We are delighted to announce that local charity, Reading Family Aid, have been awarded the RVA Safe and Sound good governance award for charities! In this article the Reading Family Aid Trustees explain a bit more about what the charity does, what the Safe and Sound process involved for them, and how they have benefited from it.
Who are Reading Family Aid?
Reading Family Aid have been established locally for thirty years and provide recreation and leisure activities for disadvantaged families in the Reading area through:
- a day out in July to a theme park, zoo, widelife animal park or to the seaside;
- distribution of Christmas gifts donated by the people of Reading to local children aged from birth to sixteen years, via various partner agencies and in confidence;
- a visit to a matinee performance of a local pantomime, if enough funds are available.
Tell us a little about Reading Family Aid and what inspired you to get involved with the charity?
Having two children myself I was keen to help with a children’s charity in any way I could. Reading Family Aid appealed to me greatly due to the charity’s ethos to bring joy to children’s lives, and to help those at Christmas who might otherwise not have much to celebrate. The wonderful people I have met over the past six years have made it impossible for me to leave! Charlie, Publicity Manager
What encouraged you to apply for Safe and Sound?
I thought it would be good to have our policies and procedures assessed by an outside body to ensure we are doing all we should and in the correct way. I also thought, if we could put the Safe and Sound logo on our website, emails etc it would give assurance to the individuals and organisations with whom we work and from whom we might get donations that they would be dealing with a reputable and reliable charity so that the donations and other interactions would be managed effectively and safety. Ruth, Fundraising Manager
What did the process involve for the team?
We used the self-assessment tool provided by RVA. We reviewed our legal and internal structures, constitution, safeguarding, management, financial, training, handbooks and reporting practices. RVA were always available to provide further advice where needed. Sue, Treasurer
What benefits can you see for your charity from having gone through Safe and Sound?
It’s a great reminder of the importance of good governance and encourages us to revisit and re-examine our processes and policies. It also provides confidence to those who interact with the charity that governance is valued and important. Carolyn, Committee Member
What were the highlights for you this year?
We had an exceptional Toys and Teens Appeal at Christmas 2023, some great outings and more social media coverage which has generated sponsorship and fundraising from a number of local businesses this year. Sheila, Committee Member
Thank you to the Reading Family Aid Trustees for taking the time to share their experience and once again a big congratulations to the whole team of trustees and volunteers for achieving the award! Read more about Reading Family Aid and the valuable work they do here.
Further information and support:
- You can read more about Safe and Sound here.
- You can can read more about First Steps towards Safe and Sound here. The next short introduction session is on 19 September 2024, 1pm-2pm – register here.
- RVA Advice Service
- Contact advice@rva.org.uk or telephone us on 0118 937 2273.