Meet our CEO
Rachel Spencer
Chief Executive0118 937 2053rachel.spencer@rva.org.uk
Rachel’s role is to provide vision and leadership so that RVA can build the capacity of the local VCS and strengthen its voice; to promote the role and value of the sector to the public and to key agencies and partnerships which influence the life of the local community; to support the Board of Trustees in carrying out its governance responsibilities and ensure the organisation has the resources necessary to carry out these functions.
Meet our other staff
Anna Chapman
School and Parent Engagement Officer0118 937 2054anna.chapman@rva.org.uk
Anna’s role is part funded by the Big Lottery and the European Social Fund as part of the Stronger Together partnership which brings together 13 organisations in Reading and West Berkshire to help people in deprived areas to find opportunities. She engages economically inactive parents in Reading, with the aim of supporting them to progress towards and into training, voluntary work, work-experience placements and employment.
Steve Hendry
Volunteering Development Worker 0118 937 2657steve.hendry@rva.org.uk
Steve works with groups big and small to help them develop volunteering roles, establish best practice in volunteer management and influence policy around volunteering. This includes developing and managing new initiatives, such as Team Reading, to help increase the number of volunteers coming forward and open up opportunities for those who face barriers to getting involved . Steve also works to promote volunteering to the public, helping potential volunteers find the roles that are right for them.
Demelza Hookway
Information and Communication Officer0118 937 2658demelza.hookway@rva.org.uk
Demelza uses her research, writing and editing skills to support and promote RVA projects. She develops content for the website and social media, and creates a wide range of publicity materials and resources for the RVA team.
Christina Hughes-Nind
Project Coordinator, Tilehurst Togethertilehurst.together@rva.org.uk
Christina is project co-ordinator for Tilehurst Together, which aims to bring together local people to support each other, building on a gap identified through Reading Voluntary Action’s Social Prescribing service. The project is funded by the Longleigh Foundation through the Berkshire Community Foundation’s Life Less Lonely grants programme.
Sarah Morland
Partnership Manager0118 937 2103sarah.morland@rva.org.uk
Sarah supports local charities to promote their services to commissioners, to measure their impact and develop partnerships. She works closely with statutory agencies to identify opportunities for closer working with voluntary organisations to achieve the best outcomes for Reading’s communities.
David Neale
Development Worker: Digital Inclusion0118 937 2125david.neale@rva.org.uk
David runs the Get Online Reading project, which uses a team of volunteers to promote digital inclusion around the town and help local people make better use of the internet. The Get Online team is based at Reading Central Library and does outreach sessions at other libraries and community venues around Reading. David also co-developed the RVA website.
Herjeet Randhawa
Advice Worker0118 937 2104herjeet.randhawa@rva.org.uk
Herjeet oversees the Advice Service at RVA, advising voluntary and community groups on the legal and technical issues of running a charity or voluntary sector organisation, such as charity law, company law, employment law, contract law, health and safety, data protection, safeguarding etc. She also oversees the Safe and Sound Quality Award, and delivers and organises training for the sector.
Sarah Timmins DeGregory
Development Officer: Community Involvementsarah.timmins.degregory@rva.org.uk
Sarah works on ways to increase the number of people who are active in the Amersham Road area of Caversham, by improving communication and ensuring people know how and where they can get involved in social groups, community events, sports and volunteering. She supports organisations to work together to increase participation in a range of activities.