Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Small Groups’ Forum April 2025 – Top tips on safeguarding, DBS and hear from funders!
14 February 2025
Are you are small community group in Reading? Come along to our next Small Groups’ Forum on Tuesday 29 April 2025, 10am – 12noon to hear about support, funding and networking for smaller groups like yours. The session is informal, friendly and catered specifically for smaller groups as we know the challenges and support you ...
Run for a Cause at the Reading Half Marathon! – 23 March 2025
13 February 2025Run for a Cause at the Reading Half Marathon! Are you up for a challenge that changes lives? Join us in running the Reading Half Marathon and make a real impact by raising funds for Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC) and Prostate Cancer research! Date: Start: 23rd March 2025 at 10.15am End: 23rd March 2025 at 2.15pm Location: Madejski Stadium, ...
Complete Reading’s Trustee Survey 2025 – Closes 12 March 2025
5 February 2025
Trusteeship and the challenges around recruiting and retaining trustees is often a subject that comes up within our RVA Advice Service. With this in mind and in order to get a fuller picture of the state of the local Reading voluntary sector in relation to trusteeship, we invite you to complete our Trustee Survey 2025. This ...
Formal bidding process opens – Cintra Park Pavilions and management of open space – Deadline 5pm on 4 April 2025
5 February 2025Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the Courage Pavilions on a leasehold basis. This is being released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) through the Third Sector process. Deadline: Local VCS organisations are invited to submit their subject to planning proposals by 5pm on Friday 4 April ...
Formal bidding process opens – Courage Park Pavilions and management of open space – Deadline 5pm on 4 April 2025
5 February 2025Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the Courage Pavilions on a leasehold basis. This is being released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) through the Third Sector process. Deadline: Local VCS organisations are invited to submit their subject to planning proposals by 5pm on Friday 4 April ...
RVA AGM 25 February 2025
5 February 2025Please join us for our AGM and thank you lunch! Booking is via Eventbrite – Book a space We will be thanking all our staff, volunteers, partners and all of you working together to make Reading a fabulous place to live. It will be an opportunity to hear our plans for the year and ask questions. Come along and ...
Languages spoken in Reading – one-minute survey
28 January 2025
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) at the University of Reading wants to find out what languages people in Reading speak. Please complete this one-minute survey (even if you only speak English) and the results will be shared at a public event to celebrate International Mother Language Day on 21 February 2025 (you can sign up to receive more ...
Befriending Forum
24 January 2025
The role of technology in supporting people facing loneliness and social isolation. We will be exploring local and national technology resources aimed at supporting people in their own homes, who may be facing loneliness and social isolation. Speakers include: Tech-Enabled Care with David Richardson from Reading Borough Council (come along and meet Percy and the other Companion Pets!) REMAP ...
University of Reading Celebration of Volunteering 2025 – Nominations Open!
21 January 2025
Nominations for the Celebration of Volunteering are now open until midnight Friday 28 February 2025 ‘Do you know of a University of Reading student, staff member, or alumni who goes above and beyond as a volunteer? Nominate them now for a Celebration of Volunteering award. The Celebration of Volunteering event will then bring together colleagues, students, alumni and ...
Treasurer Training – 18 March 2025 – NEW subsidised rates
14 January 2025
Are you new to being a treasurer of a charity or community group in Reading, or perhaps you are interested in taking on this role? If so, this training is for you. Details of the training session: Aims: To build an understanding of the role of a treasurer in a small voluntary organisation To ensure the ability to ...
RBC Closing the Gap 2 – Engagement Session to discuss Procurement Processes
9 January 2025RBC’s January engagement session for Closing the Gap 2 Overview of the procurement process for Closing the Gap 2 and any other updates we can provide. An agenda will be shared closer to the time. This is an online only meeting – for the link to join the meeting, please contact Taylor Lehec taylor.lehec@reading.gov.uk.
RVA AGM 2025
9 January 2025
Hold the date for the RVA AGM 2025 – more details to follow soon…
Funding Fair, Windsor Racecourse 13 Feb 2025
9 January 2025
Is your charity or voluntary sector group looking to secure funding and enhance your impact? The Funding Fair is the perfect opportunity to connect with funders, gain expert advice, and explore innovative funding strategies tailored to the needs of your group. Connect: Network with funders, sponsors, and peers in the voluntary sector. Learn: Equip yourself with knowledge to ...
Free tool – Financial Leadership in Small Charities
8 January 2025Are you looking for resources to help you establish good financial leadership and governance for your charity? The Association of Chairs have produced the following free guide, which helps you to assess your own financial governance, asking key questions such as: How can I support the trustees with their financial duties? What board arrangements will support our financial ...
Charity Commission update – New Annual Return regulations
8 January 2025
The Charity Commission has issued The Charities (Annual Return) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 1 January 2025. These regulations set out information that must be included in a registered charity’s annual return for an accounting year ending on or after 1 January 2025. The Charity Commission says that these regulations have been updated to remove questions ...
2025 Volunteer Coordinators Network (VCN) schudule
7 January 2025The schedule for the Volunteer Coordinators Network for 2025 has been published. The Volunteer Coordinators’ Network (VCN) meeting provides a space for those who oversee the work of volunteers to seek peer support in a confidential space from others in a similar role. It is an opportunity to share best practice and to learn from the ...
Reading Volunteer Fair 2025
7 January 2025
Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) is considering collaborating with partners to hold a Volunteer Fair in Reading later this year. We are keen to canvas groups on interest in such an event and when and how it can be delivered to fit the needs of as many groups as possible. We would be grateful if you could take ...
Charity Governance Awards 2025 – Deadline for submission of applications : 12 February 2025 (noon)
19 December 2024
The Charity Governance Awards are a not-for-profit initiative created to celebrate outstanding governance and trusteeship in charities across the UK. These Awards are open to any charity registered in the UK; entries are free and easy to submit online. The shortlist will be announced in April 2025, and selected charities will be invited to a complimentary and exclusive ...
Formal bidding process opens for Yeomanry House, Castle Hill – Deadline 12noon on 14 February 2025
12 December 2024Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the freehold land at Yeomanry House, Castle Hill, Reading, RG1 7TA. This land is being concurrently released to the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and on the open market via AH Lansleys for bids. Deadline: Local VCS organisations are invited to submit ...
Community Wellness Outreach project runs until June 2025
12 December 2024
Help your community to benefit from the Community Wellness Outreach project in Reading 1,943 NHS health checks were carried out in community settings across Reading from December 2023 to October 2024 as part of the Community Wellness Outreach project. The community healthcare initiative is a pilot project to reduce health inequalities, and continues in Reading until ...