Category Archives: Featured

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→

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→

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→

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→

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→

Greenwich Leisure Limited is offering a free 3 month membership scheme open to all refugees who have sought asylum in the UK. This scheme will run at all GLL leisure Centres and offers free Better Health Centre membership or lesson and course (if available) membership for a fixed 3 month period from the join date. The scheme is open to the refugees only (supporting UK family members are not eligible) Continue reading Refugee support scheme from GLL – 3 month free membership→

For 1st, 2nd and booster doses of Covid-19 vaccination, you don’t need an appointment, and you don’t have to be registered with a GP or have ID to visit. Available for everyone aged 16 and over and ages 12–15, with a parent or carer. Anyone who hasn’t had a vaccination or would like to talk through any concerns with a nurse is welcome. Spoken translation will be available. Continue reading Pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics in Reading→

Community groups and charities are again invited to apply for the next round of Reading Community Energy Society Grants funding. Grants are open to organisations which are not-for-profit, charities or small businesses and based within an approximate 10 mile radius of Reading Town Hall. Projects can include installations of energy-saving lights through to environmental awareness projects. The application deadline is the 1 July for this round. Continue reading Applications invited to the Reading Community Energy Society Grants Fund→

Reading is set to host a four-day extravaganza of events, parties and activities this June, in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including a record-breaking 57 community street parties. As well as the plethora of street parties organised by residents themselves after the Council waived its usual road closure fee, events on offer include a Beacon Lighting Ceremony and Jubilee beacon trail, a tribute concert in the Abbey Ruins, Water Fest festival and Children’s Concert in the Forbury gardens. Continue reading Reading hosts four-day Jubilee extravaganza in June→