Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
New national coalition launched to promote social connections
6 May 2020
A coalition between the Jo Cox Foundation, Mind, Age UK, the British Red Cross and other organisations is aiming to help people maintain social connections despite physical isolation. The Connection Coalition, which also includes the innovation charity Nesta and Facebook, among others, has been formed to help build stronger connections within communities and neighbourhoods despite the coronavirus lockdown. The coalition plans to ...
List of childcare available for key workers updated daily by Family Information Service
6 May 2020
RBC’s Family Information Service are making daily updates to a list of childcare settings open to children of key workers, including: childminders day nurseries pre-schools after school clubs and holiday clubs. There is also a list of all childcare settings that are currently closed and links to similar lists for surrounding local authority areas. Go the Key Workers’ Childcare page on the ...
ABC to Read volunteers celebrated in challenging times
6 May 2020
Reading is a core skill for all children. Its impact extends well beyond escaping into stories; it is a critical foundation for future life skills. Berkshire charity ABC to Read has been placing volunteers into local schools for over 15 years to work with children identified as struggling most with their reading. Their consistent investment ...
Update from Alana House, Women’s Community Project
6 May 2020
Alana House continues to support all our regular service users remotely during this Covid-19 season, having suspended face-to-face individual work, outreach and group sessions for the time being. Alana House supports women with complex needs and we recognise this time is difficult for many where needs may be aggravated. We are also encouraged though how ...
Update from Parenting Special Children
6 May 2020
Parenting Special Children is continuing to support families through the pandemic. The challenges of parenting children with special needs, and those who have been through traumatic early lives, are compounded as schools are closed, anxieties are running high and behaviours are even more demanding. We have shifted the majority of our workshops online, for more details ...
Wake Up and Sing with Berkshire Maestros
6 May 2020
Berkshire Maestros are running daily YouTube ‘singing workouts’ called Wake Up and Sing, suitable for the whole family Published at 7am every morning on YouTube and Berkshire Maestros social channels, these are 10 minute sessions designed to wake up your voice and body. Each session builds daily up to a finale song at the end of ...
Mid-term planning – key questions for trustees
5 May 2020
Charities have spent the last eight weeks responding and adapting to the impact of coronavirus on their beneficiaries, services, staff and volunteers, with outstanding dedication. Your charity will undoubtedly also be looking at the mid-term, and trying to navigate this new landscape. This article is based on an NCVO webinar from last week and summarises and ...
Christian Community Action’s mobile response service
5 May 2020
Normally, Christian Community Action (CCA) provide a full range of emergency furniture to people who have been moved into premises with very little or no furniture at all. Sometimes a property will have no white goods, no floor coverings, no furniture and nothing to prepare or cook food with. CCA is able to provide good quality, ...
Positive and supportive weekly newsletters from Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K)
5 May 2020
Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K) are producing a positive and supportive weekly newsletter Full of news, advice and support, the newsletters are going out to referrals on the BB4K list – including those who have already completed the programme and those who are waiting to take part. The newsletters are also being sent to all referrers, ...
Volunteers needed to deliver home testing kits
4 May 2020
GP surgeries in Reading are looking for volunteers to deliver and return home testing kits The tests will be used to diagnosis Covid-19, or other medical conditions. Appropriate gloves will be provided and there is no need for face-to-face contact with the patients or surgery staff. The role requirements include: A time commitment of up to 4 hours ...
RVA shopping volunteers supporting vulnerable members of our community
4 May 2020
Supported shopping service Local voluntary sector groups have been working in partnership to coordinate support when calls for help come through to the One Reading Community Hub. Reading Voluntary Action has set up a supported shopping service for vulnerable members of our community. In the past 20 days, 12 shopping volunteers have completed 51 shops. RVA ...
My hour in The Frazzled Café
4 May 2020
I’ve been working on a list of where local people can go online and over the telephone, if they are feeling lonely, which includes the various online ‘chatty tables’ and other virtual places, so it seemed sensible to give one of them a go. I decided to try out one of the new online meet-up ...
Meet the RVA Team – Steve Hendry, Volunteering Development Manager
4 May 2020
The first in a new series, in which we ask members of the Reading Voluntary Action team to tell us about their work, and reflect on how things have changed over the last few weeks. First, we have Steve Hendry, who has been with RVA for almost 9 years in a variety of roles and ...
One Reading Community Hub – contact details
29 April 2020
The One Reading Community Hub is a place where people in need of help can be connected with volunteers, organisations and services who can support them during the coronavirus outbreak. Contact details The number to call is 0808 1894325 (free phone). Reading Deaf Centre SMS: 07704 687298 or Fax: 0118 950 0507 The phone line is open 9am to ...
Free webinars for Reading support staff and volunteers – understanding anxiety and self-care for those in helping roles
29 April 2020
Compass Recovery College is offering two free webinars to support staff and volunteers currently working in support roles Please note you will need to register in advance in order to receive your Zoom Link and password to join the meetings. The webinars will be led by CBT and NLP Practitioner, Olga Zilberberg. Understanding Anxiety for Befrienders and ...
Funding for online culture projects – applications open until 8 May
29 April 2020
The Reading Place of Culture, a project run by Reading Borough Council, Reading UK and Reading University, are creating a virtual ‘venue’ called Reading Culture Live, where audience members will be able to take part in activities and events created by our cultural community, for our community. Funding of up to £2000 per application is ...
Berkshire Vision – stay at home calendar for May
29 April 2020
Berkshire Vision have added some new events to their stay at home programme for May, including wine tasting and shiatsu. As with the previous calendars, there’s no need to be computer literate or have access to the internet as there’s the option to dial in from any phone. Download the stay at home calendar for May Further information Berkshire Vision ...
NSUN Mental health funding for smaller groups – to open soon
29 April 2020
The National Survivor User Network (NSUN) will be offering grants to smaller groups who are providing mental health peer support activities. This is part of funding allocated by the government to help organisations who are delivering mental health support services during the pandemic. MIND is distributing the larger funding pots of £20,ooo and £50,000 to ...
Compass Recovery College – what’s on in May
29 April 2020
What’s on at Compass Recovery College 4 May – 15 May 2020 – download the leaflet. Thursday 7 May Understanding your Medication: 2pm – 3pm @ Zoom Tuesday 12 May Coping with Panic: 2pm – 3pm (x 4 weeks) @ Zoom Friday 15 May Coping with Stress: 2pm – 3pm (x 4 weeks) @ Zoom Also coming online in May… Compass Quiz Growing Flowers, Fruit ...
Top tips for Emergency Befrienders
29 April 2020
Befriending Networks are working hard to provide help and guidance to existing befriending organisations and to the thousands of new community groups that are springing up. It’s hardly surprising that befriending has been identified as one of the top support needs, and Reading already has a number of schemes. RVA is liaising with these organisations regularly ...