Category Archives: News

BATTLE LIBRARY will reopen to the public as a multi-use community hub for west Reading on Tuesday 17 September, following major building improvement work over the summer. Battle Library has been transformed over the summer, so that more people can enjoy what it has to offer. The much loved library will continue to provide all of its popular library services, as well as Children’s Centre activities, adult learning and community activities. Continue reading Battle Library Community Hub Opens→

The Pantry Café & Kitchen, Reading Town Hall’s new café, will open to the public this month. The modern new café will sit in the heart of Reading’s vibrant town centre, forming an integral part of the beautiful 18th Century Grade II listed Town Hall and Museum building. The Pantry will offer a fresh exciting place for breakfast, brunch or lunch and a great place to meet and eat. It will be open to the public from Monday 16 September. Continue reading Opening Date Announced for the Pantry Café and Kitchen→

Reading Borough Council are looking for your views on proposed priorities for Reading’s next Homelessness Strategy. Your feedback will shape and inform their approach and strategic direction regarding homelessness over the next five years. The existing Homelessness Strategy is not due for review until 2021. However, there have been significant recent legislative change and significant reductions in the use of emergency accommodation for homeless households since 2016. Continue reading Have your say – RBC’s Homelessness Strategy consultation open until 29 September 2019→

At RVA, we often hear that it’s getting harder to attract new volunteers to take action on loneliness and social isolation in Reading. Demand is increasing for volunteers who represent the diversity of Reading and who are free at times when people need them. During August and September, RVA is conducting a survey of local voluntary and community groups with volunteers in roles such as befrienders, buddies and other one to one support roles. Continue reading Friendship volunteering survey→

Free online healthy eating advice is being offered by nutritionists as part of a new trial being run by the University of Reading. The EatWellUK study is testing a new easy-to-use web app, which provides advice on how you can eat more healthily. Participating in this nutrition study involves using the eNutri web app (www.eatwelluk.org) to complete a food and drink questionnaire on two occasions that are 12 weeks apart. Continue reading Free online healthy eating advice from Reading University’s nutritionists→

Do you want to start your own successful business? Are you going self-employed? Are you are a great entrepreneur with an idea but worried about the ‘backroom’ stuff? These free and ever-popular workshops from the The Real Business Club which are back in Reading from 24 April 2018 could be just the thing for you. Book your place on the website at www.therealbusinessclub.co.uk. Continue reading Business start-up workshops in Reading→

Get Berkshire Active are managing the Activate fund on behalf of the Sports Council Trust Company. The aim of the fund is to provide new physical activity and sport opportunities for inactive people living in deprived areas in Berkshire. Organisations with an income of less than £250,000, can apply for between £750 and £2000. For further details and application form see the website at https://getberkshireactive.org/gba-activate-fund. Continue reading Get Berkshire Active – Activate Fund→

Many of us would probably agree that while TV, radio and online support do not provide The Answer to loneliness and social isolation, they can be a valuable part of a package of support for many people. The charity WaveLength gives radios, televisions, and tablet computers to people who are lonely and can’t afford to buy the devices themselves. They would like to get in touch with charities that might benefit from new pieces of technology. Continue reading How technology can help to alleviate loneliness and social isolation→