Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Arts Council England: Presentation and Funding Surgery – 25 July
9 July 2018Join Anna Jefferson, Relationship Manager, Theatre, and Terry Adams, Relationship Manager, Diversity to find out more about Arts Council England and the Project Grants available to artists, makers and companies. For artists who would like to discuss a specific project they are considering applying for funding for, there is an opportunity to book into a ...
Ageing Well With Learning Disabilities — Are We Getting It Right?
9 July 2018Bracknell Forest and Windsor & Maidenhead Safeguarding Adults Board is hosting a conference in October to explore ageing for those with a learning disability and complex, changing health and social care needs. The target audience includes anyone supporting adults with learning disabilities, dementia and complex health and social care needs. This includes health and social care ...
Health and Wellbeing Board – 13th July
9 July 2018The next meeting of Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board is on Friday 13th July, starting at 2:00pm in the Council Chamber. Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting. The agenda includes: progress on delivery of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) strategy progress on the Berkshire Healthcare Mental Health Strategy 2016 – 21 the Healthwatch ...
A summer volunteering opportunity for 14-18 year olds
5 July 2018Mischief Makers Summer Reading Challenge 2018 Reading Libraries are looking for young people aged 14 to 18 who can encourage children to take part in and complete this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Mischief Makers. They are looking for volunteers at Reading Central Library and all of the branches (Battle, Caversham, Palmer Park, Southcote, Tilehurst and Whitley). The placements ...
Successful ‘Reading, Place of Culture’ funding bids announced
5 July 2018Reading Borough Council have announced the groups who will receive ‘Reading, Place of Culture’ funding. Three pots of £15,000 have been awarded to arts, culture and heritage community programmes. The aim is to engage local people who are less likely to access cultural opportunities, and to have a significant positive impact on their wellbeing. Each ...
Four week countdown to the new Automatic Disqualification Rules
5 July 2018We have updated our fact sheet with key steps to take to comply with the new Automatic Disqualification Rules coming into force on 1 August, including links to template declarations for both trustees and relevant senior managers, and links to official registers to check against. Take a look at the fact sheet here.
Berkshire Community Foundation – symposium registration now open
5 July 2018Berkshire Community Foundation’s annual Symposium will take place this year on Monday 8 October at the Green Park Conference Centre, Reading. You are invited to register for your free place at the link below: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bcf-symposium-2018-tickets-47302024629 Due to the high demand of previous years the number of available places has been increased to 150. However, we already have over ...
Call for Evidence – Loneliness Strategy
4 July 2018The Government is asking for organisations with expertise and experience in tackling loneliness to help by providing views on the Strategy framework being developed. Reducing the risks of Loneliness and Social Isolation is one of the priorities for Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Over the last 18 months, the voluntary and community sector has been very ...
An integrated approach to health and social care
4 July 2018Involving the voluntary sector After attending many partnership meetings over the years, I am beginning to see some real progress when we talk about integration. Previously, integration was focused on how health and social care could work together to best support the people who need support for their health and wellbeing. Now, there is more discussion about ...
Do you need help with fundraising? Mini-workshops on 12 July
27 June 2018RVA are partnering with the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) to offer small and local charities and community groups three mini workshops in Reading! The workshops will cover the following three key fundraising skills. The sessions are just 1.5 hours to make them as accessible as possible for busy charity employees/ volunteers! Developing Your Fundraising Strategy (10.15 – 11.45am) A comprehensive ...
Self-employed or a worker? Lessons from the Pimlico case
27 June 2018Does your charity contract for services from someone who is described as self-employed? If so, then you may need to review your arrangements and check whether the individual is truly self-employed or you are treating them as a worker. If it is the latter, then they could have worker or even employment rights due to them, ...
Feedback from CCG Listening Event
26 June 2018Last week Reading Voluntary Action hosted a Listening Event to kick off the process of developing a Voluntary Sector strategy with Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed so energetically. The strategy will focus on how the CCG works with the voluntary and community sector (VCS) across Berkshire West ...
Social Impact Bond to improve outcomes for young people in Reading
21 June 2018Reading Borough Council, along with its strategic partners, has submitted a bid to the Government’s Life Chances Fund to support a Social Impact Bond. The outcomes of the SIB are related to improving participation in education, employment and training outcomes for Reading’s most vulnerable young people aged 11 to 19 (and up to 25 for ...
People’s Health Trust – Active Communities fund open in Reading
21 June 2018Local groups and organisations with great ideas to make their communities even better places to live are now invited to apply for funding to turn their ideas into reality. Using money raised by society lotteries through The Health Lottery, People’s Health Trust has opened Active Communities ‘HealthConfirm’ for the area covering Wokingham, West Berkshire, Reading, Windsor ...
Mental Health First Aid starts with you
21 June 2018MHFA England are offering a 2-day Mental Health First Course in Reading on 16 and 17 July 2018 What is a mental health problem? Mental health problems cover a wide range of issues – including stress, anxiety, depression and substance abuse – that affect someone’s ability to get on with their daily life. The most common mental ...
Struggling communities to be given a lifeline by new fundraising campaign
21 June 2018Launch of Vital for Berkshire campaign Berkshire is seen by many as epitomising the South East, a prosperous and successful county. But behind this image is another Berkshire, one with hidden deprivation. Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) is putting a spotlight on this hidden Berkshire with the launch of their new campaign: Vital for Berkshire. People across Berkshire ...
‘Building Connections Fund’ to open in July 2018
20 June 2018The Prime Minister announced this week that charities and community groups will get £20 million of new funding to help isolated people and those suffering from loneliness. The funding will go towards supporting and expanding programmes that bring people together and are proving to benefit communities and includes a new £11 million Building Connections Fund. This fund will ...
Police Property Act Fund – open until 17 July
20 June 2018The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, and the Chief Constable, Francis Habgood, have opened a new grant round of the Police Property Act Fund. The fund, which is jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, is created from money recovered by the police and the proceeds from the sale ...
Berkshire Maestros relocating to Queen Anne’s School
20 June 2018Local, independent music education charity Berkshire Maestros is to relocate its Caversham Music Centre to Queen Anne’s School from September 2018. The partnership between the school and the charity will bring improved facilities for Berkshire Maestros students while offering pupils at Queen Anne’s access to new musical opportunities. Previously based at Highdown School at Emmer Green, ...
Chances for Children Grants
20 June 2018Chances for Children grants from Buttle UK are up to £2000 in value and designed to meet the multiple needs of vulnerable children and young people by funding a holistic package of support. They meet immediate physical needs by paying for household items, such as a cooker or children’s beds, and also meet a child’s ...