Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
NCVO publish model policies for members
9 May 2016The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) have added a number of model HR policies to their ‘Knowhow Nonprofit’ website aimed at small voluntary groups. It’s a really useful resource if you don’t already have a full set of policies in place and a good range of templates is provided. You need to be a NCVO ...
Trustee matching and volunteering
9 May 201612.15-14.15 Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s important to know what’s involved before committing. Trustees are the volunteers responsible for the oversight and direction of charities. A good board of trustees will bring a wide range of skills to a charity and help ...
The difference we make – good news stories from CCGs
3 May 2016Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Groups fund a wide range of voluntary organisations both through the Partnership Development Fund and by directly commissioning services. The CCGs have begun to promote the great projects they fund through case studies published on their websites. The Age UK Berkshire Living Well project aims to help those over the age of ...
Improving eye and end of life services for patients
3 May 2016NHS commissioners want to hear what people think about two services: the ophthalmology service that treats minor eye conditions the end of life and palliative care service Two projects are underway to look at these services, as part of the CCGs’ transformation programme, which builds on the feedback we had last autumn, when people gave their views about ...
“The best Wellbeing Forum ever!”
3 May 2016Thank you to everyone who attended the Wellbeing Forum on 28th April. More than 40 people came to discuss how to measure the difference that their services and activities make to the people they support. Speakers from the Big Lottery, Reading Borough Council and Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Groups gave examples of the range of evidence ...
Join us for Eat Reading during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate your work and recruit volunteers
27 April 2016On Friday 3 June in Reading town centre Eat Reading and Volunteers’ Week 2016 will coincide. We are looking for organisations to join us who would like to raise funds and/or recruit volunteers. Do you want to sell food during the day to raise funds for your organisation? Do you want to raise the profile of your ...
Still time to help make Reading Town Meal!
27 April 2016Reading’s Town Meal is run entirely by volunteers and community groups and now tasty meal-maker rewards are now on offer to community donors who help make it happen in 2016. Over 1,000 people are served up a mouth-watering meal made from fresh fruit & veg donated by home-growers, cooked and served up by Reading College ...
Promote your organisation at Sunday Assembly Reading
26 April 2016Local charities and community organisations are welcome at Sunday Assembly Reading to give a brief announcement about their work or volunteering opportunities. We are particularly keen to give a voice to small charities. We are a non-religious community group that meets once a month to sing pop songs together, listen to great talks and enjoy tea ...
Reading Water Fest: book your stall now
25 April 2016Reading Water Fest will be taking place on Saturday 11 June 2016 between 11am and 5pm. The event will run from the Forbury Gardens along the Kennet between Chestnut Walk and the Riverside Museum. Reading Borough Council and The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust are working together once again and hope you can join them ...
The future of Mothertongue Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service
25 April 2016We wish to advise all our referrers, beneficiaries, friends and supporters that Mothertongue multi-ethnic counselling service has decided to complete its work in 2018. We are communicating this now so that people have 2 years to digest the information and to make any preparations necessary. With two years’ notice we hope that you will appreciate that ...
RVA launches community buildings package
21 April 2016Running a community building can be daunting and it can be hard to know where to get all the right information from. That’s why RVA has put together its Community Buildings Package, containing the relevant information to get your committee on track. You can chose all or any of the products we offer and, if there ...
Deadline for Give Local grant applications extended to 27 April
20 April 2016United Way UK wants to support small, local organisations working hard to help people within their own communities. While doing this, it hopes to better understand the range of issues affecting these local communities and to create a clear picture as to level of these needs, what good work is being done to address them and ...
Volunteer to combat loneliness and social isolation
20 April 2016A new study by the Universities of York, Liverpool and Newcastle has emphasised the importance of social contact to health and wellbeing. Researchers found that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The new research prompted the Times to call for ‘a social revolution to deal with the growing ...
Building Better Opportunities Funding Update
20 April 2016£1,317,540 of Big Lottery Funding to address barriers to work in the west of Thames Valley Berkshire. The funding will be for one partnership working with participants who are 25 years or older with a particular focus on: People aged 50 or over People with long term and ongoing health issues Long-term unemployed Ex-offenders People claiming ESA who have mental ...
This year’s extended Volunteers’ Week is coming soon – What do you have planned?
19 April 2016Volunteers’ Week 2016 is just around the corner. This year a whole extra week is being given over to celebrating the contributions that our volunteers make. Reading Voluntary Action will be out and about spreading the word and encouraging more people to get involved in volunteering locally. There are also plans afoot for a special radio ...
Office Space At RISC To Let
18 April 2016Office Space at RISC to let Within Reading International Solidarity Centre we now have a 2nd floor self-contained office available to let to a voluntary/community sector organisation or social enterprise. Office 1 – is approx 70 sq.ft /6.5 sq.metre and would accommodate between 1 and 2 people. The cost will be £2000 per year including services and utilities. Many ...
Charity Commission Quarterly News
18 April 2016The Charity Commission has published its quarterly newsletter, including information on charity reserves, managing financial difficulties and the chair/CEO relationship. Keeping up to date with news from your regulator and charity law is an important way of ensuring that trustees carry out their duties and gives staff the confidence they are carrying out their jobs effectively. To ...
Community Learning – funding opportunity through New Directions
15 April 2016Community Learning is a broad range of learning that brings together adults, often of different ages and backgrounds, to pursue an interest, address a need, acquire a new skill, become healthier or learn how to support their children. A key part of the learning continuum – it is non-formal, it does not necessarily lead to ...
CQC wants to hear from people who have received care for depression, anxiety and stress
14 April 2016It is estimated that nearly one in four people in England suffer with conditions related to depression, anxiety and stress. People with mental health problems may be accessing health and social care and know a lot about the quality of care. Do you get help from health professionals for feeling anxious, feeling stressed or feeling low? ...
Bags of Help – funding opportunity for local green space
14 April 2016The second funding round for the Tesco Bags of Help grant scheme opens on Monday 18 April 2016. The scheme is administered by Groundwork and funded by Tesco customers from the proceeds of the 5p charge for plastic carrier bags as a result of a government carrier bag levy. Bags of Help is available to a wide ...