Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Dingley’s Promise awarded RVA Safe + Sound
30 October 2018Dingley’s Promise were recently awarded RVA’s Safe + Sound governance mark. We spoke to Group Operations Manager, Aimee Knight, and Treasurer, Ian Mackinder, about the charity’s work and the process of applying for Safe + Sound. Tell us about the work of Dingley’s Promise Aimee: Dingley’s Promise is a specialist early years provider, working with children with ...
Vote for Get Online Reading in the Aviva Community Fund
24 October 2018Get Online Reading has made it through to the public voting stage of the Aviva Community Fund – vote today! Reading is a town of two halves when it comes to technology – on the one hand, there is a highly IT literate workforce, and on the other, there are areas of deprivation where there are ...
Meeting rooms for hire at Reading Community Learning Centre
24 October 2018Reading Community Learning Centre has meeting and social space for hire – in the holidays, after 3pm on weekdays, and at the weekends. There are three rooms for hire to voluntary and community groups, at subsidised rates. The rooms can also be hired at competitive rates by public bodies, private organisations and individuals, and are suitable ...
Launch of the Southcote Community Hub
24 October 2018The official launch of the newly refurbished Southcote Community Hub will take place on Tuesday 30 October at 11am. Following some significant enhancements to the community centre, including an extension to the building to incorporate the library, a new kitchen, and replacement flooring in the main hall, we are inviting the community to view the site and ...
Comic Relief ‘Power Up’ funding – stage 1 open until 7 December
15 October 2018Comic Relief has launched ‘Power Up: Resourcing Women’s and Girls Movements for Change’ This is an open funding programme to support women and girl’s movements in the UK and abroad. The aim is to support a wide range of women’s rights organisations to fight against systems that perpetuate the injustices they encounter in their daily lives. ...
Need furniture for your charity office?
15 October 2018If you are looking for some furnture for your charity’s office, Grant Thornton are having a clear out and have offered the following to charities and voluntary groups: Cork notice boards and white boards 1m80 x 1m20 and 1m20 x 90cm In trays – plastic (approx. 25) or metal (approx 10) Metal storage cupboards two different sizes: 1m ...
Incredible Years – Facilitator Training Programme
15 October 2018The Incredible Years School Age is a programme for parents with a child aged between 6 and 12 years, who have concerns about their child’s behaviour. Parents learn strategies for managing unwanted behaviours through group discussion, role play, homework and video clips. The programme aims to increase effective parenting strategies and ultimately to reduce anti-social or ...
Horticultural therapy in Reading – a feature on the Ridgeline Trust
11 October 2018On a sunny morning recently, RVA’s Community Journalist Simone Illger visited the Ridgeline Trust’s garden project The Ridgeline Trust offers horticultural therapy opportunities to people living with either physical or learning disabilities or a mental health issue. Situated just off Whiteknights Road, on the edge of the University campus, Reading residents may have walked, cycled or driven past ...
Reading Refocus entrepreneurial project for 19 to 25 year olds
10 October 2018Reading Refocus are running a 12-week business start-up course, led by professional mentors, where 19 to 25 year olds can learn how to set up and run their own business The course offers the opportunity to: Learn about different types of business opportunities and how to present yourself to prospective businesses or employers Receive advice and guidance from ...
Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board – 12 October 2018
8 October 2018The next meeting of Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board is on Friday 12 October at 2pm in the Council Chamber. The agenda includes: A report giving details of a Local System Review that the Reading health and social care system has been selected for by The Care Quality Commission. Your experiences as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender people accessing ...
Reading’s Living Advent Calendar – call for creatives!
5 October 2018Call for Performers, Artists, Creatives, and Events for Reading’s Living Advent Calendar Set aside the chocolate and take your Advent calendar experience to the next level with the super cool and quirky Reading Living Advent Calendar in support of local charities. Twenty four different events that truly represent Reading and its unique personality will entertain shoppers ...
Social action stories: Rachel Goater
3 October 2018Rachel Goater, our Community Involvement Development Officer, and organiser of Let’s Make Reading Friendlier, left us earlier this year to move to Scotland. Alongside her work for RVA, Rachel will be known by many in the community for her work with the Repair Café, Reading Green Fest, a pop-up Vegan restaurant, and Reading’s first Vegan ...
Passionate about community? Join RVA’s Social Action Mentors
2 October 2018Are you passionate about a cause in Reading? Do have links to a particular community group and skills to share? Would you like to help a community group to improve their governance and how they operate, without becoming a trustee? Volunteer with RVA as a Social Action Mentor. Social Action Mentors can: Receive free governance training from RVA. Put this ...
How to Run a Successful Youth Club – For small community groups in Reading
1 October 2018Reading Voluntary Action is pleased to be working with Berkshire Youth to offer the training ‘How to Run a Successful Youth Club – For Volunteer Groups’ as our young people are our priority and more volunteer groups across town have taken an interest in hosting local youth clubs and activities. This course will cover: – Basic overview ...
Reading’s mental health social care team – amended referral process
1 October 2018Reading’s Mental Health Social Care team supports adults living in Reading with mental health issues, who have care and support needs. They support people in the community whether they have just become ill, have a short-term illness or need on-going support, giving practical help with a person’s social care needs alongside their mental health needs. This might ...
Santander Discovery Grants for up to £5K
27 September 2018Santander Discovery Grants are open for applications all year round. The three priority areas are- EXPLORER Improving people’s knowledge Such as Money Management workshops helping disadvantaged people learn how to budget. TRANSFORMER Improving skills and experience For example, training to help socially isolated people develop skills to get back into work or volunteering opportunities for disadvantaged young people. CHANGEMAKER Innovative solutions to social ...
Acre’s AGM and Anti-Slavery Day – 18 October 2018
26 September 2018The Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (Acre) are holding an Anti-Slavery Day, and their AGM, on Thursday 18 October at the Council Chamber in the Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU. Exhibition on Reading’s slave links, from 4pm to 6pm This exhibition uncovers some of Reading’s links with the transatlantic slave trade, the campaign for ...
Black History Month 2018 – at venues across Reading throughout October
26 September 2018Black History Month returns to Reading this October, with a packed programme of special events coordinated by the council working with voluntary groups and organisations from across Reading. See below for a selection of events and find the full programme here. Talks On Wednesday 3 October at 7pm in the Council Chamber at the Civic Offices, join ...
Jolly Anglers Public House – potential bidding opportunity
26 September 2018Jolly Anglers Public House, Kennet Side, Reading, RG1 3EA Reading Borough Council hereby gives notice that on 20 September 2018 it received a notification from the owner of an intention to dispose through a freehold sale of the Jolly Anglers Public House, listed by the Council on 17 February 2015 as an Asset of Community Value ...
Tampon Tax Community Fund – open until 19 October
26 September 2018Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects, which support Berkshire’s women and girls, through the Tampon Tax Community Fund. The tampon tax fund allocates monies generated from the VAT on sanitary products to projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. The fund for disadvantaged women has been set up by UK ...