A very warm welcome on a very cold day to everyone across the borough.

The temperature is falling as we talk about Christmas. The Mayor turned on the Christmas lights last Friday, 25 November and the Christmas market has been at The Lexicon for a week or so and is running until Christmas Eve. Crowthorne is having late night shopping hours on Friday, 2 December as well, so events are in full swing and many are in the festive spirit.

Of course, Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is a religious festival, for others it is well earned time off. I suspect everyone relishes the time spent with family and friends.

If you are looking for activities, one of the gems of the borough, is The Look Out Discovery Centre. The Look Out runs a wide range of activities throughout the year and is ending it in style with an interactive fire and light show.

Suitable for children aged five and above, the 40-minute fire and light show is full of demonstrations to fire your child’s imagination. You can discover which creatures create their own light, learn about the properties of fire and how chemicals can react with each other.

Children will be able to take part in experiments in a safe environment with a professional science exhibition presenter. Shows take place on Saturday and Sunday each week until January 2023, excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

You can book tickets on The Look Out Discovery Centre’s website. It is always a fantastic day to spend with the kids.

Of course, it is not always about the Christmas spirit. As we move towards the end of the year, many households are looking for ways of reducing their energy bills and saving money. The council has updated its website to include a dedicated cost-of-living support section. This includes information on our community winter hubs as well as how to access to a range of support services and advice.

Topics include help with energy costs, food costs, help for families, employment, housing and more. There are links to various benefits and support grants available, whatever your current circumstances. If you are worried about money this winter, please reach out and get in touch. All the details can be found on our council cost-of-living page.

Whatever your needs this year, I hope you enjoy a fantastic December.