Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning in Reading Central Library
5 November 2024
Reading Central Library are hosting the final Welcome to Reading Coffee Morning of 2024. Come along to this friendly information hub and find out more about some organisations, events and activities in the Reading area. Free refreshments are provided. Drop In style session, no need to book and suitable for all Reading residents, new and old.
Kate Fox: Bigger on the Inside
5 November 2024Would you like to explore neurodiversity through the creative medium of poetry, infused with humour and a dash of Doctor Who? Well, this event is for you! Filled with autistic joy as well as deep thought, we hope that you will leave this event with a little spring in your step and feelings of validation ...
Citizens Advice Reading celebrates 85 years of serving its local communities
31 October 2024
In September 1939, Citizens Advice Reading (CAR) was established as one of the original 20 branches of the Citizens Advice Bureau, created to provide emergency assistance at the onset of the Second World War. Primarily staffed by volunteers, our early efforts were focused on offering guidance from public buildings and private homes, helping individuals navigate the ...
Life Changers Therapeutic Gardening
31 October 2024
Thrive, the gardening for health charity, runs Life Changers, a free, four-month gardening programme for those living with a life-changing illness or injury to enable them to improve their health and wellbeing. Whether recovering from a stroke, cancer or surgery, or living with a long-term condition like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or Long Covid, people experiencing a ...
Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Appeal 2024
24 October 2024
Over the next six weeks, Reading Family Aid will be collecting donations to provide Christmas presents to disadvantaged young people in Reading. But we can only do this with your generous help! Thanks to the support of many local organisations and businesses, there are around 25 places across Reading where you can drop off your gift ...
Reading Climate Change Partnership seek volunteer Communications Lead!
24 October 2024Join us & support Reading’s journey to Net Zero! Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) is currently between two Climate Emergency Strategies, so the Lead Comms Volunteer will be tasked with community-building tasks during this interim period (i.e. until mid 2025). In early to mid-2025, we will develop a more long-term comms strategy which supports the promotion ...
RBC Closing the Gap commissioning framework
20 October 2024
The RBC Closing the Gap (CTG) is a framework of 1.3m which commissions the voluntary and community sector to deliver community services. Attend the Reading VCS Assembly 19 November to find out more and help shape the CTG 2 framework. Closing the Gap was preceded by the Narrowing the Gap framework. When developing CTG in 2021, RBC ...
Community Buildings Forum – April 2025
18 October 2024
Are you a charity or community group in Reading 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 1 April 2025, 10am -12noon. (Registration and refreshments ...
Small Groups’ Forum January 2025 – Engaging your community, charity registration and more!
18 October 2024
Are you are small community group in Reading? Come along to our next Small Groups’ Forum on Tuesday 28 January 2025, 10am – 12noon to hear about support, funding and networking for smaller groups like yours. The session is informal, friendly and catered specifically for smaller groups as we know the challenges and support you ...
Comic Relief Community Fund – Grassroots groups – Deadline 8 November 2024
17 October 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) 2024 programme will focus on supporting organisations whose activities help to address poverty and its impact – funding organisations that provide essential resources such as food, shelter, healthcare and education, include foodbanks, homeless shelters, family hubs and community wellbeing centres. The Fund offers grants of ...
Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) – letter from the Director of Public Health
17 October 2024Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) potential threat to the United Kingdom Download: Letter to Home care agencies, Care homes and other Social care facilities from the Director of Public Health You may be aware of the Mpox virus that is currently causing outbreaks in multiple African countries mainly in the central African region. We are aware that ...
Public members needed for the Thames Valley & Surrey Secure Data Environment Committees
17 October 2024We are looking for members of the public to sit on a number of committees that support and govern the Thames Valley & Surrey Secure Data Environment: What is a Secure Data Environment? Information, or data, about patients is collected and used by the NHS to: provide individual care. plan health and care services. carry out research into new care ...
Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2025 – Deadline 25 November 2024
17 October 2024Introduction – overview of the funding In order to mark the anniversary of the MV Empire Windrush docking in the UK, MHCLG is offering up to £500,000 in grant funding to support a new cohort of impactful and ambitious projects. As of today, HM Government has dedicated £4.25 million in funding toward honouring the Windrush legacy. ...
Formal bidding process opens for The Brock Keep, Oxford Road – Deadline 12noon on 12 Dec 2024
16 October 2024Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the freehold land at The Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1HL. This land is being concurrently released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and on the open market via AH Lansleys for bids. You can find the ...
Launchpad is looking for new trustees
14 October 2024Are you passionate about making a difference? Launchpad – Reading’s homelessness prevention charity – is looking for new trustees to join the Board. What’s in it for you? A great opportunity for you to develop Board experience, have a tangible impact in Reading and to be part of an ambitious and growing charity. No experience is necessary, but we ...
Meeting Space for hire at Tilehurst Library
11 October 2024Do you need to run a meeting in Tilehurst in November or December 2024? Tilehurst Library has a new building system fitted which facilitates self service access outside library opening. We would like to test this with some real life hires before publicising more widely. If this meets a need you have, please contact simon.smith@reading.gov.uk to see if ...
SNG Thriving Communities Fund – Deadline 20 December 2024
10 October 2024Introduction – overview of the funding SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is a leading housing association, committed to improving customers’ wellbeing and developing thriving and resilient communities. Their Thriving Communities fund is aimed at supporting not-for-profit groups and organisations to deliver cohesive, sustainable, and resilient communities which people are proud to be a part of. Grants will be ...
PACT’s talking adoption live Q&A: early permanence
9 October 2024This free online Q&A is an opportunity for people considering adoption to better understand what early permanence entails. In this Q&A, you will be able to hear from a PACT parent who adopted through early permanence as well as PACT’s experienced Children and Families Support Worker and Enquiries and Placements Manager. Put all your questions to our ...
Easyfundraising: Waitrose Together for Good funding – Deadline 31 October 2024
3 October 2024Waitrose and easyfundraising have come Together for Good to give a funding boost to voluntary organisations, charities, and CICs. For one month only, they will donate five £1,000 funding pots. Follow these steps for a chance to receive your share: Register your organisation with easyfundraising. Encourage your volunteers, followers, and community to use easyfundraising’s platform to shop ...
Asda Foundation – Grants for Community Groups – Deadline 8 November 2024
3 October 2024Introduction – overview of the funding The Asda foundation, an independent charity founded by Asda, supports small groups at the heart of our communities. There are three grants that are currently open within the Grassroots Grants programme: The Empowering Local Communities grant enables local community groups to support a broad range of activities helping to transform communities and improve lives. ...