Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
True Colours Trust – UK Small Grants
26 March 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The True Colours Trust provides grants to help support families, children and young people in the UK with complex disabilities and/or life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The Trust seeks to bring about better lives for children and their families through a broad mix of research, advocacy, service delivery and innovation. Their grant-making is focused on the following areas: Improving service delivery ...
Comic Relief – Re-rooted funding – Deadline Tuesday, 26th March 2024
26 March 2024Introduction – Overview of the funding The Re-Rooted: Safety and Security for Refugees and Asylum Seekers is a new funding programme provided and administered by Comic Relief. The programme will invest in organisations that specialise in delivering services and support for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Who is eligible to apply? UK based organisations that currently specialise ...
Thinking of holding a street party? Free road closures available in Reading
21 March 2024
A street party is a great way to bring your neighbours together and have fun, and as in previous years communities across Reading are invited to host street parties without having to pay the usual road closure fees. This year the council has announced that free road closures will be available for street parties that ...
Children’s Karaoke at Reading Biscuit Factory
19 March 2024Calling all future pop stars! As part of this year’s Reading Children’s Festival PACT will be bringing the tunes for a fun afternoon of children’s karaoke at The Reading Biscuit Factory from 3:00 pm till 5:00pm. We have all the favourite tunes with something for every voice. Everyone is welcome to sing along…even the adults! So bring ...
Community Buildings Forum – April 2024
19 March 2024
**Updated, now with more details on what the session will cover** Are you a charity or community group looking for space to run your activities or services, or do you have space within your building that you would like to hire out, lease or offer to others? Then come along to our next Community Buildings Forum on ...
Reading Half Marathon – Donations available to groups providing volunteer support
15 March 2024
The annual Reading Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 14th April 2024 We are currently seeking volunteers to join Volunteer Groups stationed around the Marathon’s route. Any not-for-profit group can apply to help and will receive a donation of £100 plus £10 for every volunteer they supply. There are several locations and roles available: Location – Finish Funnel, ...
KFC Youth Foundation Community Grants – Deadline 17 March 2024
14 March 2024Introduction- overview of the funding The KFC Youth Foundation provides grants to support grassroots organisations in the communities where KFC’s restaurants are located. The Foundation works with organisations who are empowering young people in the UK to fulfil their potential by providing safe social spaces, mentoring or work, and social skills. Who is eligible to apply? Registered charities, registered community interest companies, unincorporated clubs or associations ...
RBC/ACRE: Community Health Champions Project Grants – Deadline extended to April 5 2024
14 March 2024Introduction – Overview of the funding Reading Borough Council, together with Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE), are inviting local organisations who support Reading residents with their health and wellbeing to apply for this project grant. The grants are designed to support community-based organisations working with those at the greatest risk of experiencing poor health ...
Invitation to a Joy Marketplace information session
29 February 2024
Reading Voluntary Action is inviting local community groups and charities to a 45 minute information session on the Joy Marketplace. Joy is an online platform that connects people to life-changing local services. It instantly refers clients to high-quality support on the marketplace of services, which automatically stays up to date. It’s free for VCOs to join ...
Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning in Reading Central Library
28 February 2024Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning is a free and friendly information hub for anyone who would like to find out more about living in Reading. Come along and join us over refreshments and chat to local organisations who will be here to tell you about their services. We look forward to meeting you!
SNG & Crowdfunder – Thriving Communities Fund
22 February 2024Introduction Sovereign Network Group recognises the important role that community & voluntary organisations have in delivering key services to communities. Sovereign Network Group’s Thriving Communities fund is aimed at supporting, not-for-profit groups and organisations that can clearly demonstrate how their services and projects help deliver cohesive, sustainable, resilient communities. They have partnered with Crowdfunder. SNG is ...
Sovereign Network Group – EDI Micro Grants – Deadline 23rd February 2024
20 February 2024Introduction The Community Investment and Partnerships Team at SNG is delighted to announce the launch of the first EDI Microgrants Programme, a programme which aims to support equality, diversity, and inclusion across their communities by bringing people and partners together with a diversity of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. Who is eligible to apply? Applications will only be accepted ...
Employment Law update: Changes to holiday pay entitlements and more
20 February 2024The government introduced reforms to the Working Time Regulations in January 2024, and in particular in relation to holiday pay for part-time and irregular hours workers to once again allow employers to pay their accrued holiday using the 12.07% method. This is where the employer decides to pay the holiday pay in every pay period ...
Fee Home HIV Testing
16 February 2024Local charity Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) are offering free home HIV testing to the residents of Wokingham, West Berkshire and Reading. TVPS ran a similar HIV testing initiative last year and due to its success, they decided to run roll it out again. The focus of last years campaign was to get as many ...
Trustee Training with RVA – June session
14 February 2024
Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of ...
Meet the Funder Event – May 2024
14 February 2024**Updated 17/4/24 – link to Lloyds Racial Equity Funding added** Join us for our popular Funder Event taking place in our conference room, Reading Central Library on 21 May 2024, 10.30am – 12noon (registration from 10.15am) You will hear from local and national funders on upcoming funding rounds and have the opportunity to ask questions. There will also ...
RVA AGM & thank you lunch
12 February 2024
Please join us to for our AGM and thank you lunch! We will be thanking all our staff, volunteers, partners and all of you working together to make Reading a fabulous place to live. Particular thanks will be given to Karen Morton who has been our Chair for 7 years long! An opportunity to hear our plans for ...
New Reading Community Energy Society share offer open
8 February 2024
Reading Community Energy Society has just opened a new share offer to raise additional capital to extend its portfolio of solar PV systems and increase the positive impact it is having in the Reading area. Building on the success of the previous two share offers, this new share offer seeks to raise £97,000 to refinance the ...
BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards 2024
6 February 2024The BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards are back for 2024! For the third year, BBC Radio Berkshire wants to celebrate and say thank you to people living in our villages and towns who make where we live a better place. Every day we hear stories of people doing incredible things for each other and their ...
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) in-person session 2025
1 February 2024
Reading Voluntary Action has received funding to deliver an in-person 16-month Community Wellbeing Training Programme in our town centre training suite, for health and wellbeing practitioners (open to paid staff and volunteers) active in local voluntary and community organisations (VCOs). Nina Crispin from Reading Borough Council is delivering this in-person session on Making Every Contact Council, ...