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
Rachel Goater
Development Officer: Community Involvement0118 937 2054rachel.goater@rva.org.uk
Rachel’s work looks at ways to increase the number of people who are active in communities around Reading by improving communication and ensuring people know how and where they can get involved in social groups, community events, sports, volunteering and democracy. She supports organisations to work together to increase participation in a range of activities.
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.
Cat MacLeod
Project Co-ordinator, Tilehurst Togethercat.macleod@rva.org.uk
Cat 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
Development Officer: Integrated Working0118 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 Officer: Communication Projects0118 937 2125david.neale@rva.org.uk
David is running the Get Online Reading project that uses a team of volunteers to promote digital inclusion around the town and help local people make better use of the internet. He also co-developed the RVA website and edits the news, events and weekly voluntary sector digests.
Herjeet Randhawa
Advice Worker0118 937 2104herjeet.randhawa@rva.org.uk
Herjeet advises voluntary and community groups on legal and technical issues of running a charity, such as employment law, health and safety, data protection, charity law, etc. She also helps organisations to develop a basic level of good governance and to work towards the Safe and Sound quality mark. Herjeet also works with colleagues at RVA and beyond to organise affordable local training on these issues.
Sarah Timmins DeGregory
Development Officer: Community Involvement0118 937 2658sarah.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.