Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Reading Covid Support Fund – deadline 5pm on 4 March 2022
25 January 2022
Reading Borough Council has allocated £220k for grants to the voluntary and community sector for the year 2021/22 from the ‘Reading Covid Support Fund’. The funding is available to support the infrastructure and/or additional capacity needed by voluntary and community organisations to expand existing services, deliver services in a different way or to develop new ...
Free voluntary sector workshops by Compass Recovery College
25 January 2022
Compass Recovery College are continuing their free voluntary sector mental health and wellbeing training this March These workshops are open access to staff, volunteers and befrienders alike. The goal of this free training is to boost voluntary sector mental health and wellbeing knowledge and help those supporting others to take control of their own mental wellbeing. We ...
Have your say: Berkshire area pharmacy survey
25 January 2022Healthy Dialogues have been commissioned to work in the Berkshire area to understand how you use your local pharmacy. This includes what you use it for, how often do you use your local pharmacy, how far is it for you to get to, is there anything you wish to see within your pharmacy that you ...
ABC to Read launches climate change competition
24 January 2022
Berkshire reading charity ABC to Read is launching a competition to encourage local youngsters to engage with climate change while inspiring and challenging their inner literary critic. The competition, open to all children and primary schools across Berkshire, invites children to read a book about climate change and create a review to tell others why they ...
The new Reading Volunteer Connect platform has arrived
24 January 2022
We are pleased to announce that the new volunteer matching platform for Reading, Reading Volunteer Connect, is now live. The new platform will introduce a wide range of new functionality allowing organisations to have more control over the volunteering opportunities advertised via Reading Voluntary Action and streamline volunteer engagement. Organisations can register for an account HERE. You ...
Reducing Parental Conflict workshops – feedback and new sessions
21 January 2022
Over 50 of you from across the children, young people and families workforce have now completed one of the Reducing Parental Conflict workshops delivered by Communicate for a Change and Parenting Special Children. Participants have included Nurses, Social Workers, Family Workers, designated safeguarding leads, SENCOs, Health Visitors, Youth Workers, Childminders, Head Teachers and Team Managers. We’ve ...
Have you completed the Reading Threshold of Need Briefing yet?
21 January 2022
The Reading Threshold of Need is a document published by the Berkshire West Safeguarding Partnership that sets out children and young people’s levels of need, including risk and protective factors and the appropriate responses and routes into services. The threshold document is for all staff and volunteers working with children, young people and families – ...
Meet Tanya Spiers, Family Support Worker for Dingley’s Promise
21 January 2022
Tanya Spiers is the Family Support Worker for Dingley’s Promise in Reading. Dingley’s Promise was established in 1983 and became a registered charity in 1988. It was originally set up by parents of children with additional needs and disabilities that wanted more than just medical interventions for their children. Now there are three Dingley’s Promise ...
New online workshops from The Real Business Club
19 January 2022
The Real Business Club are running new interactive online workshops to help businesses grow The workshops start in March 2022 and are free to business owners, no matter what kind of business they run. They offer clear and practical advice on best marketing routes and guidance on planning a strategy, and are run by business experts. Feedback ...
A young people’s report on their long-term wellbeing needs post-pandemic – from No5 Young People
19 January 2022
Safe spaces, support, confidentiality and community – findings from new report on young people’s needs A local snapshot of the voices of young people, reflective of the national picture about mental health, early intervention, and knife crime, has been published in a report by No5 Young People. The report summarises the work of No5’s ‘Restart Youth!’ ...
Covid-19 Vaccination: online information session and Q&A
18 January 2022
Find out about the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination and the support available to access vaccines in Reading Hear from Dr Deepak Ravindran, Clinical lead in Pain Medicine and Clinical Lead for Berkshire Long Covid Integrated Service and Ida Osei, Pharmacist and Vaccinator. Find out about support to access vaccines in Reading. Question and answer session. This information session is ...
Save money on your bills – Broad Street Mall, 25–26 January
18 January 2022
Are you worried about your energy and utility bills? Come and see Citizens Advice at Broad Street Mall – look for our stall. One of our specialist advisers can take a look at your existing bills and advise you on how you could save money – if you would like help please bring your recent bills with ...
Funder Presentations – revised date 3 February 2022 and another funder announced
17 January 2022
Please note that this date has been moved. The new date is Thursday 3 February, 10am – 11.30am. As part of RVA’s regular funding events, we are partnering with Berkshire Community Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund and Reading Borough Council to offer funder presentations to Reading voluntary and community groups on Thursday 3 February 2022. ...
Independent Chair Safeguarding Adults Board, Berkshire West – closing date 3 February 2022
12 January 2022Berkshire West is a diverse area seeking to recruit an independent chair for its Safeguarding Adults Board The chair will be accountable to three local authority areas (Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire) – West of Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Board (WBSAB) and its statutory partners, promoting the work at a strategic level by influencing inter-agency development to ...
Council consults on next year’s budget
10 January 2022Reading Borough Council is consulting on its budget for the financial year 2022/23 We are inviting input from people who live and work in Reading, partners, local businesses, and people who come into Reading to use our services. The consultation is open from 21 December 2021 to 14 January 2022. Council leader Jason Brock said: It has been ...
Walk-in vaccinations resume at Broad Street Mall
10 January 2022
Broad Street Mall vaccination centre, Reading The vaccination centre in Broad Street Mall re-opened for walk-in Covid-19 vaccinations on 10 January 2022. The site, located where the old New Look shop used to be inside Broad Street Mall, is open from 9am to 7pm every day (check the NHS website for the most up-to-date information). The walk-in ...
Free Sight Loss training
7 January 2022
Berkshire Vision offer a training session on Sight Loss and Eye Health, which is now open to the general public. This takes the form of an informative video by our Trustee Jane Veys, an Optometrist, and an opportunity for any comments afterwards. The training lasts approximately 45 minutes and is free. Book onto one of our ...
BCF Jubilee Fund, Let’s Create – deadline 10am on 10 February 2022
4 January 2022
The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop new creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery. Who can apply? The fund is open to voluntary and community organisations ...
The Volant Charitable Trust Covid-19 Response Fund – deadline on 31 July 2022
4 January 2022
The Volant Trust accepts applications from charities in the UK and internationally that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Applications for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE will also be considered. They cannot cover costs already incurred ...
Co-op community fridge fund- deadline on 1 February 2022
4 January 2022
Introduction: Co-op is working in partnership with Hubbub to offer funding to local groups for 100 Community Fridges across the UK. A community fridge is a space where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens. Hubbub want to help local groups run Community Fridges that are safe, inclusive and financially ...