Here’s an A-Z of Reading Voluntary Action’s current services and projects
Reading Voluntary Action’s services and projects are all about encouraging volunteering and social action, supporting the voluntary sector to grow and thrive and connecting communities in Reading.
Advice Service
We offer free help with the legalities and technicalities of running or starting a charity or voluntary organisation in Reading. We help organisations meet their legal requirements, function effectively and strengthen their ability to achieve a sustainable funding base. Advice is given individually or by way of training or facilitation. A community development approach is adopted to ensure services and support reach those groups struggling with significant or new community needs. RVA nurtures and supports the development of new projects and initiatives to meet those new needs. Read more about the diverse subjects covered by our Advice Service here. Find out about our Safe and Sound Quality Award here.
Community Wellness Outreach project
The Community Wellness Outreach (CWO) project runs in Reading to the end of June 2025, offering opportunities for the community to receive a free NHS health check and advice to improve their health. The partnership is funded by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to pilot outreach activities which reduce health inequalities for our most vulnerable communities. The programme is open to all, but people at risk of developing cardiovascular conditions are a priority.
RVA is working with specialist nurses from Meet PEET (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust), GP surgeries, the Primary Care Alliance, and voluntary sector partners, to run health and wellbeing outreach sessions in community settings across Reading. Reading Borough Council is providing project governance and support.
- Find out more and book a health check.
- Find out how your organisation can get involved.
- For questions, or support with making a booking, call 0118 304 8841. Spoken translation is available when you call.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
RVA provides advice and support in developing inclusion in organisations. By supporting managers and trustees to identify priorities for equality, diversity and inclusion in their own organisations, actions can be taken for effective change. Find out more and get in touch here
Joy Marketplace
When Reading Voluntary Action’s Social Prescribers or Community Wellness Outreach team signpost clients to local services, they use an online platform called Joy. Members of the public can also search Joy Marketplace for services to support their health and wellbeing, or to make recommendations to family and friends. Find out more here.
Get Online Reading
Get Online Reading is our digital inclusion project. A team of volunteers provide support for residents who need help accessing the internet and digital services with drop-in sessions in several of Reading’s libraries and other community venues across the town. When Covid restrictions mean that drop-in session aren’t able to run, telephone support is available on 0118 334 1095. Read more here.
Reading Community Lottery
Reading Community Lottery is a weekly lottery operated by Gatherwell supporting good causes in the Reading area. Lotteries are a fun and effective way for causes to raise much-needed funds in these difficult times. By getting more people on board, they don’t just raise funds, they also raise awareness. Reading Community Lottery was launched in January 2020, and now supports over 50 good causes. To sign up your organisation or play the lottery go to www.readingcommunitylottery.co.uk.
Ready Friends
The Ready Friends project supports local people, communities, and voluntary sector groups to reduce loneliness and social isolation in Reading. Ready Friends produces a number of resources for local people looking for activities for themselves and others, and for people who work directly with individual service users in Social Prescribing and family support. Quarterly Befriending forums bring together local people who want to take action on loneliness and social isolation and other events and campaigns support recruitment and retention of volunteer befrienders and buddies. Go the Ready Friends webpages.
RVA News
Through our website and weekly newsletters we share news, funding opportunities, jobs, events and training for everyone interested in social action in Reading! Subscribe to RVA news or contact us to share your news.
Social Prescribing
The Social Prescribing service links people aged 16 and over to the activities and support offered by Reading’s voluntary and community groups, empowering people to improve their health and wellbeing. RVA’s Social Prescribing team works with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across Reading, taking referrals from GPs and healthcare practitioners, as well as Reading Borough Council Adult Social Care, Royal Berkshire Hospital Occupational Therapists and Talking Therapies. Read more and meet the team here.
Volunteering service
RVA’s service for volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) encourages and supports volunteering in the Reading area by providing a volunteer matching platform – read more about Reading Volunteer Connect. We share expertise on developing volunteering roles and managing and working with volunteers. We organise or signpost relevant training opportunities for VIOs and their existing volunteers. We facilitate the Reading Volunteer Coordinators’ Network which provides information and peer support for those in volunteer management roles and promote volunteering to employers and their staff as part of corporate social responsibility and personal development. Find out more and get in touch here.