In response to the pandemic, RVA secured funding in the second half of 2020 to run two small grants schemes for voluntary and community sector groups and a fund to address digital exclusion within low-income households.
- £10k from Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) for Reading Community Grants
- £20k from Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (BWCCG) for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee Mental Health Grants across Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham.
- £5k from the NHS for digital inclusion for people over 58 in Reading
- £7k for digital inclusion for people under 58 in Reading
The two small grant schemes enabled the delivery of 14 projects comprising a wide range of activities and communities, reaching more than 1,150 people, whilst 70 no-income or low-income households benefitted from the digital inclusion grants.