Category Archives: News

So many wonderfully unique communities make up the town of Reading. We are celebrating every inch of the borough by telling stories via our residents about seven local areas surrounding our libraries – hubs of the local community that provide services which span the generations and embrace the diversity of local populations. Residents tell us about what makes the area home, local hidden gems and what they love about where they live and what makes their community so wonderfully unique. Continue reading Your Town Centre→

Community Health Champions are people who live in Reading and help their community by making sure everyone knows about important health information, services, and activities. They also listen to feedback from others about how to make things better for everyone’s health. It is a voluntary role so anyone who lives in the borough can become a Community Health Champion. If you have a desire to help improve your community then this is a great opportunity for you! Continue reading Become a Community Health Champion→

A series of community roadshows has been launched at centres around the town, organised by Citizens Advice Reading in partnership with local advice and support organisations. These events is for local residents to: -Speak with organisations including Citizen’s Advice Reading and Reading Borough Council teams -Find out what is happening at the community centre -Have a say in future activities and events at centres. Continue reading Community roadshows launched→

A consultation on a new licensing scheme which aims to provide better homes for tenants in the private rented sector has been launched. It will look at extending the current house in multiple occupation (HMO) licensing scheme across Reading, as well as introducing a targeted scheme to three specific wards which will cover all rental properties in the private rented sector. Implementing an additional HMO licensing scheme borough-wide, aims to drive up conditions for tenants and improve the housing stock. Continue reading New licensing scheme proposed to improve private rented property→

NHS England South East has announced that applications for the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) Training and Mentoring Cohort 3 are now open. The programme will support voluntary sector organisations working with communities adversely affected by health inequalities to recruit, train and mentor their workforce on CPAR. This programme will equip organisations to undertake research in their own communities. The key findings of the research will be presented to system leaders with the aim of informing decisions locally or regionally. Continue reading Community Participatory Action Research – applications open→

Are you a trustee or committee member looking for training and resources, or maybe you are a charity or community group seeking to recruit more trustees? RVA provides a wealth of support in this area for charities and community groups providing services in Reading, including: -Free Trustee Recruitment cycle and support -Trustee Training -Free templates and support to adapt these to suit your needs. Take a look at our NEW Trustee Page at www.rva.org.uk/trustee-recruitment-resources-and-support-from-rva. Continue reading Trustee recruitment, training and support from RVA→

Supported self-help can make a positive difference to your mental health. It’s a free programme that works with you, to support you to recognise and understand your emotions. We give you the materials to understand and manage your feelings. And we call you regularly to give you support. This is a one-to-one guided self-help service, not a counselling service. But our practitioners do use counselling-based skills in their support. Continue reading Free Mental Health Support→

Local residents are being invited to help choose the design for a new play area at a much-loved neighbourhood park, as part of the Council’s ongoing major investment in playgrounds across the town. £458,000 is being invested in Victoria Park in Reading which includes relocating and upgrading the play equipment to create a new, exciting and accessible play area for children aged between 3 years and 12 years. Continue reading Residents invited to vote on design for new Victoria Park play area→

Avire is an agency matching charities with businesses for short-term lettings. They have an offer of a 2-storey building, sized from 1000 sq ft up to 2000 sq ft, available to charities on a rent, business rates and service charge-free basis. The charity would pay the utilities. The property can be used for office, administration, training, workshops and any other charitable use. Continue reading Offices available for charity use at 10 Eaton Place, Reading RG1 7LP→

Life Changers is a free, four month gardening programme for those living with a life-changing illness or injury to enable them to improve their health and wellbeing. Whether recovering from a stroke or surgery, or living with a long term condition like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or Long Covid, people experiencing a life-changing health condition can experience the joy of gardening, build new friendships and increase social networks and build confidence to regain or maintain an active, healthy and independent life. Continue reading Life Changers Therapeutic Gardening Programme→