Ready Friends is 6 years old this year, and was born out of the need to support local action on loneliness and social isolation.
The voluntary and community sector (VCS) is central to reducing loneliness in Reading and provides an enormous range of opportunities for people to be socially connected and participate in activities that are just right for them. Our local VCS also supports thousands of volunteers that help reduce loneliness – such as befrienders, buddies, in lunch clubs or at other community social events.
As we emerge from the pandemic, it’s time to look at the current needs of people facing loneliness in Reading and how Ready Friends can support the local VCS to respond to that need.
The views and ideas of staff and volunteers from VCS groups and organisations are important to us and essential to this review. RVA would like to invite you to take a few minutes to answer 5 questions that will help shape Ready Friends to offer the kind of support that Reading’s VCS needs to take action on loneliness.