Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Is your charity or community group looking for storage space?
7 December 2021
In view of recent requests for storage space for the sector, RVA is collecting details from groups and charities about what space is required. If your group is looking for storage space, perhaps because you have migrated to more hybrid working with less office space, or if this is a long-standing issue for you, please ...
Asda Foundation Investing in Spaces and Places Grant- stage 1 applications open until 9 January 2022
1 December 2021
The Asda Foundation will be supporting communities across the UK with an investment to help groups improve these spaces through this brand-new grant. . The first round of Investing in Spaces and Places Grants launch in October 2021 and will be awarded in June 2022. There is a limited funding allocation for each Asda region. Who can ...
Can you support us to help people get vaccinated for Covid-19?
1 December 2021
Does your community or your service users need support and reassurance to access the Covid-19 vaccine? Just over 50,000 people in Reading have yet to have their first dose. Scientific data shows that vaccines are our best protection from the dangerous effects of Covid-19, even as new variants emerge. Reading Voluntary Action are working to improve information ...
Voluntary sector vaccine support – helpline and information page
1 December 2021
Information on getting your Covid-19 and flu vaccines in Reading We’ve updated our information page with links to information about getting Covid-19 and flu vaccinations in Reading this winter. Access it via the link below or via the RVA homepage. As we get more updates, for example, dates for the Health on the Move Van or ...
Free workshop with ACAS and NCVO on handling conflict – 7 December 11am – 12.30pm-
1 December 2021
ACAS and NCVO are hosting a free workshop for charities on dealing with difficult conversations with staff or volunteers. Having difficult conversations about sensitive and or emotive issues is a necessary part of being a leader or manager in a charity. But many try to avoid these conversations in the hope that the issue will ...
Mental health and wellbeing support for adult asylum seekers
1 December 2021
Barnardo’s Boloh Helpline is pleased to announce the expansion of our service to support the mental health and wellbeing of adult asylum seekers across the UK. This project is funded by the Home Office and is in addition to our current service that offers support to children, young people and their parents. The Helpline will offer ...
NLCF Platinum Jubilee Fund – deadline 15 December 2021 at 5pm
1 December 2021
Introduction: The Platinum Jubilee celebrates 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign and to mark this occasion, the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) will fund 70 projects across the UK. Funded projects will need to be up and running by Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend on the 5th June 2022. They plan to make their final decisions on ...
Have you had your Flu vaccination and Covid-19 booster jab?
24 November 2021This winter, it’s more important than ever to get your flu vaccination and take up the offer of the Covid-19 booster jab, if you are eligible. More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Research has shown ...
Simplified flu vaccination information available
24 November 2021With Covid-19 still at high levels and the stronger than usual likelihood of a severe flu season this winter, flu vaccinations for everyone eligible are particularly important this year. The government and Mencap have produced useful resources about the flu vaccination in a simplified format order to reach all those who are entitled to it, to ...
Join the new regional healthcare partnership
24 November 2021This is a new membership opportunity for voluntary sector (VCSE) organisations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB), to collaborate with the newly developing regional and local health systems. Regional health systems are transforming, and as part of the approach the health partnership project is working to ensure the VCSE sector provides a strategic voice and ...
RBC announces Narrowing the Gap update sessions
23 November 2021Local voluntary sector organisations that are interested in Narrowing the Gap – the council’s commissioning framework for Voluntary and Community Sector services – are invited to a series of update events and workshops. Many organisations attended one of the briefing sessions at the end of September which was a great opportunity to share the council’s thinking, ...
10th GBA Awards – nominate your Berkshire Physical Activity Hero now
23 November 2021Last year was a challenging time for the whole world and our county. The GBA Awards recognised the fantastic contribution of local individuals and organisations to the mental and physical wellbeing of Berkshire residents. The ‘Berkshire physical activity lockdown hero’, a campaign celebrating the GBA Awards’ winners, united residents, communities and activity providers around the joy and ...
Free coaching for Reading’s charities now extended – apply before 14 January 2022
23 November 2021
RVA successfully collaborated with Coaching Reading this year to offer free coaching to trustees and managers of Reading’s charities and community groups. In this article, Deborah Jefferies, Coach and Coordinator of the pro bono offer at Coaching Reading captures the successes and also gives details of the extension of this offer. Read on to hear ...
Organisation registration for the new Reading Volunteer Connect platform now open
23 November 2021
We are pleased to announce that organisations that involve volunteers in their work are now able to register to use our brand new volunteer matching platform. Designed by Voluntary Action Sheffield and used across the country, the Volunteer Connect platform will introduce a host of new features giving organisations greater control over their opportunities and streamlining ...
The Giving Tree 2021
17 November 2021
Do you want to be a Secret Santa? Buy a gift or donate so local charities can make Christmas special for those they support! Last year, thanks to your incredible generosity over 1,500 gifts were given through 16 local charities. This year, we’re going even bigger and we have 20 local charities who are receiving gifts! Watch ...
Royal Berkshire Hospital Christmas Gift Tree Appeal
16 November 2021
Every year the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) collects gifts for patients who will be in hospital over Christmas. Receiving a gift makes a big difference. If you would like to support the appeal for gifts, you can find out more about how you can donate here.
HSHAZ Cultural Programme Grants – Oxford Road – deadline for stage 1: 10 December 2021, 5pm
15 November 2021
Introduction RBC are looking to work with groups, organisations and communities from the Oxford Road area to discover creative opportunities and develop new projects with local people that celebrates the history and diverse cultures of the area. Projects need to offer local community members the opportunity to take part in creative and cultural activities together that: are ...
Dingley’s Promise: family support offer in Reading
12 November 2021
The Family Support Offer by Dingley’s Promise is available to all families in Reading with children aged 0–5 that have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or developmental delay. You do not have to be attending one of their centres to access support. Download a leaflet with more information about sessions in Reading. Tanya Spiers is the ...
Leader required to chair voluntary sector/healthcare alliance
12 November 2021We are now recruiting for the role of Chair of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire West Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (BOB VCSE) Alliance and inviting applications from visionary, strategic leaders with experience and knowledge of the role of the VCSE Sector. The Chair will: provide leadership and direction to the VCSE Alliance and to enable the ...
Seeking to understand: trauma-informed Reading, our journey so far
12 November 2021
I’m sure many of you will recall that in November 2020, the One Reading Children and Young People’s Partnership hosted a trauma informed conference. The virtual conference was launched with a morning of key note speakers and the sharing of a short video on Reading’s trauma-informed journey. We wanted to share the link to the video ...