Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Reading Children’s Festival 2026 – Volunteers Needed Saturday 9 May 2026, 11am-4pm
28 April 2026
We are looking for a team of volunteer stewards to support the Reading Borough Council Events Team to help welcome visitors and manage the visitor flow at this year’s Forbury Fiesta – a launch event for Reading Children’s Festival 2026. You may be assigned to a particular activity such as a workshop, or to a ...
Free Workshop – Navigating Bereavement
28 April 2026
Tuesday 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th May, 1:30pm – 3 pm Online: hosted on Zoom This workshop with Olga Zilberberg offers a comprehensive and compassionate four-week journey designed to help individuals navigate the complex landscape of loss. Each 90-minute session blends supportive frameworks to explore loss and provide participants with a versatile toolkit for understanding their unique grieving process. Sign ...
The Local Election Thursday 7 May – Important Deadlines and a list of accepted forms of photographic identification for voting
20 April 2026
The Local Election will be held on Thursday 7 May, but there are some other important dates you must know about too. Also, please refer to the attached image below for a list of accepted forms of photographic identification for voting. For more information and the full list of acceptable forms visit: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID Register to vote by Midnight ...
PACT’s Marathon in May Challenge
16 April 2026
Can you complete a marathon in a month? Marathon in May is a challenge anyone can do. The aim is to clock up the miles over the 31 days of May. Run, walk, hike, cycle, wheel, with children, with your dog, with friends or on your own; it’s your challenge, your way! Go as fast or ...
Reading VCS Leaders
10 April 2026
Reading Voluntary Sector Leaders Forum The Reading VCS Leaders Forum is for anyone in a leadership role within the Reading voluntary sector and committed to working collaboratively to support the development of a thriving voluntary sector. The Agenda will include: Review of VCS representation on strategic Boards and Partnerships including opportunities to ensure the views of your organisation ...
The Rising Sun – Hub in our Pub – Free Space available for Community Groups on a Monday
1 April 2026
Mondays are about community, warmth, and belonging. This is the day our pub becomes a genuine local hub, not just a place to eat or drink. The Rising Sun is offering the pub space free of charge for any community-driven projects, charity events or groups (PTA, clubs, community meetings) Contact our Deputy Manager, David, to let us know ...
Safeguarding Adults Training for charities and groups -May 2026
31 March 2026
Does your charity offer services or activities to adults in Reading? If so, come along to this free training. (Please note we have a separate Safeguarding Children training session, see our training page). All charities, voluntary and community groups have a duty to keep their service users safe from harm. As most charities and community groups ...
Safeguarding Children Training for charities and groups – June 2026
31 March 2026Does your charity offer services or activities to children or young people in Reading? If so, come along to this free training. All charities, voluntary and community groups have a duty to keep their service users safe from harm. As most charities and community groups run through the hard work and dedication of volunteers, it is ...
BBC Children In Need, project funding and core funding – rolling funding
31 March 2026
Introduction – overview of the funding BBC Children in Need funds vital support for children and young people struggling with challenges caused by mental health, poverty, social inequity and family-related issues. Their ambition is that every child and young person should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. Through their grant-funding, they ...
Furniture available from Reading Central Library
26 March 2026
Reading Central Library is moving into the Civic Offices this summer and looking to re-home the furniture from the current site. Details of what is available can be found here, along with photos here. You will need to arrange your own transport to collect the items. For more information please contact susan.jones2@reading.gov.uk
Fundraising Network July 2026
26 March 2026A network for those who are responsible for fundraising within Reading’s charities RVA is launching a new Fundraising Network for those who volunteer or work in charities or voluntary groups delivering services in Reading. This is off the back of our VCS Survey 2024/2025 and related Fundraising Focus Group session where many of you said you would ...
Bite-size Volunteer Management – “Keeping it Legal” – July 2026
26 March 2026Do you manage volunteers in your role in one of Reading’s diverse voluntary and community sector organisations? You may be a volunteer yourself, or a paid member of staff, or even a volunteer Trustee/Committee member. RVA is running bitesize training for those who manage volunteers. These sessions are designed to give you an introduction/ refresher into ...
Small Groups’ Forum May 2026 – Find the right volunteers, funding and more
26 March 2026Are you a small or new community group or charity? Would you like top tips on running a group, finding funding and the opportunity to network with other small groups? Join us for our next Small Groups’ Forum in May. We run three forums per year and the topics are chosen by small groups like yours. Theme ...
Employment Law Update – changes from April 2026
24 March 2026
The much anticipated updates to employment legislation was passed into law on 18 December 2025 as the Employment Rights Act 2025. The changes are gradual and will be introduced over a few years. Charities who employ staff should be aware of the following changes, in particular, which come into effect from 6 April 2026: Statutory Sick ...
Congratulations to Home-Start Reading – Safe and Sound Award renewed!
24 March 2026
We’re pleased to share that Home-Start Reading have recently undergone an external review of their governance as a charity and successfully been awarded a renewal of their Safe and Sound Good Governance Award for a further three years! Well done to the whole team. In this article we took the opportunity to interview Catherine Troup ...
RBC Properties/Land for disposal in Financial Year 2026/2027
13 March 2026
We have received advance notice from RBC that the following properties/land will be up for sale (disposal) in their upcoming financial year from April 2026: Palmer Park Lodge Palmer Park former WCs Caversham Court Stables The Keep, Oxford Road Reading Road, Woodley, land at Callington Road, land at Bridge Street/Church Street, Caversham, land at 76 Bath Road, land at rear of RBC has recently ...
Easyfundraising – unrestricted micro grants – Deadline 5 April 2026
12 March 2026The Easyfundraising Impact Fund is now open and is offering 20 unrestricted grants of £500 to UK not-for-profit organisations to help them continue or enhance their work. Who is eligible to apply? The fund is open to organisations of all sizes and structures, including charities, not-for-profits, schools and education settings, sports clubs, CICs and social enterprises, youth ...
The Fore, unrestricted funding- next round opens on 25 March to 1 April 2026
12 March 2026Introduction – overview of the funding The Fore is the only open-access funder in the UK offering development funding and strategic support to early-stage charities and social enterprises. Who is eligible to apply? Applications are accepted from the following types of organisation with an annual revenue of less than £500,000 in the previous completed financial year: Registered charities (including those constituted as ...
New Gov Funding – Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund – Deadline 31 March 2026
12 March 2026The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a new three-year fund running from 2026 to 2029 that is available to voluntary, community and faith sector organisations in England to prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping through strengthened community support and service transformation. Who is eligible to apply? Applications are open to voluntary, ...
Rowntree Community Grants for Summer Activities for Adults – deadline 31 March 2026
12 March 2026Grants are available for community projects supporting adult wellbeing through creating better places, improving prospects or bringing about positive change. The aim of the funding is to support the hosting of summer activities in the local community for people aged between 21 and 65 years old. Eligible projects ideas include transforming an outdoor space or community garden, ...