Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
The Great Get Together – 17-18 June
22 February 2017A national event called The Great Get Together will be taking place on the weekend of 17-18 June this year. The event is being organised by the family and friends of Jo Cox MP and coincides with the anniversary of Jo’s death. The Great Get Together hopes to be a national moment of unity with people and communities coming together to ...
Next Wellbeing Forum for the Voluntary Sector – 4 April
21 February 2017The next Wellbeing Forum for Reading’s Voluntary and Community Sector will be on the morning of Tuesday 4 April. We are busy finalising arrangements for the Forum, which will focus on voluntary sector input into the actions plans to deliver Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy. More details will follow next week. Meanwhile please HOLD THE DATE for ...
Big Lottery Fund simplifies Reaching Communities guidance
16 February 2017The February 2017 issue of Reading Borough Council’s Funding Digest features details of the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, which has recently simplified its guidance. Voluntary or community groups can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 to cover the costs of projects that improve communities by using local knowledge, strengths and assets to ...
Heritage Lottery Fund 1-1 funding advice – 22 March
15 February 2017Does your community group or organisation have an idea for a heritage project? Could the work you already do be the inspiration for a heritage project? Perhaps you want to tell a story which has been lost, forgotten, or never even told? The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) offers grants for projects which explore and engage people ...
Launching the Compass Recovery College in Reading
15 February 2017The Compass Recovery College will be formally launched in Reading on Wednesday 22 February at Greyfriars Church. Come along between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to find out about the Recovery College and all the courses which will be available to support people with mental health issues. The event will be attended by Cllr Rose ...
Funding boost for Smart Works Reading
15 February 2017Smart Works Reading has received £14,500 thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The funding boost from People’s Postcode Trust will enable Smart Works Reading to continue to help women in Reading and the Thames Valley area get back into work. Smart Works offers all its clients an interview preparation service and a free style ...
Great turnout for Zero Tolerance World FGM Day event
14 February 2017
On Friday 10 February I attended a conference organised by Utulivu and ACRE (Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality) as part of the Zero Tolerance World FGM Day. Understanding & Working with FGM survivors to END IT brought together agencies and professionals to talk about how they address Female Genital Mutilation cases, support a survivors ...
Free food and support from Tesco
14 February 2017Tesco Napier Road is supporting the community in a number of ways, in particular through the work of the store’s community champion, Dee. There are several ways in which Dee and the store can help local charities and community groups and they are always keen to hear from new local charities: Practical support and one-off donations of ...
Community Buildings Forum
13 February 2017
Is your group looking for a more ‘permanent’ home or have you thought about raising extra income through renting out space in your building to another local voluntary group? RVA are hosting a session to explore how groups can continue to flourish and maintain a community presence through sharing buildings.
‘Glass half empty, to glass brimming over’ – great results for Social Prescribing
13 February 2017
We have been delivering our Social Prescribing service for almost two years now, accepting referrals for any patients who are registered with GP practices in Reading. Referrals can be made by doctors and practice staff. We have recently expanded the service to accept referrals from the team of Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Physiotherapists at the ...
Getting the recognition your charity deserves!
10 February 2017We’re delighted to announce that many of our local charities are becoming Safe and Sound! Last week we heard from ABC to Read who have since gone on to be awarded Investing in Volunteers. We also celebrate Reading Mencap’s Safe and Sound and explain how you can take steps to do the same!
5 Ways to Wellbeing – Give
8 February 2017In week five of the 5 Ways To Wellbeing we explore “Give” – how participation in social and community life increases wellbeing. With news headlines and social media seemingly to be constantly putting before us a stream of social challenges the world today can seem a rather scary and overwhelming place. The range and scale of such challenges ...
Remodelling of Reading Children’s Centres Consultation
6 February 2017Reading Borough Council is asking for the views of service users, members of the public and stakeholders, on the proposed remodelling of Children’s Centres. The feedback from this consultation will be considered by Councillors in Spring 2017. The consultation document (available through the link below) sets out the proposal for remodelling Reading Children’s Centres for families ...
Reading Wellbeing Fair Success
6 February 2017On Tuesday, 16 organisations attended the Wellbeing Fair at Reading Central Library. Many people came along to to find out what is going on locally that can help us build social networks, stay active, healthy and well. If you missed out on the event, don’t worry, we may be bringing the wellbeing fair to a venue near ...
New online study to support carers
6 February 2017Carers provide a large amount of vital unpaid care but at huge personal cost in terms of high levels of distress, a significant practical, financial and emotional burden, and increased use of healthcare services. The UK government recognises the need to support relatives in a caring role and NICE recommends that this is done by providing ...
Appreciating local volunteers – recognition for Berkshire charity
6 February 2017Giving up time in service of others is a core pillar of thriving communities. Schools, families and societies are strengthened thanks to the time and skills of volunteers and Berkshire reading charity ABC to Read have recently achieved the Investing in Volunteers Quality Standard, recognising the excellent work they do with volunteers. ABC to Read was ...
Team Reading Volunteers help Tea Dance go with a swing!
3 February 2017Over 50 attendees came together to enjoy music, dance and food at the first Older People’s Tea Dance of the year. The dance, bringing together people from all over Reading, took place at Wycliffe church and Team Reading volunteers were on hand to help set-up, provide a friendly welcome and have a bit of a dance! ...
5 Ways to Wellbeing – keep learning!
31 January 2017When we leave school, it marks the end of our time in compulsory education, but not the end of our learning journey. The difference is that we continue to choose to learn, not just further / higher education, but the learning we continue to do for our own enjoyment, to further our abilities, to overcome challenges, for work ...
Accounting Records and Reporting to the Charities Commission
30 January 2017Unsure whether you need to prepare accounts, what form this should take and whether you have to file them with the Charities Commission? What about Annual Returns and Trustee’s Reports? This simplfied factsheet is an introduction to reporting and provides a checklist for all organisations including community associations, CIOs and charitable companies.
New funding opportunities for smaller organisations
25 January 2017The January 2017 issue of Reading Borough Council’s Funding Digest features two grant programmes to help small organisations supporting adults and children with disabilities. Barchester Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for grants between £100 and £5,000 from small community groups and small local groups helping adults aged over 18 with mental and physical disabilities, and older ...