Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Have your say: Berkshire area pharmacy survey
25 January 2022Healthy Dialogues have been commissioned to work in the Berkshire area to understand how you use your local pharmacy. This includes what you use it for, how often do you use your local pharmacy, how far is it for you to get to, is there anything you wish to see within your pharmacy that you ...
ABC to Read launches climate change competition
24 January 2022
Berkshire reading charity ABC to Read is launching a competition to encourage local youngsters to engage with climate change while inspiring and challenging their inner literary critic. The competition, open to all children and primary schools across Berkshire, invites children to read a book about climate change and create a review to tell others why they ...
The new Reading Volunteer Connect platform has arrived
24 January 2022
We are pleased to announce that the new volunteer matching platform for Reading, Reading Volunteer Connect, is now live. The new platform will introduce a wide range of new functionality allowing organisations to have more control over the volunteering opportunities advertised via Reading Voluntary Action and streamline volunteer engagement. Organisations can register for an account HERE. You ...
Reducing Parental Conflict workshops – feedback and new sessions
21 January 2022
Over 50 of you from across the children, young people and families workforce have now completed one of the Reducing Parental Conflict workshops delivered by Communicate for a Change and Parenting Special Children. Participants have included Nurses, Social Workers, Family Workers, designated safeguarding leads, SENCOs, Health Visitors, Youth Workers, Childminders, Head Teachers and Team Managers. We’ve ...
Have you completed the Reading Threshold of Need Briefing yet?
21 January 2022
The Reading Threshold of Need is a document published by the Berkshire West Safeguarding Partnership that sets out children and young people’s levels of need, including risk and protective factors and the appropriate responses and routes into services. The threshold document is for all staff and volunteers working with children, young people and families – ...
Meet Tanya Spiers, Family Support Worker for Dingley’s Promise
21 January 2022
Tanya Spiers is the Family Support Worker for Dingley’s Promise in Reading. Dingley’s Promise was established in 1983 and became a registered charity in 1988. It was originally set up by parents of children with additional needs and disabilities that wanted more than just medical interventions for their children. Now there are three Dingley’s Promise ...
New online workshops from The Real Business Club
19 January 2022
The Real Business Club are running new interactive online workshops to help businesses grow The workshops start in March 2022 and are free to business owners, no matter what kind of business they run. They offer clear and practical advice on best marketing routes and guidance on planning a strategy, and are run by business experts. Feedback ...
A young people’s report on their long-term wellbeing needs post-pandemic – from No5 Young People
19 January 2022
Safe spaces, support, confidentiality and community – findings from new report on young people’s needs A local snapshot of the voices of young people, reflective of the national picture about mental health, early intervention, and knife crime, has been published in a report by No5 Young People. The report summarises the work of No5’s ‘Restart Youth!’ ...
Save money on your bills – Broad Street Mall, 25–26 January
18 January 2022
Are you worried about your energy and utility bills? Come and see Citizens Advice at Broad Street Mall – look for our stall. One of our specialist advisers can take a look at your existing bills and advise you on how you could save money – if you would like help please bring your recent bills with ...
Council consults on next year’s budget
10 January 2022Reading Borough Council is consulting on its budget for the financial year 2022/23 We are inviting input from people who live and work in Reading, partners, local businesses, and people who come into Reading to use our services. The consultation is open from 21 December 2021 to 14 January 2022. Council leader Jason Brock said: It has been ...
Walk-in vaccinations resume at Broad Street Mall
10 January 2022
Broad Street Mall vaccination centre, Reading The vaccination centre in Broad Street Mall re-opened for walk-in Covid-19 vaccinations on 10 January 2022. The site, located where the old New Look shop used to be inside Broad Street Mall, is open from 9am to 7pm every day (check the NHS website for the most up-to-date information). The walk-in ...
BCF Jubilee Fund, Let’s Create – deadline 10am on 10 February 2022
4 January 2022
The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop new creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery. Who can apply? The fund is open to voluntary and community organisations ...
The Volant Charitable Trust Covid-19 Response Fund – deadline on 31 July 2022
4 January 2022
The Volant Trust accepts applications from charities in the UK and internationally that demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Applications for medical equipment and the production or distribution of PPE will also be considered. They cannot cover costs already incurred ...
Co-op community fridge fund- deadline on 1 February 2022
4 January 2022
Introduction: Co-op is working in partnership with Hubbub to offer funding to local groups for 100 Community Fridges across the UK. A community fridge is a space where everyone can share surplus food, including donations from local food businesses, producers, households and gardens. Hubbub want to help local groups run Community Fridges that are safe, inclusive and financially ...
DHSC Suicide Prevention Fund-deadline at 5pm on 16 January 2022
4 January 2022
Introduction: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has made available a £4 million Suicide Prevention Fund to support voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that work to prevent suicide. the funding, applied for on a competitive basis. The funding is only available to support the delivery of suicide prevention activities in England. Background and ...
Wellbeing walk training with Dementia Adventure
22 December 2021Dementia Adventure, Reading Voluntary Action and The Caversham teamed up to organise, plan and run a wellbeing walk training event as part of the Thriving Communities Project. Based on his experience of sensory walks and outdoor experiences with those living with dementia, Gordon Malcolm from Dementia Adventure proved to participants that wellbeing walks are of benefit ...
Season’s Greetings from RVA
22 December 2021
Season’s Greetings from the RVA team At the end of another tough year, our thanks as ever to the amazing voluntary and community sector in Reading. RVA is closed from 25 December until 4 January 2022. This week out vaccine support helpline remains open and we have one more Get Online session, with support for booking vaccination ...
Do you have healthcare equipment you no longer need?
20 December 2021Due to Covid-19, Reading Borough Council and its equipment provider (NRS Healthcare) are in a critical position in relation to equipment available for service users. Please see the attached flyer explaining the situation and what action service users can take. At present there is an urgent need for beds, mattresses, hoists and commodes. If you have ...
Small Mental Health Grants for Community Groups – deadline approaching
16 December 2021Compass Recovery College is pleased to announce small grants for voluntary groups in Reading, who are embedded in and providing grass roots support to their communities. They are offering 3 grants of £1000 each. The aim of this funding is to support mental health and wellbeing in vulnerable groups in Reading, by enabling local voluntary ...
ABC to Read calls on schools to return volunteers to the classroom
16 December 2021Berkshire reading charity ABC to Read is calling on local schools to allow volunteers to return to the classroom following the interruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Only 70% of the schools that previously used ABC to Read mentors to support children struggling with their reading have reinstated those volunteers, despite government guidelines clearly stating that such ...