Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Sanctuary Café opens on London Street
7 August 2026
The Refugee Support Group’s new Sanctuary Café is open! Last week, it was all hands on deck and our CEO up a ladder cleaning windows in preparation for the launch. Reading Mayor, Cllr Paul Gittings officially opened the café by cutting the ribbon and serving the very first cup of coffee. Click here for more info about the ...
Reading Integration Board (RIB) – Project Fund 2026–27 – deadline 21 August 2026
6 August 2026
Applications to the Better Care Fund for 2026–27 are now open The awards from the fund can reach up to £15,000, and more in some circumstances. Applications are invited from charitable and voluntary organisations, community groups and health care providers. Projects and programmes should help reduce health and social inequalities for adults, with a particular focus on neighbourhood ...
Help shape the future of Adult Social Care in Reading
6 August 2026Help Shape the Future of Adult Social Care in Reading Reading Borough Council is developing a new Adult Social Care Strategy for 2026–2031. The strategy sets out our priorities for the next five years and how we will improve support for residents, carers and communities across Reading. We would like to hear your views on the draft ...
Safe and Warm Communities Funding – deadline 10 August 2026
4 August 2026The Safe and Warm Grassroots Communities scheme is part of the wider Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) funding programme. We’re partnering with three Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) to deliver this scheme: SGN, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), and Wales and West Utilities (WWU). Community organisations play a crucial role in identifying and supporting people who are vulnerable ...
Working together to keep our communities safe – new date
22 July 2026
Please note this is the new date for the postponed June event. You will need to register for the new date: Book a space on Eventbrite The event is being jointly hosted by Reading Borough Council, Reading Voluntary Action, ACRE and Thames Valley Police to bring together community leaders and representatives and hold collaborative conversations on the following themes: Strengthening ...
Meet the intern: help shape our research!
22 July 2026
Hello! I’m Charlotte, a second-year Politics and International Relations student at the University of Reading. This summer, I’m spending six weeks with Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) as a Research Intern as part of the Reading University Internship Scheme. During my internship, I’m carrying out a research project exploring the different pathways people take into working in ...
Community Buildings Forum – September 2026
21 July 2026
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 29 Sep 2026, 10am -12noon. (Registration and refreshments ...
Brock Keep, Oxford Road – third sector bidding process opens 5 Aug deadline 2 Oct 2026
20 July 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1HL Open for applications: 5 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 2 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for the sale of the freehold at Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1HL ...
Safeguarding Children Training for charities and groups – Oct 2026
16 July 2026
Does your charity offer services or activities to children or young people in Reading? If so, come along to this free training. All charities, voluntary and community groups have a duty to keep their service users safe from harm. As most charities and community groups run through the hard work and dedication of volunteers, it is ...
Safeguarding Adults Training for charities and groups – Sep 2026
16 July 2026Does your charity offer services or activities to adults in Reading? If so, come along to this free training. (Please note we have a separate Safeguarding Children training session, see our training page). All charities, voluntary and community groups have a duty to keep their service users safe from harm. As most charities and community groups ...
The Skill Mill – an opportunity for local community groups to have environmental/construction work done for free
16 July 2026
The Skill Mill is an award-winning social enterprise directly employing young ex-offenders aged 16–18 The Skill Mill provides the young people with paid employment working on local environmental/construction projects, along with personalised support to move on to work or training. The average re-offending rate of the young people who attend is 8.5%, against a national average of ...
Community Safety Survey 2026 – share your views on crime and safety
14 July 2026
Reading’s Community Safety Survey runs every year and is a chance for you to share your views on how safe you feel and the crime issues affecting you in Reading. The survey is open to anyone who lives, works or visits Reading and your feedback will help us make Reading safer. Take part in the Survey: https://www.reading.gov.uk/cspsurvey26 The closing ...
RVA’s Social Prescribing service receives RAN Quality Standard
8 July 2026
We are delighted to announce that RVA’s Social Prescribing service has achieved the Reading Advice Network (RAN) Quality Standard. This was awarded for signposting, providing assisted information, giving advice, and doing casework. The RAN Quality Standard is designed to enable member organisations, their funders, and their service users or clients to be confident that the organisation ...
Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board – first newsletter
8 July 2026
The first edition of Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board’s newsletter is now available In this issue: Board Updates Pan Berkshire Multi-Agency Policies, Procedures and Guidance Daniyal Safeguarding Adults Review Navigating the Digital World Training opportunities Click here for your copy. If you have any feedback, comments or suggestions for the next issue, send them to readingsapb@reading.gov.uk. Website: Reading Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board News from: Reading Safeguarding ...
Young Voices Safety in Reading Survey 2026 – please share
8 July 2026
Young Voices have launched their annual safety survey and would be grateful for your support in sharing it with children and young people across your networks. Please note that the survey is for children and young people to complete, rather than professionals We would appreciate it if you could share the survey and encourage participation over the ...
Men’s Health Community Fund – deadline 15 July 2026
30 June 2026
The Men’s Health Community Fund, announced in spring 2026, is a new £6.3 million national initiative designed to support community-led projects that improve men’s health and reduce inequalities, particularly among those least likely to engage with traditional health services. The scheme sits within the UK Government’s Men’s Health Strategy for England and has been developed as ...
Online – Bitesize Volunteer Management Training – ‘Recruitment Essentials’
29 June 2026Do you manage volunteers in your role in one of Reading’s diverse voluntary and community sector organisations? You may be a volunteer yourself, or a paid member of staff, or even a volunteer Trustee/Committee member. RVA is running bite-sized training for those who manage volunteers. These sessions are designed to give you an introduction/ refresher into ...
Cool spaces in Reading
24 June 2026
Cool spaces are free, indoor places in Reading where people can take a break from the heat, cool down and rest during the current period of hot weather. They are normally open to anyone who needs a comfortable place to stay out of the sun, or if they are struggling to keep cool at home, which may help to reduce health risks from heat. They ...
Online Prevent training for charities and community groups
18 June 2026This short online workshop is ideal for staff, volunteers and trustees. Prevent Awareness Live training description: This session will deliver a new Home Office Prevent training module. It aims to increasing understanding about Prevent, explain what radicalisation, extremism and terrorism are, what the notice, check, share procedure is and how to apply it and what to do if you ...
Lloyds Bank Foundation – new 9-year strategy
17 June 2026
Lloyds Bank Foundation has a new 9-strategy which is about everyone in England and Wales being in a good place: In a good place personally with a focus on financial resilience and digital inclusion. In a home that’s a good place to live. That means preventing homelessness and helping non-profit organisations make more homes available to people who need ...