The University of Reading has launched a major new scheme to support community charities and projects across the region today (Monday 15 April).

The ‘University For Reading’ initiative brings together multiple community-based projects and is part of the University’s aim to work more closely with the people and communities of the Thames Valley. The University is today announcing:

• Applications for the new Charity of the Year Scheme are now open
• Applications for the University’s Community Fund are now open
• A new staff volunteering scheme, which will launch later this year

The University’s Charity of the Year Scheme is launching for the first time this year. This new initiative will see the University select a single charity to work with and support, in a variety of ways, throughout an academic year. The charity must be active and supporting local people in the Thames Valley region – anywhere in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire.

The Community Fund initiative is running for the fourth consecutive year. This scheme allows University staff members to apply for one-off funding grants for community projects they are involved in either as part of their job or in a voluntary capacity, across the Thames Valley region, defined in the same way as above.

Local charities and University staff members are urged to apply for the Charity of the Year and 2024/25 Community Fund schemes respectively.

In addition, the University has approved a new staff volunteering scheme, which will encourage the University’s 4,500 academic and professional staff to take up to two days of paid time off work, per year, to volunteer in the local community. This will be in addition to current holiday allowances. More details of the volunteering scheme will be shared with University colleagues ahead of the scheme launching later this year.