Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Changes to the concessionary bus fares scheme for older people – consultation
28 November 2018Reading Borough Council is consulting on proposed changes to the concessionary fares scheme in Reading that would end the entitlement of local elderly and disabled people to use their bus pass on ReadiBus. The Council wants as much feedback as possible so that it can fully understand the impact of this proposal – that is, as ...
Spotlight on the Voluntary Sector – telling GPs about your services
28 November 2018We have the opportunity to promote voluntary sector services directly to Reading’s GPs via their weekly electronic newsletter. The newsletter now includes a ‘Spotlight on the Voluntary Sector’ where each week we can include a short item about a specific service or event which helps to maintain and improve people’s health and wellbeing. Examples could be a support ...
Toys and Teens Appeal 2018 – last week for toy donations!
23 November 2018Thanks to everyone who has generously donated toys to the Toys and Teens Appeal so far. If you have yet to do so, you don’t have long left! This upcoming week is the last week we can accept toy donations for the Toys and Teens Appeal 2018. The deadline for the donation point located right outside ...
Community Energy for Reading – grants for sustainability initiatives
21 November 2018Reading Community Energy Society is offering grant funding for sustainability initiatives in and around Reading, from £100 to £5,000 for initiatives which meet one or more of the following aims: Improving energy efficiency Reducing carbon emissions Support sustainability in the local community including educational projects Grants are open to organisations which are not-for-profit, charities or an SME (Small or ...
VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund – open until 15 February 2019
21 November 2018Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations can now apply for funding to run projects focused on improving children and young people’s mental health. Through the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund 2019-20, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England are aiming to work with VCSE organisations to promote equality, address health inequalities ...
Relocating mental health services – RBC consultation open until 28 December 2018
21 November 2018Proposed relocation and review of Focus House services Reading Borough Council (RBC) provides mental health supported living accommodation – known as Focus House services – to a number of residents within Reading. RBC is looking to provide better facilities and improved living conditions for the residents of 14 Castle Crescent and 16 Castle Crescent and to ensure ...
Consent online – new resources for 3 to 18 year olds
21 November 2018The UK Safer Internet Centre has developed a series of resources for 3 to 18 year olds, focusing on the topic of consent online and ways that we ask for, give and receive permission on the internet. The resources are free to download and feature four educational packs for children and young people, a pack for ...
Activity workshops for children and families – call for providers
21 November 2018Could you provide activity workshops for young people and families in South Reading? The charity Aspire2 are looking for activity providers to offer some workshops in South Reading. They are looking for a variety of activities for all ages: early years, families, primary and secondary age. The activities could be art, music, dance, drama, sports or something ...
Berkshire West CCG Voluntary and Community Organisations strategy – consultation
20 November 2018Consultation open until 14 January 2019 Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is seeking your views on its draft Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCO) strategy. The consultation is open until 14 January 2019. You can read the draft strategy here and complete the consultation survey here. The feedback from the consultation will be analysed and incorporated ...
How we are supporting RBH over the winter
20 November 2018Additional voluntary sector services at RBH this winter We are pleased that NHS England is funding some additional voluntary sector services at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) over the winter period to support patients and staff. The A&E Delivery Group (a partnership board which includes Berkshire West CCG, RBH, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, the ambulance service ...
Less than a week left to vote in the Aviva Community Fund
14 November 2018Have you voted yet? Voting close at midday on 20 November 2018 Reading is a town of two halves when it comes to technology – on the one hand, there is a highly IT literate workforce, and on the other, there are areas of deprivation where there are high levels of digital exclusion. Get Online Reading works ...
Trustees’ Week – Highlights from NCVO Conference
13 November 2018Happy Trustees’ Week! This week we recognise the incredible contribution and dedication made by approximately 700,000 volunteer trustees across the country. Trustees are volunteers who take on ultimate legal responsibility for a charity and set its strategy so that it can best achieve its charitable objects. Reading has over 900 voluntary and community groups with hundreds of ...
Windrush Compensation Scheme – meeting on 13 November 2018
12 November 2018Are you part of the ‘Windrush generation’, or a long-term Commonwealth citizen in the UK, and have faced issues establishing your status? The Home Office are working to put in place a compensation scheme for those who have suffered loss through no fault of their own. They are currently consulting on how the scheme should work. Talk ...
Berkshire West CCG strategy and future funding for the voluntary sector
8 November 2018Consultation to be launched Many of you will have attended the Listening Event that RVA hosted at Shehnai in June, to gather initial views as a foundation for developing a CCG strategy for working with the voluntary sector across Berkshire West (Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire). And now you will be wondering what has happened since ...
Social Prescribing – Coming of Age
8 November 2018The King’s Fund hosted a conference on 6th November bringing together established and developing Social Prescribing (SP) services, NHS acute trusts, GPs and many voluntary organisation interested in being part of the Social Prescribing movement. The conference kicked off with a breakfast discussion about how social prescribing can help reduce the demand on secondary services for ...
‘Choose a charity that aligns with your values’ – it’s Trustee Week next week
7 November 2018Next week is national Trustee Week: an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and highlight opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. There are approximately 850,000 volunteer Trustees in England and the UK is ranked the 6th most giving country in the world! This ...
Reading Buses Charity of the Year 2019 – open until 9 November 2018
7 November 2018Applications to be the Reading Buses Charity of the Year 2019 are open until Friday 9 November 2018 Reading Buses are inviting local charities, and national charities who work with local people, to apply to become their Charity of the Year 2019. For 2019, they are looking to work with a charity that supports people affected by ...
Purple Tuesday – accessible shopping day on 13 November 2018
7 November 2018The Oracle shopping centre is taking part in Purple Tuesday on Tuesday 13 November 2018 to demonstrate the accessible features they have for shopping. Come along for a free cake, a chat, friendly faces and guidance on accessible shopping in our centre from 10 am to 3 pm, next to Pravins on the Lower Mall. A Mencap ...
Hut at Knights Way, Emmer Green – bidding opportunity
7 November 2018Hut at Knights Way, Emmer Green The above Property is currently vacant and the Council has decided to grant a lease. In accordance with the Third Sector Premises Policy Statement agreed on the 16 February 2016, voluntary sector organisations have a period of 8 weeks to submit a bid for the property. Description of property Standalone hut Residential location Facilities: ...
Wellbeing Forum for the Voluntary Sector – 12 December 2018
7 November 2018Reading Voluntary Action is hosting the next Wellbeing Forum for the Voluntary Sector on Wednesday 12 December from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm in the conference room at RISC We are currently finalising the programme for the Forum which will include: Social Prescribing An update on Reading’s Social Prescribing service, jointly delivered by Age UK Berkshire and Reading ...