Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Venturesome Impact Fund
2 May 2024Introduction – Overview of the funding The Venturesome Impact Fund provides social investment for purpose driven organisations – charities, social enterprises and community groups – all over the UK. Social investment is the use of repayable finance to help an organisation achieve a social purpose. It is not a grant or a donation. The fund offers flexible finance options ...
Slides and resources from Community Buildings Forum held on 30 April 2024
1 May 2024
Thanks to all who attended the Community Buildings Forum on 30 April. We heard from voluntary, statutory and commercial partners on available spaces and other relevant news and resources. Below are the slides and other resources if you were unable to attend and would like to be kept up to date on current available spaces. Also ...
Lloyds Bank Foundation – Racial Equity Fund – Deadline 30 May 2024
17 April 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The Lloyds Bank Foundation offers funding to small and local charities across England and Wales, helping people overcome complex social issues, such as mental health, homelessness and domestic abuse. The Foundation helps those charities through long-term funding, developmental support as well as influencing policy and practice. They are a niche funder, ...
University of Reading launches Charity of the Year scheme
17 April 2024The University of Reading has launched a major new scheme to support community charities and projects across the region today (Monday 15 April). The ‘University For Reading’ initiative brings together multiple community-based projects and is part of the University’s aim to work more closely with the people and communities of the Thames Valley. The University is ...
The Ironmongers’ Company grants – next deadline 15 Dec 2025
12 April 2024
The Ironmongers’ Company wishes to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential. Who can apply? Grants are only given to registered charities. Projects must meet all of the following criteria: For children and young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged. Consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation, ...
The Steel Charitable Trust
12 April 2024
The Trustees make discretionary grants where they believe that their contribution will make a real difference. Grants are available to registered charities in the UK working in the areas of arts and heritage, education, environment, health, or social and economic disadvantage. Who can apply? Charities, including CIOs, registered in any part of the United Kingdom, Exempt Charities as ...
The Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund: Grants for disadvantaged young people
12 April 2024
The Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund was set up in 1973. The Fund’s principal aim is to support people in trouble, particularly young offenders and ex-offenders, as well as other disadvantaged young people. Preference is given to pump-priming new projects, especially those that are innovative and can serve as a model elsewhere. Projects which fulfill the funding ...
Miles & Daughters Community Fund – Next round opens July 2025
12 April 2024Introduction The Miles & Daughters Community Fund exemplifies their ongoing dedication to making a positive impact in the communities they serve. After a successful debut last year, the Miles & Daughters Community Fund is back in 2024, offering £300 to £1,500 to support projects benefiting communities within a three-mile radius of their branches. Who is eligible to apply? The ...
Matthew Good Foundation
12 April 2024
Making a positive difference to communities, people & the environment, Grants for Good is the Foundation’s first fund that invites local charities, voluntary groups, or social enterprises that have an average annual income of less than £50,000 to apply for funding. Every three months, they will share £10,000 between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact ...
Leeds Building Society Foundation
12 April 2024Introduction Leeds Building Society offers small grants for capital funding. The funding is intended to support projects to improve the health, wellbeing and financial literacy of people who are experiencing homelessness. Who is eligible to apply? Applications will be accepted from UK registered charities. To apply for a Small Grant, the organisation must have a turnover of less than £1 ...
Boots Charitable Fund – Next application window 1 – 31 May 2024
12 April 2024Introduction Boots Charitable Trust offers grants of up to £10,000 to support charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care. Who is eligible to apply Registered charities working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care can apply four times a year. Non-registered Voluntary organisations with a ...
AB Charitable Trust – Migrants and Refugees – next deadline 26 April 2024
12 April 2024
The AB Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making organisation, founded in 1990 to champion human dignity and support marginalised and excluded groups. One of their priorities is to support charities working with migrants and refugees. The Trust recognises that charities offer a range of interventions to support people who are migrants, refugees, and seeking asylum, while operating ...
VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme – Deadline 14 August 2024
12 April 2024Introduction The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has launched a £25.5million funding package to help frontline delivery organisations or those managing a community hub with frontline services, with the increased cost of living. This scheme offers voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE) the opportunity to apply for a free Independent Energy Assessment (IEA), a comprehensive evaluation of their ...
National Lottery Heritage Fund – Grants for Heritage
12 April 2024
Introduction: Heritage can be anything from the past that you value and want to pass on to future generations. National Lottery Grants for Heritage fund a broad range of projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional, and local heritage of the UK. National Lottery Grants for Heritage is an open programme for all types ...
ReadiBus unveils a new bus livery
11 April 2024ReadiBus – Reading’s alternative door-to-door bus service for people with restricted mobility – unveiled a new bus livery on Wednesday 10th April 2024 in Broad Street, Reading. The ReadiBus has had a very distinctive burgundy and white livery since its inception. This is the first significant change to that bus livery in over 42 years. Back then, ...
Introduction to Volunteer Management – Full Day **postponed to Sep**
10 April 2024
**Please note that this session has been postponed. See bitesize sessions on Volunteer Management scheduled to take place in Sep** An Introduction to Volunteer Management Whether behind the scenes in an administrative role or working directly with clients, volunteers play a vital role in supporting the work of organisations across our town. For many organisations, without the ...
Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning in Reading Central Library
9 April 2024
Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning is a free and friendly information hub for anyone who would like to find out more about living in Reading. Come along and join us over free refreshments and chat to local organisations who will be here to tell you about their services. We look forward to meeting you!
Bite-size Volunteer Management – “Keeping it Legal” Online via Zoom
9 April 2024Do 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 ...
Free Mental Health Support
8 April 2024Supported self-help can make a positive difference to your mental health. It’s a free programme that works with you, to support you to recognise and understand your emotions. We give you the materials to understand and manage your feelings. And we call you regularly to give you support. This is a one-to-one guided self-help service, not ...
University of Reading to launch Charity of the Year scheme
3 April 2024University of Reading’s Charity of the Year Scheme aims to deliver positive impacts for both the chosen charity and the University, whilst also benefitting the local community. It will also support the University’s charitable objectives of advancing education, learning and research for public benefit. The University will select a single charity to work with and support, ...