In this week's column, Paul Bettison OBE, the leader of Bracknell Forest Council, covers a variety of topics, which includes a drop-in session for advice to receive support in the winter, a veterans survey and Chinese New Year. Councillor Bettison writes:

Hello to everyone across Bracknell Forest.

As the cold weather continues, many may be anxious about the weeks ahead.

With the current cost of living pressures increasing, many households are looking for ways to save money, or find additional local support.

That’s why the council is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to offer an information and guidance drop-in session on the range of local financial support available. The free event will be held in the Community Winter Hub in Time Square on Thursday, 19 January, between 4pm and 8pm.

This informal event will provide the opportunity to explore the range of local support options available. More details of the event and the local organisations present can be found on our website.

Please share this with anyone you feel would benefit from this information and guidance event.

As we move into the middle of this season, it is important to know that it is still not too late to get your flu vaccination or COVID-19 booster if you are eligible. There are high levels of flu and COVID-19, and vaccination is still the best protection against these viruses. If you would like more information on these winter vaccinations, please visit the NHS website.

In Bracknell Forest, we value our veterans, especially with Sandhurst forming a major part of the borough. I have attended many parades and celebrations honouring our troops.

So, I urge everyone to fill in the new Veteran’s Survey being run by the government.

This is the first-ever exercise to collect feedback from the veteran community across the UK, coordinated by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Responses to the survey will help the Government better understand the experiences, needs and wellbeing of the veteran community.

If you are in a position to feed back, you can find the survey on the ONS website. The survey will run until the beginning of February.

But the year ahead has many things to look forward to as well. Sunday, 22 January marks the first of the many cultural events in the borough with Lunar New Year, sometimes known as Chinese New Year.

It’s seen as a time of celebration and a fresh start with friends and family. I think we can all agree with that. I wish to extend my well wishes to everyone celebrating this increasingly important date in the borough.

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead.