See answers to previous information requests

I am interested in how race is addressed in the council area, with particular regard to cultural activities and the built environment.

For the last year up to date, but inclusive of information and documents from work which may have begun before this period and is still being pursued by the council.
(For example, a project to identify monument may have begun in 2020, but the list compiled from this project may still be used by the council now)
Please disregard requests to schools, galleries, museums libraries as appropriate - if the council does not control these

1. Could you please provide any list or review/research/report/survey of locations (streets/buildings/parks), or public art (such as statues), plaques, commemorations, graves, memorials that the council has produced in relation to slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice.
In question form: “What in the built environment has the organisation, or a group working on its behalf, identified as being linked to racism, slavery, colonialism: that is, contested history?”
We do not hold this information

2. Could you please provide details of what being done to highlight, reinterpret, redisplay, or rename aspects of the environment in the council area identifying in part 1 of this request
In question form: “What work (such as adding interpretation, or information boards, or plaques close to contested monuments) has been undertaken by the council to address these legacies?
We do not hold this information

3. If applicable, can you please provide information on what is being done to address issues of slavery, colonialism, empire/British Empire, racism, white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, decolonising, racial justice in council museums/galleries?
For example, what information boards have been added, what has been taken off display or put on display, what new plaques have been erected?
Not applicable - The council does not run museums or galleries.

4. The same as for part 3, but can you provide information on how council libraries have addressed these issues
For example, have any books been specifically banned or removed from the library? Has a system of trigger warnings been established for sensitive topics?
Could you please provide details of any books which have been taken from public display and perhaps placed at the desk, or in a reserve stack, because they may be offensive or inappropriate ?
No books have been specifically banned or removed from libraries. Where abridged versions of books are available these may be purchased in place of the original text. The original text may be retained in the ‘classic literature’ section of the library rather than the more general fiction area. We do not hold specific information on the titles affected.

5. For any council run or supported events in the area, how have these events been more inclusive or a greater focus on diversity?
A range of events and promotions to celebrate diversity are provided via libraries in the borough. These are based around an updated version of the Libraries Connected annual calendar.

6. For any schools affiliated with the council, could you provide details on how the curriculum has been diversified?
Council provide any details or advice to school provided by the council on design the curriculum
Training sessions on diversifying the curriculum offered to Wokingham schools have included:
• ‘Evaluating resources’ – offered twice during 2021-22, and once during 2022-23.
A workshop examining how we choose resources that challenge stereotypes, focus on what people have in common as well as their differences, and celebrate diversity.
• ‘Racial literacy curriculum framework for primary schools’ – offered once during 2022-23 and twice this academic year.
This session outlines key themes and learning objectives in the curriculum to support racial literacy development for pupils.
• In addition, schools were signposted to a training programme offered by Reading International Solidarity Centre entitled ‘Global Histories’ during 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Following attending training, teachers have decided how they wish to apply their learning to the curriculum in their school.