Compass Recovery College – Free mental health and wellbeing workshops

Compass Recovery College offer free mental health and wellbeing workshops for everyone over the age of 18 in Reading. Whether you’re looking to develop your knowledge and skills in self-management, you are supporting someone with mental health-related challenges, or you work in mental health services, Compass are delighted to welcome you on a learning journey. They offer a wide range of workshops that are an educational route to recovery from mental health challenges and increasing positive wellbeing. Continue reading Compass Recovery College – Free mental health and wellbeing workshops

Free training and mentoring starting September 2022

The Thames Valley Community Health Pathways is a programme to help unemployed local residents progress towards further training, education or work in health and social care. On this programme you will have access to courses and mentoring opportunities, focusing on awareness, skills and confidence around healthy lifestyles, behaviour change, tackling health inequalities and job/education search. Continue reading Free training and mentoring starting September 2022

Chat, Connect, Befriend – volunteer recruitment campaign

Many Reading people are still not going out through fear of catching Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated, and may have lost their confidence and previous social connections. A phone call or a visit from someone can make all the difference. Reading Voluntary Action has launched a town wide campaign to help local community groups recruit volunteers who can chat, connect and befriend the rising number of people facing loneliness and social isolation in Reading. Continue reading Chat, Connect, Befriend – volunteer recruitment campaign

Guide to summer holiday activities for families

Reading Family Information Service has created a Summer Holiday Activities 2022 page on its website. The page includes links and details of holiday clubs, the Holiday Activity and Food programme, sports, drama, music and art courses, Reading Children’s Centres and much more that’s happening in Reading. The information will be regularly updated with events running through the summer. A page of General Holiday Activities is also on the website. Continue reading Guide to summer holiday activities for families

Audio trails bring Reading’s hidden histories to life

Reading Borough Council’s High Street Heritage Action Zone team is working in partnership with Sound UK to deliver two self-guided audio trails around the town centre’s heritage sites. Created by local artists Aundre Goddard, Fiona Talkington and Richard Bentley, each trail will take listeners on a journey celebrating Reading’s heritage and revealing hidden histories along the two routes. The walks will encourage people to slow down, pause and reflect, and experience their environment in a new way. Continue reading Audio trails bring Reading’s hidden histories to life

Council bids to revamp the Hexagon and move Central Library

Reading Borough Council plans to submit a £20 million bid for Government ‘Levelling Up’ funding to breathe new life into its cultural and learning offer for Reading residents. The bid is made up of a £8 million investment to rebuild Central Library at the council’s civic offices in Bridge Street to create a flexible space for the whole community that embraces not only the traditional offer of book loans but looks to the future with a digital and learning offer. Continue reading Council bids to revamp the Hexagon and move Central Library

Funding available for cultural projects around Oxford Road

Reading’s High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme is offering funding to community groups and organisations from the Oxford Road to develop new creative projects with local people to celebrate the history and diverse cultures of the Oxford Road. Community groups and organisations from the Oxford Road can apply, and the support will be provided by Culture Mix Arts a respected Reading based cultural organisation. Continue reading Funding available for cultural projects around Oxford Road

Meet Thames Valley Police’s Positive Action and Engagement Team

At Thames Valley Police we aspire and are working hard towards having a police force that truly reflects the communities we serve. Our region is increasingly diverse and it is important our workforce reflects this. Our Positive Action and Engagement Team was set up just prior to the announcement of the National Police Officer Uplift Programme in October 2019, as the force recognised a need to improve representation to reflect the diverse communities it serves. Continue reading Meet Thames Valley Police’s Positive Action and Engagement Team

Help to Claim Universal Credit

News from: Citizens Advice Reading – With more people struggling to keep on top of their household bills, the cost of living crisis and many government support packages linked to benefits, we wanted to remind you of our Help to Claim service. We support people to make an initial claim, from the application to their first payment. This service is available Monday to Friday, 08:00-18:00 by phone or webchat. Continue reading Help to Claim Universal Credit

A Vision for Volunteering in Reading

The last two years have seen significant changes in the landscape of volunteering across the UK. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers have been mobilised in unprecedented numbers to take on novel tasks. As the crisis stage of the pandemic gives way to a focus on recovery, volunteers are likely to continue to play a vital role as organisations seek to meet the challenge of rising demands for their services. Continue reading A Vision for Volunteering in Reading