Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 900+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Health & Safety and Risk Assessment Training
28 November 2016All voluntary and community groups are legally required to have basic health and safety measures in place. This one day course will provide a basic health and safety overview as well as guidance on how to complete risk assessments.
Free Get Berkshire Active open days
28 November 2016Get Berkshire Active is coordinating a series of open days which will be hosted at sites in West Berkshire in January. These events are free and open to older adults and disabled adults. Carers are welcome too. They’re a great opportunity to get out of the house, socialise, try something new and get active. It doesn’t ...
Mills Archive awarded accreditation by the National Archives
28 November 2016The Mills Archive is one of the first charities to receive accreditation by the National Archives, and joins a prestigious group of national archives that have also become accredited. The badge of accreditation is national recognition for the quality of its work caring for the vulnerable records of milling history. The Archive Service Accreditation Panel “praised the ...
Brighter Berkshire Year of Mental Health 2017 – be involved in the planning
25 November 2016Supporters of Brighter Berkshire Year of Mental Health 2017 aim to maximise the use of all community networks and assets to raise awareness, reduce stigma and improve support for those who need it most in Berkshire. Cllr Graeme Hoskin is Chair of Reading’s Health & Wellbeing Board, and also the Mental Health Challenge Council Champion. He ...
Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy – update from consultation event
25 November 2016Reading Borough Council hosted a consultation meeting about the Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy 2017-20 on Monday 21st November in the Council Chamber. It was well attended by voluntary organisations, patient groups and members of the public. Here is a link with the presentations from the key partners on the suggested priorities that are out for ...
Expressions of Interest invited – could you provide support for people receiving Direct Payments?
24 November 2016Our uptake of Direct Payments currently stands at around 11% amongst eligible Social Care clients. We wish to achieve a 25% uptake, in order to promote greater levels of choice and independence amongst our service users, and in order to generate savings against our existing social care spend. Support to enable a person to set up ...
Charitable Companies and CICs – are you PSC compliant?
22 November 2016All charitable companies and CICs must comply with the new regulations to list Persons of Significant Control (PSC). RVA have prepared an easy read factsheet to help you work out whether you have any PSCs in your organisation and the reporting requirements.
Focus on wellbeing: Rachel Goater returns to work!
18 November 2016I’ve been on maternity leave for 9 months but am happy to be working at RVA again and with your organisations. I thought I’d just say a quick hello to let you know I was back, but also to outline what I’ll be working on as a few things have changed while I’ve been away! Wellbeing Directory I ...
Reading Rotary seek to celebrate the positive contribution of young people in the town
17 November 2016The Rotary Club of Reading are looking for a young person or group of young people (under 25) making a positive difference here in Reading Borough through the Young Citizens Award 2017. Suitable nominees will have their contribution recognised by the Reading club. One nominee will potentially be adopted by the District Rotary organisation to go ...
Elevate Hub open for your Toys and Teens 2016 Christmas donations
16 November 2016The Elevate Hub, 3rd floor Reading Central Library, is acting once again as a collection point for the Reading Family Aid Toys and Teens Christmas appeal. The appeal is now up and running and we are very pleased to accept donations of new or nearly new toys or vouchers appropriate for children between the ages of ...
Getting Home Steering Group – a brief introduction!
16 November 2016When a patient is ready to leave hospital, the priority for local authorities, hospitals, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and community healthcare trusts is to ensure that the patient can move back home with the care they need, or to an appropriate care home or nursing setting. Longer stays in hospital can have a negative impact on ...
Pride of Reading: Leslie Macdonald’s phenomenal commitment to the voluntary sector
15 November 2016Congratulations to Leslie Macdonald for winning the Pride of Reading Community Champion award 2016. Leslie has been chair of Reading Mencap, the leading charity for children and adults with a learning disability in Reading, for almost 6 years. Speaking about winning the Pride of Reading award, Leslie said she was, “absolutely amazed and honoured to even ...
Find out about your local Clinical Commissioning Groups
14 November 2016The local Clinical Commissioning Groups meet in public on a quarterly basis. It is your opportunity to hear the CCG members discuss local health issues and make decisions about local healthcare services. Questions related to the agenda should be submitted by 12 noon on the day prior to the meeting. Dates for next Governing Body Meetings in ...
Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation
14 November 2016You are invited to attend a public event to help us shape the action plan for the health and wellbeing strategy 2017-2020. We welcome your input to inform what we need to put in place to address the health and wellbeing priorities suggested for Reading: Supporting people to make healthy lifestyle choices – focused on dental ...
Robert Parker – passionately committed to improving the community in Reading
14 November 2016Robert Parker was the treasurer, and a trustee of Reading Voluntary Action until his death in 2013. He was also treasurer of Reading Welfare Rights Unit and supported many other voluntary and community groups in the town. Robert is now remembered in an artwork commissioned to honour three figures with a Reading connection. Robert, Oscar Wilde ...
Apply for the Co-op Local Community Fund – closing date 16 December
11 November 2016Co-op members get 1% of everything they spend on Co-op products to give to a local cause that matters to them. The Co-op Local Community Fund is inviting applications from voluntary and community groups to be one of the causes for their next round of funding, running from March to September 2017 You can now apply ...
Personal Health Budgets – what’s happening
10 November 2016“Personal health budgets (PHBs) are one way to give people with long term health conditions and disabilities more choice and control over the money spent on meeting their health and wellbeing needs. A personal health budget is an amount of money to support the identified healthcare and wellbeing needs of an individual, which is planned and ...
Save money on energy bills – free advice sessions from Citizens Advice Reading
9 November 2016
Citizens Advice Reading is offering free advice sessions to community groups and frontline workers to help people reduce their gas and electricity bills. Last winter we spoke to more than 500 people and our clients saved an average of £240 per year on their bills. We would like to make an even bigger difference over ...
Reading Trustee Network
9 November 2016The Reading Trustee Network returns in the New Year. The network will be a great chance to connect with your fellow trustees and charity managers, share ideas and learn about topics relevant to the sector. We’ll be kicking off with presentations from keynote speakers on Effective Communication for Charities, and the Do’s and Don’ts around ...
Heart of Homelessness Conference – 25 November
9 November 2016The Heart of Homelessness Conference is fast approaching. This is a free conference to celebrate the successes and challenges of faith and voluntary sector charities supporting homeless people in Berkshire. The conference is on Friday 25 November 9:45am to 4:00pm at Reading Central Salvation Army, Anstey Road, Reading RG1 7JR. The day will include a keynote speech from ...