Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Reading Volunteer Awards 2019
27 February 2019
Nominations are now open for the Reading Volunteer Awards 2019! Reading Voluntary Action is delighted to announce that we are now accepting nominations for the third annual Reading Volunteer Awards. As in previous years, we will be hosting an awards evening to coincide with Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June, celebrating those in our community who volunteer their time, ...
Intergenerational schemes to reduce loneliness and social isolation
26 February 2019
Anyone who has seen Channel 4’s Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds or Be More Us from the Campaign to End Loneliness cannot help but be moved by the almost magical impact of intergenerational schemes. Reading’s Loneliness and Social Isolation steering group is keen to hear from any older people’s services, local care homes and ...
Employment Law Update: ‘The Good Work Plan’
25 February 2019This article gives an overview of the government’s Good Work Plan, identifying the key areas that are likely to change in employment law and actions that organisations could be taking to get ready for these changes. What is the Good Work Plan? At the end of last year, the Government published it’s Good Work Plan, which sets ...
Do you have a room to spare and some time to care?
21 February 2019Reading Borough Council (RBC) urgently need more carers to help change the lives of vulnerable adults in Reading. Could you support and care for an older person in your own home, and share your everyday life with them? RBC are expanding the Shared Lives scheme to support older people – to help them keep their independence ...
Users of stroke services help shape future of charitable service
21 February 2019Following a feedback event hosted by the Stroke Association, the charity has produced a report detailing the commitments of the Reading and Wokingham Stroke Recovery Service to take action to improve service-user experiences. The feedback event held in November 2018 invited all of the service’s clients from the past year to provide feedback (verbally or in ...
Can you help AutAngel find office space in Reading?
21 February 2019AutAngel are a small but expanding Community Interest Company run by and for autistic people. As a result of getting funding to run more activities for autistic adults they are looking for an office in Reading with space for at least 2 desks. They would love to hear from anyone who knows about some available space. Get ...
Visit my Mosque – Abu Bakr Mosque open day on 3 March 2019
20 February 2019The Muslim community from West Reading would like to extend a warm invite to the wider community to attend Abu Bakr Mosque’s open day on Sunday 3 March 2019 running from between 12.00 – 16.30pm. The Trustees, staff, and volunteers from the mosque would like to welcome anyone wishing to attend the open day as it will provide an opportunity ...
Free resources to develop financial resilience
19 February 2019We have updated the funding and finance section of our Knowledge base with links to free resources to help your charity build financial resilience, including: a free reserves calculator from the Wise Owl Partnership guidance on a simple reserves policy from Sayer Vincent full Charity Commission guidance on building resilience (CC19) You can take a look here at our ...
Charity set up toolkit from the Small Charities Coalition
19 February 2019The Small Charities Coalition has launched a free digital tool to help people set up small charities and register with the Charity Commission. The new toolkit charitysetup, aims to guide people through the process of setting up a charity in a clear and concise way. You can also find further resources on setting up a group here in the RVA Knowledge ...
Conversation with Brighter Futures for Children
19 February 2019Are you working with disadvantaged families in Reading? Following on from the market place event Brighter Futures for Children would like to meet with voluntary organisations to discuss their work and help inform future planning and commissioning. This forum will provide an opportunity for you to find out more about the new children’s services company and share ...
National Lottery Grants for Heritage
18 February 2019The National Lottery Grant for Heritage is an open programme for all types of heritage projects. Heritage can mean different things to different people. It can be anything from the past that is valued with the wish to pass it on to future generations. As a guide, this could include: oral history cultural traditions nature natural and designed landscapes community archaeology historic buildings, monuments and environments collections of objects, books or documents ...
Magic Breakfast – National School Breakfast Programme
18 February 2019The Government’s National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) is being delivered by Family Action and Magic Breakfast to schools in disadvantaged areas of England. Funding is available to start or improve breakfast provision in over 1,770 schools on a first come, first served basis. What is on offer? A start-up grant of up to £500 for essential resources to ...
Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants
18 February 2019Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants are two special voting rounds of the Tesco local community grant scheme. Applications are assessed by Groundwork to ensure they are eligible. Tesco colleagues will shortlist the projects to determine which go forward to the customer vote. Three community projects in each region will be voted on by customers in Tesco ...
National Lottery Community Fund one-to-one funding surgery on 14 March 2019
18 February 2019Does your voluntary or community group need funding for a specific project? The National Lottery Community Fund funding officer for Reading will be offering one-to-one sessions for Reading voluntary and community groups, on Thursday 14 March 2019 at the RVA offices on the Third Floor of Central Library. At your one-to-one, you will have the have the ...
Is your charity ready for the new financial year/tax year?
12 February 2019RVA are hosting a further treasurer training in April 2019, in collaboration with Rachel Eden from Holybrook Associates, to help treasurers get to grips with their role. This training is suitable for new treasurers, those interested in finding out more, or existing treasurers who would like a reminder of their role and responsibilities. The training aims to build confidence ...
Opportunity for charities to become registered advisors on EU settlement
12 February 2019The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) have announced an opportunity for charities to become registered advisors to EU Citizens on UK Settlement. This new scheme allows charities to register at Level 1 in a streamlined process that takes 4 to 6 weeks. The scheme is aimed at smaller, community-based charities and other organisations, including ...
Thinking of holding a street party? Free road closures available this summer
12 February 2019
To ensure that everybody enjoys celebrating their Big Lunch, this year the council is giving you the opportunity to hold a street party on one of three weekends in the summer: 1-2 June, 22-23 June or 6-7 July. Residents that would like to close their road for a party will be able to do so ...
Courier fraud in Reading – advice from Thames Valley Police
6 February 2019Elderly and vulnerable residents in Reading Police Area have been targeted by courier fraudsters. Courier fraudsters phone and trick victims into handing over their bank cards and associated PIN (number) to a courier that arrives at their home. Thames Valley Police is calling on friends and family to help tackle the problem by talking to elderly ...
John Sykes Foundation looking to give a helping hand to those in need
6 February 2019Do you know someone in need of financial support? Or do you need a helping hand yourself? If so, the John Sykes Foundation wants to hear from you. The John Sykes Foundation has been distributing grants to help people and families in need since 2014. Their aim is to support individuals from all walks of life ...
Prevention and Early Intervention – learning from the Safeguarding Conference
5 February 2019
Prevention and Early Intervention was the theme for the Annual Joint Safeguarding Conference, jointly hosted by Berkshire West Local Safeguarding Children Boards and West of Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board, which took place on 30 January 2019. Three members of the RVA team attended: Sarah Morland, Sarah Timmins DeGregory and Charlotte Netherton-Sinclair. Here are some of ...