Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Older People’s Day – 1 Oct 2021
1 September 2021
AgeUK Reading and AgeUK Berkshire, supported by Reading Borough Council, are planning an event for Older People’s Day, 1 October 2021, and details of the exciting plans for the main event will be shared shortly. This year’s Older People’s Day falls on a Friday. As well as advertising the events for the day we would like ...
Formal bidding process for Office 2 at South Street Arts Centre – open until 27 October 2021
31 August 2021
This is notice of the formal bidding process through the open market and also through the third sector process for Office 2 at South Street Arts Centre or short-term lease for up to 5 years for £3,500 per annum on an inclusive basis (building’s insurance, utilities, business rates). The bidding process is now open, and ...
How should Reading market itself? A chance to have your say
27 August 2021
Reading UK, Reading Borough Council and The University of Reading are working together to develop a place story and marketing approach for Reading. This will help celebrate the best of Reading, build civic pride, confidence in Reading, market the area to attract inward investment, create jobs, and support existing business. They will be holding two ‘virtual’ ...
In real life events and services
25 August 2021
If your group is now opening face-to-face services or putting on events, we can share this with people wanting to get out, meet others, access services or simply to have fun with other people in real life. Our social prescribers and other RVA staff speak to individuals every day, who want to know where they can ...
Town centre survey: come and talk to us in Broad Street
25 August 2021RVA is working with the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE) and the University of Reading’s Participation Lab on a research project exploring community perceptions of Reading town centre. We are interested in what you think about the town centre and what could be done to make it more sustainable, inclusive and liveable. We’ll be ...
Hammond Organ free to collect from central Reading
25 August 2021Hammond organ available for collection from the MAPP Centre, 22 Mount Pleasant, Reading RG1 2TD Berkshire Phab is offering this on a ‘taken as seen’ basis, free to a good home. Sadly we are closing and can no longer make use of the organ. It would benefit from a service and has one loose key but otherwise ...
Reading Mencap seeking premises for activity
24 August 2021
Do you have premises that would be suitable for Reading Mencap to use for delivery of a day service? We are currently looking for an additional space for one of our Day Services (Mencap Enables 2). The service is for people with Learning Disabilities and Higher Needs, with a staff ratio of 4:1. It currently has ...
Food4Families Growing Healthy Conversations – new courses starting in September
24 August 2021
Growing Healthy Conversations – free 6 week courses starting in Sept Practice your conversational English whilst learning gardening skills at our local community gardens small groups and socially distanced all equipment, tools, seeds etc provided travel costs can be refunded see flyer below or download here for dates and times for more information and to book, contact Sharon Fitton: sharon@risc.org.uk or tel: 0118 ...
Food4Families Growing Careers – new courses starting in September
24 August 2021
Growing Careers – free 6 week courses starting in Sept Practical, hands-on introduction to what your could be doing if you got a job in horticulture. 1.5 hour sessions, based outdoors in local Reading community gardens seed sowing and propagation plant care soil health garden maintenance sustainable growing techniques see flyer below for dates, times and locations, or download here for more information and ...
Empower people with us, become an RVA Trustee!
18 August 2021Who is RVA? Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) supports and helps voluntary and community groups to start up and thrive, matches volunteers to great opportunities and works together with organisations across Reading to improve the lives of local people. RVA values the diversity, skills, knowledge, connections and potential in communities and values its position in nurturing the ...
Graduation event – training programme for the homeless & those in need
18 August 2021Fifteen participants and 12 mentors were awarded certificates and trophies at a joyful graduation event held by the charity Sadaka on 24 July 2021. It was a celebration of what the mentors and mentees had achieved, despite many personal and communal challenges, as part of a project called ‘Step Up with Sadaka’. Sadaka is a volunteer-led ...
Free First Aid training for your organisation
18 August 2021Simple actions save lives. Would you know what to do in a first aid emergency? We can help you learn the simple skills that could save a life. We are offering free First Aid sessions, at your venue, with your group of participants. Please get in touch if you are interested or would like further information. As a ...
Updated guidance from the Charity Commission: trustee meetings and AGMs
17 August 2021
The Charity Commission has updated its Coronavirus guidance for charities with amended guidance in relation to charity trustee meetings and AGMs. Here is a summary of the updates: If your governing document does not permit meetings to be held online, by telephone or on a hybrid basis, or to be cancelled or postponed, then charities are ...
Starting your own business? Free workshops available
17 August 2021
This is a 10-week online workshop series based on our increasingly popular Start Your Own Business Workshop Series. If you want to start your own business – start right here! These are practical accessible workshops for people starting up businesses (including being sole traders) to do or make all kinds of things and for people who ...
Impact report on grants at RVA
17 August 2021
In response to the pandemic, RVA secured funding in the second half of 2020 to run two small grants schemes for voluntary and community sector groups and a fund to address digital exclusion within low-income households. £10k from Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) for Reading Community Grants £20k from Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (BWCCG) for Black, Asian, ...
Foyle Foundation – small grants scheme
16 August 2021
The Foundation understands that charities are now operating within very different circumstances since the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. They are keen to be as flexible as can be in their support of small charities during this difficult and constantly changing ongoing period, while maintaining a focus on those who can demonstrate a clear (usually local) ...
King’s Fund – GSK Grow Programme, deadline 20 September 2021
16 August 2021The GSK Grow Programme is open to registered charities that are at least a year old, working in a health-related field in the UK, with a total annual income of between £20,000 and £120,000. Up to 10 charities will receive £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus training and development valued at £3,200. Up to five runner-up charities ...
Consultation: help the council improve Reading’s libraries
11 August 2021
Reading Borough Council is developing a ‘vision’ for its library service to ensure it is forward looking, innovative and provides an excellent experience for everyone. A draft idea has been set out of what the service hopes to achieve and what it thinks its priorities should be. The council now wants to know more about ...
Get involved at your community allotment
9 August 2021
Food4Families helps organise community allotments all over Reading. At your local allotment you can help grow organic fruit and vegetables, get the health benefits of gardening and learn all about growing. Gardens are now open to the public, but please get in touch and book before you visit. This way we can be aware of numbers. ...
New LGBT+ befriending service for Reading
9 August 2021
The pandemic has been extremely isolating for many people, but many people in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) community have felt the effects of loneliness severely. The LGBT+ community relies on safe spaces like bars, clubs and general meet-ups with like-minded people to be themselves and relax without fear. Comparisons have even been ...