Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Hold the Date – 6 June 2017 Reading Volunteer Awards
25 April 2017As part of this year’s national Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2017) Reading Voluntary Action will be hosting an awards evening to celebrate those in our community who volunteer their time, talents and skills for the benefit of our town. Everyday volunteers are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals, groups and communities throughout Reading. ...
Need help with bookkeeping?
19 April 2017
If you look after the financial records for your charity and need some guidance on how to make sense of it all, this course if for you.
New sessions from Sport In Mind
19 April 2017Sport in Mind is starting two new sessions in April, including: Women’s football at Prospect Park 3G Football Pitches, Reading RG30 2ND, Tuesdays between 12 pm and 1 pm Yoga at Coronation Hall, Headley Road, Woodley, Reading RG5 4JB, Wednesdays between 2 pm and 3 pm. These are in addition to over a dozen existing sessions that the charity ...
Dying to Talk, Reading – part of Dying Matters week
13 April 2017Every year in May, Dying Matters and coalition members host an Awareness Week, which gives an opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda. This year, they ask What Can You Do? This aims to get people more active in planning for dying and death and ...
Does your organisation have a challenge for a corporate team?
12 April 2017Does your organisation have a challenge that could use a corporate team of 15 – 20 people for a day? Perhaps you have a hall to paint, or need some help with a gardening or conservation project? Four local businesses are looking for one-day projects to get them out of the office and working together. At ...
The Lions’ Den: grants for small local voluntary groups
12 April 2017Reading Lions Club is reaching out to small local community groups and charities around Reading. The Lions will be awarding grants for local community projects, and you could be lucky enough to be awarded a grant from £150 to £500. There are two stages in the application process: First stage: sending in your application. Please complete the ...
Reading’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)
10 April 2017What is a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)? The JSNA is a local assessment of the current and future health, social care and wellbeing needs of the local population in Reading. It looks at a wide range of factors that help shape the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and local communities such as education, employment ...
Berkshire West CCGs consultation on supply of medicines
6 April 2017The NHS supplies millions of prescriptions for medicines to patients every year. Along with NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the country the four CCGs in Berkshire West have reviewed what medicines are available on prescription and are proposing to make some changes. Dr Abid Irfan, GP Chair of the Berkshire West Federation said: ...
Brighter Berkshire Walk & Talk
6 April 2017As part of Brighter Berkshire, the Year of Mental Health, there is a Walk and Talk for Mental Health in Reading on Saturday 6th May. “We aim to connect with others and raise awareness that 2017 is a Year of Mental Health in Berkshire and we want as many people as possible to join in, make ...
Reducing Isolation and Loneliness in Reading
6 April 2017Research into Social Activity and Loneliness Reading Voluntary Action is working with a range of local befriending (and related) organisations to look at how we can better address issues of loneliness and isolation among people who are not currently engaged in activities or services. The partnership is exploring ways to work together to meet local need, starting with ...
News from the Wellbeing Forum
6 April 2017There was a great turnout for the latest Wellbeing Forum for Reading’s voluntary and community sector. Nearly 40 people came together to discuss two key priorities for the health and wellbeing of people in Reading, reducing loneliness and isolation and reducing deaths by suicide. We heard from Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Chair of Reading’s Health and Wellbeing ...
This Girl Can Run 10k 2017
5 April 2017Keen to get fitter or set yourself a challenge this year? Find the thought of starting exercise a bit daunting? Not sure you can stick to a training plan? If this is you, we’d like to help! The team at Get Berkshire Active are looking for ten women (aged 16 or over) to join our ‘This ...
Berkshire charity holds prices despite education cuts
5 April 2017Local charity ABC to Read has announced that it will be holding the price of school contributions for its volunteer mentors, despite acute pressures on school budgets. The charity’s prices are being held for the seventh successive year at just £360 per volunteer, representing a real-term reduction of 12% over that period; just £3 a week per child. ...
How you and your organisation can help Reading become Dementia Friendly
3 April 2017Reading Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) is a partnerhip of local organisations which aims to promote and sustain the town as a dementia friendly community. The Alliance aims to Raise awareness of dementia across local communities. Develop dementia friendly communities for people with dementia so that their interaction with local businesses, shops and care providers is as pleasant ...
New accounting templates for Company Charities
31 March 2017
New accounting templates for Charitable Companies to more easily comply with the statement of recommended practice (SORP).
Charities Seminar – Update on Data Protection (GDPR)
31 March 2017
Yesterday, I attended the Charities Seminar in Green Park, hosted by local firm, Blandy & Blandy. This article provides an update on the upcoming changes to Data Protection regulations.
Smart Works cycling challenge raises more than £40,000
30 March 2017Organisations and individuals celebrated International Women’s Day 2017 by taking part in a cycling fundraiser for Smart Works. More than 60 teams from across the UK took to the roads and their local gyms to tackle the ‘Spin for Smart Works’ challenge for International Women’s Day 2017. Teams of 5 were challenged to cycle 500 miles ...
Boost your appeal – local media course on 6 April
29 March 2017
This course is ideal for voluntary and community groups who want to use the power of local media to help raise their group’s profile, fund-raise, campaign and recruit volunteers.
New Chief Executive for Reading Borough Council
29 March 2017
Peter Sloman has been selected to become the permanent new Chief Executive at Reading Borough Council. With more than 30 years’ service of Local Government, Mr Sloman brings a wealth of experience to Reading.
Update from Berkshire West Safeguarding Adults Board
28 March 2017Berkshire West Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) brings together safeguarding leads from the three local authorities (Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire), Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, the Clinical Commissioning groups, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Thames Valley Police, with Healthwatch and voluntary sector representatives. The location of the quarterly meetings moves between Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham, with Reading Voluntary ...