Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Next week is Volunteers’ Week!
29 May 2019
Next week is national Volunteers’ Week, celebrating and saying thank you for the contribution which millions of volunteers make across the UK. There is certainly plenty to celebrate here in Reading! Reading Volunteer Awards RVA is excited to be hosting the third annual Reading Volunteer Awards on Thursday 6 June in the Roost at Thames Tower. Organisations ...
Free trees for schools and communities
29 May 2019
The Woodland Trust are giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities They are currently taking applications for trees to be delivered in November 2019. Responses to applications may take a few weeks due to current high demand. The scheme is open to: Schools across the UK, plus nurseries, colleges, universities and outdoor learning centres All kinds ...
Office space to rent in Caversham
29 May 2019Stepping Forward are offering a short-term lease on office space in their new building at 12A Southview Park, Caversham, Reading RG4 5AF Details Rent: £460 a month inclusive of utilities 226 sq ft space available for 10 month lease Suitable for 4 to 6 desks Ground floor Some parking available Shared wifi available or organisations can install their own If you are interested ...
Mental health first aid courses at RCLC
29 May 2019Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis. MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and ...
The Great Get Together
29 May 2019Neighbourly events this summer It’s too late to apply to Reading Borough Council for a road closure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have an event in your neighbourhood this summer – just one that doesn’t need a street closure! Your local park, neighbours’ front gardens and other accessible community spaces are all places you ...
One Reading News – issue 1 is out now
22 May 2019
If you work with children, young people and families in Reading, then do sign up for a new bi-monthly newsletter full of news, upcoming events, training and development opportunities, and resources. One Reading News is for everyone working in health, education, special educational needs and disabilities, children’s social care, early help, the youth offending service, and ...
RVA are recruiting – paid summer internship and Stronger Together Referral Co-ordinator
22 May 2019
Take a look at two new posts we are advertising Intern coordinating youth summer activity programme – closing date 7 June 2019 Stronger Together Referral Co-ordinator – closing date 20 June 2019
RVA Summer Intern – closing date 7 June 2019
22 May 2019Intern required at RVA for the coordination of a youth summer activity programme RVA is looking for an intern to work alongside the Youth Project Coordinator to create, promote, attend and report on a calendar of youth summer holiday activities across Reading. Main tasks include Creating a calendar of all youth activities taking place across Reading during the ...
Ready Friends Toolkit launched
22 May 2019
At the Reading Befriending Forum on 16 May, a new toolkit was launched by RVA in partnership with Reading Neighbourhood Network (RNN), to inspire and equip local people to take action on loneliness in their street, community and with friends and family. The toolkit – an 8-page printed booklet and a more in-depth online version – ...
ABC to Read – fifteenth anniversary year
20 May 2019
As part of its fifteenth birthday celebrations this year, ABC to Read hopes to help a record number of children develop a love of reading to enhance their lives. They will be donating 15 new books to all schools who have worked with them since their founding in 2004 as well as launching a Reading Buddy workshop ...
Reading Museum and The MERL celebrate Investing in Volunteers accreditation
16 May 2019
Congratulations to Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) for successfully renewing their Investing in Volunteers accreditation. Both museums held Investing in Volunteers accreditation previously, but they have now achieved the accreditation as a partnership for the first time. NCVO’s Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard and aims to ensure quality ...
The way in which we work matters: free introductory sessions on restorative practice
16 May 2019Introductory sessions in restorative practice open to all those working with children, young people and their families in the Reading area There is national and regional evidence that restorative approaches significantly improve outcomes for children and the quality and consistency of professional practice across the workforce. We’re excited to be part of the NHS England Restorative ...
Help Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to build an inclusive workforce
16 May 2019
The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) provide prevention, protection and response services across the county of Berkshire. 12 wholetime and six on-call fire stations cover 486 square miles. They serve a diverse population of 863,000, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They want to build an inclusive workforce which reflects our local ...
Participate in the Whey2glo Study nutrition study at the University of Reading
16 May 2019The University of Reading is internationally recognised for its excellence in research on the relationship between diet and chronic disease. They are currently looking for volunteers to participate in their Whey2glo Study Researchers at the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition are currently investigating how dairy and plant proteins control blood sugar levels and vascular health, and ...
Groundworks – Community Training Grants for the Thames Valley
15 May 2019The Community Training Grants aim to support those organisations the size to apply directly for ESF funding. It aims to provide support to those smaller organisations that are grassroots & closest to those who face barriers to employment & training. Grants are available for third sector organisations to offer local skills, training & employment opportunities for individuals over the ...
Clothworkers Foundation – Grants for Capital Projects
15 May 2019The Clothworkers’ Foundation award grants to UK registered charities, CICs, & other registered UK not-forprofit organisations (including special schools). Their Open Grants Programme is for organisations with a gross annual income of less than £250,000. The programme offers grants of up to £10,000, the average amount is £7,000. The total cost of the project must be less ...
Earley Charity £200,000 Bicentenary Fund – Capital Grants
13 May 2019
Celebrating 200 years of active philanthropy: The Earley Charity Bicentenary, 1820 to 2020 The Earley Charity will be celebrating 200 years of active philanthropy in 2020. To mark this significant milestone, the Trustees have set up a £200,000 Bicentenary Fund. The fund is aimed at capital projects being undertaken by local organisations which work in and/or ...
23 May – RBC invite you to explore new ways of navigating care and support.
13 May 2019Reading Borough Council is developing new ways of responding to people’s enquiries about care and support. The aim is to think community first and link people into neighbourhood support which maximises their independence, dignity and enjoyment of life. We plan to increase our investment into local community services as part of this programme of work. Please ...
Rooms for hire at RCLC during the summer
8 May 2019
From 11 July to 7 September 2019, Reading Community Learning Centre offers three bright, well-equipped rooms for hire to voluntary and community groups at subsidised rates. The rooms can also be hired at competitive rates by public bodies, private organisations and individuals, and are suitable for conferences, training, meetings. Download the leaflet for further information.
The benefits of arts, culture and physical activity
8 May 2019Many of you will be aware of Arts on Prescription, Museums on Prescription, and Exercise on Prescription. These are all initiatives designed to support and improve our health and wellbeing. Two local events last week gave some of the evidence of how physical activity, arts and culture can benefit us. Physical activity in Social Prescribing On Wednesday, ...