Category Archives: News

Berkshire Community Foundation will be allocating funds to local charities, community and voluntary groups impacted by and working to help people affected by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in Berkshire. Their aims are:
-To help organisations respond to immediate needs.
-To help stabilise organisations supporting those in need.
-To help organisations adapt to the crisis.
Grants up to a maximum of £5,000 will be considered, subject to funding availability. Continue reading Berkshire Community Foundation Vital for Berkshire Coronavirus Fund – deadline 10 May 2021→

This is an exciting opportunity to facilitate a local community participatory research project as part of a voluntary and statutory sector partnership. The role will support local researchers from minority ethnic communities in Reading to co-produce and carry out community research into widening health inequalities Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, inequalities in health, especially mental health, have become magnified amongst some Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups disproportionately affected. Continue reading Community Participatory Action Research Facilitator – closing date 5 May 2021→

Reading Borough Council is reviewing how it allocates social housing, and would like your thoughts on the proposed changes. Their aims are to make the scheme fairer and easier to understand for the customers who use it, and to ensure they are creating thriving and well-balanced communities where residents want to live. They have defined these two themes as Well-Balanced Sustainable Communities and Clear and Fair Allocations Scheme. The consultation is open until 12 May 2021. Continue reading Have your say – RBC is reviewing how it allocates social housing→

Reading Voluntary Action is pleased to be working with the Office for National Statistics and the Good Things Foundation to offer the Census Support Service for Reading during March and April. Every 10 years a complete census is taken of the current UK population and this provides valuable information to help plan local services in the future. The date for this year’s census is 21 March 2021 and most households will complete the census on or just after that date. Continue reading Do you need help with your census form?→

Food4Families are pleased to be offering two new courses starting this April: -Growing Healthy Conversations – free eight week courses (Practise your conversational English whilst learning gardening skills at our local community gardens) -Growing Careers – free six week courses (Practical, hands-on introduction to what you could be doing if you got a job in horticulture) Continue reading Spring courses from Food4Families→

Reading Voluntary Action has published the key findings from research into what it’s like to grow up in Reading. The research was shaped and carried out by a Youth Social Action Team. It was completed before the start of the pandemic, but the pandemic has made the priorities identified by the Youth Social Action Team – especially tackling loneliness among young people and supporting the diverse communities in Reading – even more urgent. Continue reading Growing up in Reading: Key findings from a report by RVA’s Youth Social Action Team→

Catalyst have created a ‘Kickstart in the Community’ project that offers young people paid work as ‘Community Connectors’: This is a new type of role within their Community Investment team that will help young people develop transferable skills, confidence and a local network. Working alongside Catalyst’s Community teams, Community Connectors will use their local knowledge to map local services, talk to residents, stay in touch with socially isolated older people and organise neighbourhood projects to boost community spirit and wellbeing. Continue reading Catalyst have Community Connector opportunities in Reading – paid work for young people through Kickstart→

Reading voluntary organisations are working together to support people to access their vaccine as they become eligible. RVA has opened a central helpline for carers, family, professionals and individuals in need of support: 0118 334 1091. Support includes:
-Responding to a GP letter or confirming an appointment.
-Registering with a GP if required.
-Safe and friendly transport to and from a vaccine hub.
-Buddy around the hub, with language support if required. Continue reading Voluntary sector vaccine support helpline opens→