Category Archives: News

Work has begun on Reading’s Climate Emergency Strategy for 2025–2030. Reading’s current Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan (which covers the period 2020–2025) is nearing its end. RCAN has dedicated 2024 – Reading’s Year of Climate Engagement – to bringing people together to shape climate action priorities for our next plan, for 2025–2030. Continue reading Have your say on our town’s climate action priorities→

Reading Borough Council have now commenced the 8-week bidding process for the release of the freehold Central Library premises subject to planning. This is being concurrently released to the local voluntary sector and on the open market via Savills for bids. Local voluntary organisations are invited to submit their subject to planning proposals by 12:00 on 11 September 2024. Continue reading Formal bidding process open for the Reading Central Library freehold premises→

Reading’s annual safety survey is now live. It’s a chance for you to share your views on how safe you feel and the crime issues affecting you in Reading. Have your say at www.reading.gov.uk/communitysafetysurvey. Crime and safety in Reading is tackled by Reading’s Community Safety Partnership. By law, every local authority (council), police force and other crime agencies must work in partnership to tackle community safety and serious violence issues in their local area. Continue reading Have your say: crime and safety in Reading→

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→