Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Tech to Connect finalists
21 November 2019The next Ready Friends Befriending Forum will focus on how technology can help reduce loneliness and social isolation. Following the publication of the government’s Loneliness Strategy in October 2018, a new funding programme was launched to offer development funding and support to online technology that reduces loneliness and social isolation. A summary of the finalists’ projects ...
Free online safeguarding resources from NCVO
17 October 2019
Every charity, voluntary or community group, regardless of type and size, should be a safe place for all its beneficiaries, supporters, volunteers and staff. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has published a comprehensive collection of free resources – briefings, guides, tools, podcasts and videos. They are straightforward, practical and based on real world experience ...
Befriending Week – are you ready?
2 October 2019
Countdown to Befriending Week 2019! Only 1 month to go. Are you ready? This year the theme puts a spotlight on health and wellbeing. To help you prepare for this year’s celebrations, visit the Befriending Week Resources section of our website to download the free resource pack . This includes social media posts, Facebook cover image, Twitter ...
Free resources for charity leaders from Clore Social Leadership
15 July 2019
Clore Social Leadership has developed some free resources for those in leadership positions in the voluntary and community sector to help address leadership challenges. These tools are referred to as the ‘Backpack’ and contain the most impactful leadership tools they have gathered in the past 10 years of running leadership programmes, and contain the following ...
Safeguarding update – the Charity Commission reports on Oxfam
19 June 2019
A summary of the Charity Commission inquiry into the Oxfam Haiti scandal, outlining the key findings. Followed by a checklist of ‘lessons learnt’ that your charity can use to ensure good safeguarding practice, regardless of whether you are a small community group or a larger charity.
Free fundraising tool for small charities and groups
14 September 2018The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) have developed ‘Fundraising Fundamentals‘, a free fundraising tool to help small charities and groups to develop a fundraising strategy. It includes four sections: Getting started Including where you are now and where you would like to get too, and a very simple SWOT analysis to help you; Know your donors This covers knowing who to ...
Who can act as a Trustee or Senior Manager? New Disqualification Rules
29 January 2018The law relating to who can act as a charity trustee or a senior manager of a charity will change from 1 August 2018. This factsheet gives a brief overview on what to expect and the next steps for charities to take.
Accounting Records and Reporting to the Charities Commission
30 January 2017Unsure whether you need to prepare accounts, what form this should take and whether you have to file them with the Charities Commission? What about Annual Returns and Trustee’s Reports? This simplfied factsheet is an introduction to reporting and provides a checklist for all organisations including community associations, CIOs and charitable companies.
AGM guide
16 January 2017Are you unsure about how to hold an AGM? This short guide takes you through the process step by step.
How to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Assocation)
5 December 2016A guide for existing unincorporated associations who want to change to an incorporated structure of a CIO. What are the benefits, what do you need to plan for and how do you go about changing your structure?
“In Kind Direct” provides donated goods to local groups
18 June 2015In Kind Direct is a national charity that helps organisations get the things they need to support communities. They do this by taking donations of goods from manufacturers and retailers and redistributing them to charities and not for profit organisations. From cleaning products to keep your premises sparkling, to packs of essential toiletries for people in crisis. As organisations only have ...
How to get funding and support from businesses
24 March 2015Grants from companies can often involve a less rigorous application process and lighter-touch monitoring than funding through charitable trusts, but it doesn’t always mean it’s easier to access. As many of them promote their grants heavily through local branches, lots of people know about them and give it a go.