Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Charity Commission updates: holding trustee meetings and AGMs
11 January 2021
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for charities as a result of lockdown 3 as follows: Trustees should hold their trustee meetings online or via telephone, where possible during lockdown. AGMs can continue to be held online (the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 has been extended until 30 March 2020). For more details on how to ...
Blog: journey to better equality, diversity and inclusion in your organisation
6 January 2021
Lots of us want to do better when it comes to diversity, equality and inclusion in our sector. Why? We know this is an area that can improve in the third sector and with global events and the pandemic further highlighting long-standing inequalities in 2020, the time for action is now. At Reading Voluntary Action ...
Funding: practical tips and step-by-step guides from NCVO
6 January 2021
NCVO have just launched their new funding guidance section on their website which is ideal for smaller community groups and charities looking for step-by-step guides on raising money for their activities. The guidance includes the following sections: Funding and income planning, with a really useful planner you can download. All about grants: from getting ready to apply ...
Warning about Covid-19 text message scams
6 January 2021
There have been reports of a new scam where a person receives a text saying they need to book a vaccination appointment and it takes them to a fake NHS form which then asks for their bank details to prove their identity. The NHS will never ask for banking information. The scam has been reported ...
National lockdown January 2021: what charities need to know
6 January 2021This article was updated on 14 January to include: NCVO updated Coronavirus Guidance which gives specific guidance and resources on involving volunteers and supporting beneficiaries in the lockdown (see section on risk assessments below) Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 4 January 2021 of the third national lockdown, we have gathered some guidance and resources for ...
Henry Smith Charity – Improving Lives grant programme
4 January 2021
The Improving Lives grant programme provides grants to charitable organisations that help people when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. They support established organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries. They are looking for services which can demonstrate a track record of success, and evidence the effectiveness of the work. Grants ...
B&Q community re-use scheme
4 January 2021
DIY stores B&Q operate a community re-use scheme through all its branches in the UK. The scheme donates unsellable products and materials for re-use by local schools, other educational institutions and community groups, for the benefit of the community and the environment. The types of material includes: Wood, including off cuts and single use pallets Plastic plant ...
Covid-19 vaccination roll out in Berkshire West
4 January 2021
Health teams from across Berkshire West have started the successful roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination with hundreds of local people receiving their jabs in the last two weeks before Christmas. To date it’s been delivered at six sites across our area, with more starting early in the new year. The first group of people to ...
Office space available
4 January 2021
Attractive and light office space available in business park in Caversham Dimensions: 7.2 metres x 2.89 metres. Suitable for 5+ people working at their own desks comfortably, with space for a meeting table, shelving, storage, etc. Option of empty or partially furnished. Some parking outside and plenty of parking available free for 2 hrs in local streets for ...
How to protect your charity from cyber attacks
9 December 2020As we approach the holiday season, it is completely natural that staff and volunteers may be feeling tired and juggling end of year duties. It may be far from our minds, but it is also worth remembering that charities are still vulnerable to cyber attacks, especially at this time, and to be extra vigilant about ...
Why language matters when talking about race and diversity
17 November 2020
Azra Raja is working on an inclusion framework for the voluntary sector in Reading, to help managers and trustees consider equality, diversity and inclusion in their own organisations. Here is a link to Azra’s introductory article if you missed it the first time round. Please contact Azra by emailing azra.raja@rva.org.uk if you have any questions ...
New Charity Commission 5-minute guides for trustees
3 November 2020The Charity Commission have launched their new 5-minute guides as part of Trustees’ Week 2020. These are designed as simple, easy to understand guides, designed to help trustees run their charities in line with the law. The new guides cover five key aspects of charity governance – a ‘core syllabus’ covering the basics that the regulator ...
New process maps from ACAS to help you navigate workplace changes
2 September 2020
As the country is slowly easing out of lockdown, many organisations are cautiously and gradually returning to the workplace or planning to do so. If you are a charity or voluntary group that employs individuals, then the trustees are employers in law. For help with mapping out a process and ensuring the board thinks through ...
Research into the impact of Covid-19 on Punjabi communities
26 August 2020
Research has shown that communities racialised as Black and minority ethnic (BAME) have experienced Covid-19 and lock-down distinctly differently from their counterparts racialised as white, with BAME groups more likely to die from Covid-19 once diagnosed and reporting higher levels of mental distress. Taraki – a team of grassroots groups and activists with academic and lived ...
RVA Inclusion Development Worker – closing date 21 September 2020
26 August 2020An exciting opportunity to work with Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) and local charities to ensure we reflect the diversity of Reading and are able to build a genuinely inclusive voluntary sector. We are looking for someone with excellent communication, planning and organisational skills, and a good understanding of current issues relating to equality and diversity. You ...
RVA Social Prescribing Link Workers – closing date 14 September 2020
25 August 2020An exciting opportunity to work in a small supportive team making a big difference to the lives of people in Reading Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) is looking to recruit three Link Workers to provide social prescribing support for people in Tilehurst, Whitley and Reading Central. RVA and Age UK Berkshire have been delivering social prescribing in Reading ...
Sight loss: helping you to help others during coronavirus
1 July 2020
Many people who haven’t interacted with anyone with sight loss before often feel worried about saying or doing the wrong thing, so the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have created a few top tips to help you answer your concerns. If you haven’t been around many people with sight loss before, it’s perfectly normal ...
Free fast-track volunteer befriender training launched
9 April 2020
In response to the changing needs of befriending organisations at this time, Befriending Networks has developed a new Interim Volunteer Training programme to help organisations train their volunteers to provide telephone/distance befriending and/or to provide a fast track training method for new volunteers coming forward during the pandemic. Befriending Networks has developed this training to help ...
Employment Law changes from 6 April 2020
6 April 2020
Further to last year’s Taylor Review and the Good Work Plan, new employment legislation comes into force today, Monday 6 April 2020. The changes include: Parental bereavement leave and pay; Written statement of employment particulars to be issued from day one of employment and must now also include: the days the employee or worker must work and if ...
Telephone befriending – training package
31 March 2020
Keeping in touch with people if you are feeling lonely and isolated has never been more important and this need will increase as the weeks pass. Existing befriending schemes are now switching from face-to-face to telephone-based befriending. Other voluntary, neighbourhood and community groups are looking into how to make the most of their volunteers to offer ...