went round the world, and ended back where I started!

NICE STRONG BUILDER’S TEA

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

I am a happy, outgoing retired builder with four sons and one daughter. Was married for 57 years – been widowed four years. Nice STRONG builder’s tea makes me feel alive. I love garden mint in everything. Wokingham was quiet and rural but now urban.  Family is most important, I have 13 grandchildren… Home to me means family. I like a busy home, but enjoy the peace too. I also built most of my home.

For the future I want my children to be happy (& rich after I’ve gone!) and to use their inheritance wisely. In the future I hope there are no wars, and that ice caps stop melting -  we need more awareness of everything.

I moved to Wokingham in 1940. Bombed out of London and evacuated – supposed to get on train to Woking with mum and five kids but I got on the wrong train! I went to the council, they wouldn't help. I stayed in a stable for one night then a room over a garage in a big home with US troops. Mum fed them, they gave food. D-day USA left and UK troops moved in! Stayed in Wokingham since! 

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.