Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
National Lottery Awards for All – Environment Fund – deadline 17 Dec 2025
7 October 2025
Introduction – overview of the funding The climate and nature emergency affects us all, but local action can make a real difference. They fund community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live. Who is eligible to apply? You can apply if your organisation is a: constituted voluntary or community organisation constituted ...
SNG Winter Wishes funding – deadline 29 Oct 2025
2 October 2025
The SNG Winter Wishes Fund provides grants of up to £1,000 to help support communities over the festive period. For many, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration. But for others, it can bring financial strain, loneliness, emotional challenges, and feelings of social isolation. The SNG Winter Wishes Fund supports not-for-profit groups and organisations to deliver ...
Online funder event – The National Lottery Community Fund: environmental funding
2 October 2025This is an online funder event hosted by the National Lottery Community Fund in partnership with Reading Voluntary Action and others. The National Lottery has recently updated its funding priorities and related grants. One of these funding priorities related to the environment and they will be holding an online session to explore the outcomes they want ...
National Lottery Awards for All – updated funding priorities
2 October 2025Introduction – overview of the funding They provide funding for projects that bring people together to build strong relationships and improve communities in England. You can apply for a grant of between £300 and £20,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years. Who is eligible to apply? You can apply if your organisation is a: constituted voluntary or community ...
National Lottery Reaching Communities – updated funding priorities
2 October 2025Introduction – overview of the funding With this funding, they want to help strengthen communities and improve lives. Their funding is available to all communities but their priority is the places, people and communities that need it most. When they say ‘community’, they mean people who live in the same area. Or people with similar interests or ...
National Lottery Awards for All – Environment Fund – deadline 17 Dec 2025
2 October 2025Introduction – overview of the funding The climate and nature emergency affects us all, but local action can make a real difference. They fund community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live. Who is eligible to apply? You can apply if your organisation is a: constituted voluntary or community organisation constituted ...
RBC Creative Micro Grants for arts, culture and heritage in South Reading – deadline 20 Oct 2025
2 October 2025
Introduction – overview of the funding This micro-funding is designed to support grassroots creativity in the Whitley and Church wards in South Reading. This programme aims to support creative activity by offering small-scale funding of either £250 or £500 to cultural organisations and practitioners, who are deeply rooted in their communities. Who is eligible to apply? Individuals, informal groups, ...
RBC Small Grants Fund – deadline 31 Oct 2025
26 September 2025
Reading Borough Council has allocated £150k for small grants to the voluntary and community sector for the year 2025/2026. The council is inviting applications for funding to support the residents to become more self-sufficient, built on a bedrock of valued educational attainment, strong skills and practical knowledge that enables them to realise their potential through accessing ...
ABC to Read: helping struggling readers thrive across Berkshire
25 September 2025
Award-winning charity celebrates positive school evaluation results and calls for new schools and volunteers to join their mission. ABC to read, the Berkshire-based children’s reading charity, is celebrating another year of positive impact following the results of its latest school evaluations. The charity, which has been supporting children who struggle with reading since 2004, currently works ...
Depression Xpression receives £2,466 from Reading Borough Council’s Small Grant Fund
11 September 2025
We’re pleased to share that we have been awarded funding from Reading Borough Council’s Small Grant Fund. We received £2,466.00 in March 2025 and are now halfway through our programme of Peer Support Groups made possible by this funding. Thanks to Reading Borough Council, we are continuing to build a community of support for local people ...
Ex-café premises to let, Cattle Market, Great Knollys Street – deadline 3 October 2025
10 September 2025Reading Borough Council have notified us of this opportunity below. It is a short-term let until 31 March 2028. It doesn’t appear to follow the usual RBC Third Sector Lettings Policy. Please let us know if you are interested or would like any support with applying by emailing advice@rva.org.uk. Download the invitation to bid.
Groundwork Grassroots Grants – deadline 14 October 2025
9 September 2025
Introduction – overview of the funding The Groundwork Grassroots Grants Programme is provided by the Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Places Trust, and Postcode Society Trust, and is administered by Groundwork. Grassroots Grants provides unrestricted funding for small, local organisations in England who are making a positive difference in their communities. Who is eligible to apply? Applications are accepted from small, ...
Comic Relief Community Fund – Grassroots groups – deadline 6 October 2025
9 September 2025
Introduction – overview of the funding The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) 2024 programme will focus on supporting organisations whose activities help to address poverty and its impact – funding organisations that provide essential resources such as food, shelter, healthcare and education, include foodbanks, homeless shelters, family hubs and community wellbeing centres. The Fund offers grants of ...
PCC Thames Valley Community Fund – Deadline 22 September 2025
9 September 2025
Introduction – overview of the funding This fund is an opportunity for community and voluntary groups to get involved and assist both the PCC and Thames Valley Police in tackling and reducing crime. The Community Fund comes from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owner. Its ...
Peter Baker Grants – next deadline 13 Jan 2026
9 September 2025
Greenham Trust is a local grant funder based in West Berkshire. The Peter Baker Grant is one of its grant streams and its distribution committees focuses on supporting those in need within a 20-mile radius of Newbury town centre, which includes Reading. This small fund primarily provides grants, typically ranging from £500 to £5,000. Who is ...
Listen to Chandra’s interview on BBC Radio Berkshire
9 September 2025
Chandra Budhathoki of the The Forgotten British Gurkha is a finalist in this year’s BBC Make a Difference Awards! Listen to Chandra chat to Rena Annobil about his volunteer work and what it means to be nominated for the Volunteer Award. Click on this link to listen. (Chandra’s interview starts around 31.42 and finishes around 50.15). Congratulations Chandra!
RBC and VCS Compact/Partnership Review Workshop
4 September 2025
Effective partnership work between Reading Borough Council and the voluntary sector in Reading is vital to achieving positive outcomes for the people of Reading. Join us to discuss how your organisation works in partnership with RBC and how this could be developed. Share your experience of what’s working well or not so well and ideas for ...
RBC VIN – Voluntary Sector Intelligence Network
4 September 2025
The Voluntary Sector Information Network (VIN) is an information and sharing meeting that takes place online on the second Wednesday of each month at 4–5pm. The monthly meetings provide an opportunity for the voluntary sector to speak with RBC colleagues on current issues and future plans. The next VIN meeting on Wed 10 Sept will include: What does ...
Project Linus fundraising and sewing day
3 September 2025
Please drop in to support this fundraising and sewing day for Project Linus! On the day: Speak to Project Linus volunteers about the quilts they are making for children ‘in need of a hug’. Sales table – some good fabric bargains to be had. Raffle with great prizes. Quilts on display. Enjoy refreshments at the CResCent Café. Please note: this event ...
Know Your Numbers! Week – Blood Pressure UK
3 September 2025
Know Your Numbers! Week will take place from 8–14 September 2025. This campaign, run by Blood Pressure UK, is the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event. Around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it. It doesn’t have any symptoms so the only way to find out ...