Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
“The do’s and don’ts of working in partnership” Third Sector
25 October 2016Due to limited funding, many organisations within the voluntary and community sector are now working in partnership with one another to deliver services. Do you need to clarify your working relationship? RVA can help you put together a Memorandum of Understanding. Plus advice from the Third Sector on collaborative working.
Making Safeguarding Personal – developing your workforce
13 October 2016What makes Safeguarding Personal? People want to be listened to; they want to be safe, but not at the cost of other qualities of life; they want to be able to weigh up the risks and benefits of different courses of action. Making Safeguarding Personal puts an emphasis on quality conversations, which empower a person to ...
Broad Street Volunteering Fair – Last chance to secure your place
12 October 2016Places are filling up for our Broad Street Volunteering Fair with 16 organisations set to be part of the day. This is a final call for any organisations who would like to join us and others including: Age UK Berkshire Reading Film Theatre Enrych Berkshire ABC to Read With places available for just £30 this will be a great opportunity to ...
Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy – consultation
12 October 2016The Health and Wellbeing Board would like your views on Reading’s draft Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2020. The Health and Wellbeing Board is responsible for overseeing the implementation of a Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan for the local area. The draft 2017-2020 Strategy sets out how the Health and Wellbeing Board plans to realise ...
Trustees: How comfortable are you with finances?
10 October 2016You may recall the high profile news surrounding the closure of Kids Company last year, following reports of mismanagement of charity finances. So what did this mean for the sector and more specifically for Trustees? What have we learnt as a sector a year on?
Update from West of Berkshire Adult Safeguarding Board
6 October 2016The West of Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) meets four times a year and discusses how agencies should work together to keep adults at risk of abuse or neglect safe in Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham. Among the topics discussed at our September Board meeting were: findings from Wokingham Borough Council’s peer review which focused on safeguarding, ...
Furniture for sale
6 October 2016Parents & Children Together (PACT) are moving their office and have some spare office furniture. Local charities and voluntary organisations are welcome to claim furniture on a donation basis. A catalogue of the available items can be downloaded here: rva.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Furniture-for-sale.pdf If your organisation is interested in any of the furniture or you have a question please ...
The Breastfeeding Network – study day October 22nd
6 October 2016The mission of the Breastfeeding Network is “mission is to offer independent, evidence-based information and support to help build awareness of breastfeeding to individuals and organisations and to support a mum in her choice to breastfeed” The study day, on Saturday 22nd October, will include presentations by Dr Wendy Jones, author of Breastfeeding and Medication Dr Helen Crawley, ...
Interested in the Reading Recovery College?
29 September 2016We are running a workshop on Monday 24th October starting at 10:30am in Reading Central Library This informal workshop will give you an introduction to: the recovery college model and how it is developing in Reading the autumn prospectus and thoughts for expanding this in the future the Recovery Star The workshop will include a short presentation from Sue Barton ...
Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board – 7th October
29 September 2016Reading Health and Wellbeing Board is meeting on Friday 7th October from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the Council Chamber. The agenda includes: Reading’s second Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Members will be asked to agree the launch of a formal consultation of the new strategy. The proposed Reading Mission Statement is “to improve and protect Reading’s health and ...
Motivated, hard-working Psychology students looking for placements with local charities and community groups
27 September 2016Here at the University of Reading, we champion placements in the local not-for-profit sector and believe it is a great way for students to build up their experience during their time at University whilst giving back to the local community. Our Psychology students are motivated, hard-working and eager to help out. Within their second year of ...
Street Fairs and Licences
27 September 2016Street fairs and stalls are a great way of raising awareness about your voluntary or community group, as well as raising a bit of much needed extra cash. RVA have prepared the following guide to help you to do this legally and will look at how to apply for the correct licences in advance.
RVA Celebration AGM
21 September 2016Join us to celebrate 50 years of voluntary action in Reading at the RVA Celebration AGM. Celebrating 50 years of local people organising, learning and working together to improve the lives of the people in Reading. Reflecting on the current challenges, voluntary action has never been so vital. Do you have any stories or photos of your ...
Arts Council England – funding surgeries
21 September 2016Arts Council England’s Chris Farden – Relationship Manager South East and Ashai Nicholas – Relationship Manager for Diversity are providing 30 minute timeslots to organisations and individuals to discuss funding ideas and opportunities. Details as follows; Date – Thursday 17th November 2016 Time – 12pm-6pm (30 minute time allocation each) More about Arts Council England funding programmes
Free advice workshops for parents of teenagers with Autism
21 September 2016Autism Berkshire is pleased to announce that it is bringing workshops offering tailored support to the parents and carers of teenagers with autism spectrum conditions to Reading and Wokingham, after a successful pilot project in the east of the county earlier this year. The workshops, which are free of charge, focus on communication, social skills and ...
About the Reading Dementia Action Alliance
20 September 2016At the recent Wellbeing Forum, you wanted to find out more about the Dementia Action Alliance. Here is a brief overview. What is a Dementia Action Alliance (DAA)? the vehicle for developing a dementia friendly community, a programme run by the Alzheimer’s Society made up of organisations and people who are committed to transforming the lives of people ...
Wellbeing Forum – Health and Wellbeing Strategy discussions
20 September 2016At the recent Wellbeing Forum, Janette Searle, RBC’s Preventative Services Development Manager, led discussions on the emerging themes for the new Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Several people gave feedback that it “would be good to hear how some of the things we discuss at the forum move forward” and “I would be interested in how ...
Funding for local organisations working in the community
19 September 2016This month’s Funding Digest from Reading Borough Council features two funding programmes targeted specifically at local groups working in the community in Berkshire. A Life Less Lonely Fund Local community groups are invited to apply for funding from Berkshire Community Foundation’s ‘A Life Less Lonely’ Fund which will award grants of up to £10,000 for minor projects and ...
Broad Street Volunteering Fair – 28 October 2016
15 September 2016We will be holding a Volunteering Fair on Broad Street 28 October 2016. The aim of the fair is to raise the profile of both volunteering and the amazing work that organisations do for the people of our town. Alongside opportunities to volunteer we anticipate there being a range of family friendly activities on offer throughout the ...
World Mental Health Day – tell us about your events
14 September 2016Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day (WMHD16) which aims to raise “awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.” The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is psychological first aid and the support people can provide to those in distress. Are you planning any special ...