Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Safe spaces for young people in the community
29 April 2022
The Safe Places and Signposting working group is looking at how it can set up and run safe places and activities, like youth clubs, for young people in Reading, utilising spaces within our communities. This work has been set up in response to the rising knife crime incidents locally in recent years and the feeling ...
Overcoming the barriers to participation – what stops people taking part in nature-based activities?
29 April 2022
Overcoming the barriers to participation – what stops people taking part in nature-based activities? On Wednesday 27 April, Reading Green Wellbeing Network (RGWN) hosted an event at MERL to share answers to this question and work out how to overcome barriers to participation in Reading. RGWN is a network of local community gardens, horticultural therapy groups and ...
Making Every Contact Count: free training in Berkshire West
14 April 2022Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an approach to behaviour change that uses the millions of day-to-day interactions that we have with people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing. It supports the delivery of consistent and concise healthy lifestyle information, enabling individuals to engage in conversations ...
Grow Wild Funding for Young People – deadline 25 April 2022
14 April 2022
Grow Wild is offering small grants for young people (aged 14 to 25 years) in the UK to deliver a creative project that celebrates UK native plants and fungi in exciting and engaging ways, and shares why UK native plants and/or fungi are so special. The project and funding are provided by Grow Wild, a national ...
Farmers’ Market seeks group to cook breakfasts
13 April 2022
Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative is keen to find a community group that would be willing to cook hot breakfasts at Reading Farmers’ Market as a regular fundraiser. The stall would be free of charge, they would waive the annual fee and they would also be willing to pay for a Level 2 food hygiene ...
Summer Internship Scheme is open for applications
13 April 2022Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is seeking motivated young people from ethnic backgrounds that are currently under-represented within the workforce, to take part in the Chairman’s Internship Scheme. As RBFRS continues to work towards an inclusive culture of equality and diversity, the Service wants to encourage people who may not have considered a career ...
Community Participatory Action Research showcase
8 April 2022
A showcase event for the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) project took place at MERL on Monday 4 April 2022 CPAR is a local partnership project investigating the impact of Covid-19 on health inequalities. The partnership between Reading Borough Council (RBC), Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC), Reading Voluntary Action (RVA), the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial ...
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023 – nominations open
8 April 2022
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. It is the MBE for volunteer groups and is awarded for life. A list of past winners in Berkshire can be found here. The ...
Homes for Ukraine Scheme
7 April 2022
The first UK government-funded scheme linking sponsors with Ukrainian refugees has been launched. Phase One of the scheme opened for applications on 18 March 2022. The guidance is currently limited, but the main points of the Homes for Ukraine scheme are: ‘sponsors’ may offer a room in their own house or a separate house; the accommodation must ...
Reading Health Champions and Vaccine Fund – deadline extended to 8 April 2022
5 April 2022
Deadline Extended – the Reading Health Champions and Vaccine Fund now closes on 8 April 2022 You know your communities best Could your organisation benefit from a grant and help give a voice to Reading residents disproportionately affected by health inequalities? Reading Borough Council wants to support the activities of local charities, voluntary, community, faith, sport, art, cultural, ...
Reading Covid Support Fund – grants announced
1 April 2022
Reading Borough Council has announced the 26 voluntary and community sector organisations in Reading who will receive grants to support communities and residents through issues caused by the on going Covid pandemic. Successful applications to the Reading Covid Support Fund focused on four key areas, which are: Social isolation/mental health /emotional support Self-isolation support (not financial) targeting ...
Developing and Supporting Community Health Champions Network – EOI by 5pm 4 April 2022
1 April 2022Funding of £30,000 is available from RBC for developing and supporting a Community Health Champions Network Activity will need to start by 14 April 2022 and be completed by 31 July 2022. The key aims of the funding are to: Set up a support network for Community Health Champions that are hosted by the VCS, organising regular ...
BBC Children in Need: Youth Social Action Fund – deadline 23 May 2022
31 March 2022
In partnership with the #iwill Fund and The Hunter Foundation, BBC Children in Need is delivering a £3 million fund to support organisations to embed youth social action across the UK. This fund will help to build children and young people’s confidence and skills, empowering them to take an active and leading role in developing solutions ...
Berkshire Community Foundation: Funds for Older People – deadline 14 April 2022
31 March 2022
Berkshire Community Foundation manages a number of funds which aim to support projects tackling issues affecting older people, such as isolation, disability or disadvantage. Who is eligible to apply? To be eligible to apply for a grant, your charity, community group or voluntary organisation must be improving the lives of disadvantaged people in Berkshire and fit the ...
Reading Services Guide refresh – your views wanted
30 March 2022
Since 2014, the Reading Services Guide has hosted information, advice and guidance on a wide range of topics, as well as listing local services supporting families, children, young people and adults. This year, we have received approval to refresh the website, this means a new up to date look of the website/directory. We would like to ...
Ready Friends survey – have your say
28 March 2022
Ready Friends is 6 years old this year, and was born out of the need to support local action on loneliness and social isolation. The voluntary and community sector (VCS) is central to reducing loneliness in Reading and provides an enormous range of opportunities for people to be socially connected and participate in activities that are ...
Berkshire Women’s Aid launch two new programmes for children and young people in Reading
28 March 2022
Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) are excited to announce the launch of two new programmes in the Reading area for children and young people, and a new programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse. Expect Respect – referrals open now Expect Respect works with children aged 5-17 who have experienced domestic abuse delivering age appropriate activities that are designed ...
Debt Awareness Week 21–27 March 2022 – resources from RBC
25 March 2022
This week is Debt Awareness Week, a campaign run by StepChange, one of the largest debt advice charities in the UK. It is designed to promote conversation about debt and the advice and help available, which for the people of Reading includes assistance from the council. Reading Borough Council’s Money Matters website brings together a host of valuable ...
BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference awards – nominate by 29 April 2022
25 March 2022
Local BBC Radio across England wants to award great neighbours, key workers, volunteers and more Community heroes who make a difference where they live will be recognised in a new award scheme being run by every local BBC radio station in England. This year BBC Radio Berkshire wants to celebrate and say thank you to people ...
Chairperson appointed for BOB VCSE Health Alliance
18 March 2022
BOB VCSE Health Alliance was created to support Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) organisations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire (BOB) to collaborate with the newly developing regional and local health systems. They have announced the appointment of William Butler as the first Chairperson to lead the VCSE Health Alliance. William became the Health ...