Category Archives: News

Reading residents are invited to host summer street parties as part of The Big Lunch 2025. This year’s events provide a special opportunity to bring neighbours together while marking the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day. The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual community celebration, bringing neighbours together for food, fun, and friendship. Continue reading Plan your summer street party in Reading→

Like many others this week, we are reflecting on the fifth anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. We are thanking once again the volunteers and staff who provided support and reassurance to some of the most vulnerable members of our community through the pandemic. Voluntary sector organisations in Reading were quick to reconfigure their services to ensure that those they support could access services in new ways, or to extend their support to a wider audience. Continue reading On the fifth anniversary of the first Covid lockdown→

Get Berkshire Active, along with other partners, are working with colleagues at Reading Borough Council to improve the physical activity landscape in Reading. We have formed a Physical Activity Action Group and are working in a whole systems way to determine the barriers currently preventing Reading residents from being as active as they’d like. We need more voluntary sector representation on this group to contribute to valued insight from local residents. If you think you can help please email nina.crispin@reading.gov.uk. Continue reading Improving physical activity in Reading – can you help us?→

Reading Caribbean Nation CIC (RCN) is a local Reading organisation incorporated in 2024 to organise the Reading Windrush Parade and Festival. As the organizers of the Reading Windrush Parade and Festival, a widely recognized community-wide event, RCN already has strong relationships with numerous community groups. Many of these groups are represented on the RCN committee, ensuring diverse and inclusive decision-making. Continue reading Get involved with the Reading Windrush Parade and Festival→

The council is proposing to introduce emissions-based charging for car parking, so that those that drive the most polluting vehicles pay the most. One way of encouraging drivers to consider the alternative means of transport is through pricing. The introduction of emissions-based charging will also assist the council in achieving its stated aim of being carbon neutral by 2030. It is not expected that these changes will change peoples’ choices overnight. Continue reading Have your say: Council proposes emission-based parking charges→

It was agreed by councillors on Tuesday 28 January 2025 that children’s services in Reading will be brought back in-house, to be delivered directly by Reading Borough Council. Work will begin immediately to complete a successful transition by Autumn 2025. This includes the transfer of around 550 members of Brighter Future for Children’s staff back to the council. Continue reading Council to bring children’s services back in-house→

With spring just around the corner, local children are discovering the fun to be had at Reading’s newest transformed playground. The relocated and upgraded Victoria Park, George Street play area opened ahead of schedule in December thanks to a £462,000 investment by Reading Council. The exciting and accessible play area for children aged between 3 years and 12 years will be further complemented by an outdoor gym in time for summer 2025. Continue reading New Victoria Park playground open for play→

The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading wants to find out what languages people in Reading speak. Please complete the one-minute survey below (even if you only speak English) and the results will be shared at a public event to celebrate International Mother Language Day. Thank you! Continue reading Languages spoken in Reading – one-minute survey→

Are you up for a challenge that changes lives? Join us in running the Reading Half Marathon on the 23 March 2024 and make a real impact by raising funds for Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC) and Prostate Cancer research! To register please contact: Dennisha Villaverde at Mayor@reading.gov.uk. Let’s run together for education, health, and hope. Continue reading Run for a cause at the Reading Half Marathon – 23 March 2025→

Residents keen to help Reading’s homeless can now do so effortlessly via the new Tap for Reading initiative launching today. The scheme is designed to ensure donations from the public reach those most in need whilst helping to deter begging on the streets, by encouraging people to change their method and desire to help the homeless by giving at a number of card tap points around the town centre. Continue reading A new way to help Reading’s homeless people→