Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
GSK Impact Awards 2021– core funding and free training for health charities – applications open until 24 September 2020
21 July 2020
Charities are facing significant challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, while continuing to provide vital services to keep people healthy and connected. This year, more than ever, The King’s Fund are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. Winning organisations will receive core funding of up ...
The benefits of volunteering in retirement – by Brian Walker, RVA volunteer
16 July 2020
Brian Walker is a longstanding admin volunteer for RVA and has also helped with the Get Online Reading project Brian was already carrying out his volunteering remotely when lockdown started, so was perfectly placed to carry on supporting the RVA team. If you have ever submitted a form via the RVA website, chances are it is ...
ABC To Read defies lockdown to report improvement in children’s reading confidence
16 July 2020
Despite lockdown completely transforming children’s schooling, local charity ABC to Read have announced outstanding results in their most recent annual report, with 98% of the local Berkshire children who benefit from a one-to-one ABC to Read mentor improving in their reading confidence. The report also highlights that 98% of the youngsters working with them have ...
Kooth: new online counselling service for young people in our area
16 July 2020
Berkshire West CCG, Wokingham LA, West Berkshire LA and Brighter Futures for Children have jointly commissioned the online counselling service Kooth, a service delivered by XenZone. Kooth will now be an integral component of Berkshire West’s mental health provision offering digital counselling and emotional wellbeing service for young people and young adults. For a brief video ...
Digital skills for the Covid-19 economy: free Microsoft training via LinkedIn
16 July 2020
Microsoft has launched an initiative to provide free training to provide 25 million people with the digital skills required in the Covid-19 economy. The worldwide project provides free access to content in LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn and the GitHub Learning Lab. Training is offered in 10 areas, ranging from software developer to digital marketer or graphic designer ...
Health Equalities Annual Conference 2020
16 July 2020Join ACRE, Utulivu Women, Women with Vision and other grassroot communities in West Berkshire, with the support of Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, in the communities’ annual conference. This year’s theme is Potentializing the Communities Assets In Filling The Gaps For Sustainable Equity(All for our wellbeing). Please join to share and hear how we can collectively work ...
The Job Retention Bonus and the Government’s Plan for Jobs
15 July 2020
Last week the government announced a new Job Retention Bonus (JRB), which would see a £1,000 bonus paid to employers who keep on their furloughed employees beyond the end of the furlough scheme in October. If employers wish to rely on the JRB, they will need to consider the following: furloughed employees will need to be ...
Coronavirus information packs from RBC
15 July 2020
RBC Adult Care and Health Services have produced an information pack on useful information around staying safe during the pandemic. This may be useful for charities and community groups too. It includes guidance on: latest government guidance (as at July 2020) test and trace playgrounds, libraries and museums staying well: mental health and well-being; support for families and carers staying ...
How to complete Covid-19 Risk Assessments
14 July 2020
If your charity or community group is thinking about re-opening services or premises due to the easing of lockdown, you will need to complete a Covid-19 Risk Assessment. If you weren’t able to attend the session last week, here are some resources to help you: Presentation Slides on how to complete a Covid-19 Risk Assessment and ...
Detached Youth Team summer programme
14 July 2020
Detached Youth Team summer programme The Detached Youth Work Team from Brighter Futures for Children will be out and about across Reading from Monday 20 July to Friday 4 September 2020. Download a leaflet with further details here. Further information If you have any questions please contact the Youth Service on 0118 937 6545 or email Detached.Youthteam@brighterfuturesforchildren.org
Local Authority Discretionary Grants feedback
13 July 2020The recent business grant schemes have left a hole for charities who have found themselves ineligible for support. The Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund sought to address this and was made available to four priority business types including ‘Charitable businesses in receipt of Charitable Business Rates Relief’. However, it only applied to charities that would otherwise ...
Compass Recovery College – outdoor activities this summer
8 July 2020
Compass Recovery College are pleased to be able to offer a range of outdoor activities over July and August which they hope will encourage people to come out into the community and do something enjoyable in a relaxed and safe space. They will be starting with the following and will post further sessions on their ...
Revive Reading Business Summit – #RebootReading
8 July 2020Reading Voluntary Action is delighted to be working with Ethical Reading, Reading UK, Connect Reading and the Reading Climate Change Partnership in organising this summit. Our collective ambition is to start a conversation as we come out of the recession post Covid-19, to inform the strategy of key businesses and organisations in the Reading area and ...
Charity Survival Fund – applications open until 27 July
8 July 2020
The one-off £10 million Charity Survival Fund has been set up by The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in response to their ongoing concern about the economic impact of Covid-19 on the nation’s charities. The grant funding aims to help small and medium-sized UK registered charities who are struggling with a loss of income in ...
How are charities approaching the easing of restrictions?
6 July 2020
As part of our interactive Zoom sessions to help charities navigate the impact of coronavirus on their services we hosted a session last week on ‘re-opening your premises’. The session was so popular we’re hosting another one this Thursday at 10am (book here). Presentation Slides from 2 July In case you weren’t able to attend, take a ...
Re-opening premises and risk assessing – for charities and community groups
6 July 2020
Following much demand, we’re holding another session on re-opening your premises. We will be looking at how your charity or community group might go about this after the restrictions have eased and what you might need to consider both now and in the longer term, as the situation around the pandemic continues. The session will include: 1. ...
Safeguarding resource: safely asking about domestic abuse during coronavirus
6 July 2020
The social distancing measures in place during coronavirus have had a direct impact on individuals and families who are experiencing domestic abuse and, in may cases, limited the opportunity for them to reach out for help. If your charity or community group is working in a frontline role, you may have the opportunity to pass on ...
Charity Bank: Resilience and Recovery Loans
6 July 2020
The Resilience & Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) is a new fund for social enterprises and charities across the UK who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of Covid-19. It has been established to make the existing government scheme (the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) more easily accessible to charities and ...
Virtual Village Hall from the Royal Voluntary Service
6 July 2020
The Virtual Village Hall is a programme of themed online activities from the Royal Voluntary Service, designed to enjoy at home. Sessions are led by expert tutors, Royal Voluntary Service activity coordinators, volunteers and some well-known faces, and require very little space or equipment. There is a wide range of sessions to take part in, ...
Covid-19 psychological first aid training
3 July 2020
Get psychological first aid training and help people with different needs to cope with the emotional impact of Covid-19 A free course has been produced by Public Health England and is based on international guidance from the World Health Organisation, United Nations and partners. It is aimed at frontline workers and volunteers dealing with the public ...