Category Archives: News

Residents can now reserve or renew books in any of the town’s libraries with a new app. The Library App gives residents the ability to reserve or renew books remotely, enabling users to manage their library accounts conveniently from their devices. The app enhances the overall user experience and will help users access all the resources available from Reading Libraries wherever they are. Continue reading New app for Reading’s library users→

The BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards are back for 2024. For the third year, BBC Radio Berkshire wants to celebrate and say thank you to people living in our villages and towns who make where we live a better place. Every day we hear stories of people doing incredible things for each other and their communities. Now it’s time to recognise them for all their hard work. Continue reading BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards 2024→

Reading Voluntary Action is inviting local community groups and charities to a 45 minute information session on the Joy Marketplace. Joy is an online platform that connects people to life-changing local services. It instantly refers clients to high-quality support on the marketplace of services, which automatically stays up to date. It’s free for VCOs to join and gives your organisation visibility to the public and to health and wellbeing professionals. Continue reading Invitation to a Joy Marketplace information session→

This is an opportunity for the community to receive a free NHS health check and advice to improve their health in community settings in Reading. The Reading Community Wellbeing Outreach partnership project will run to the end of March 2025. The partnership is funded by the Integrated Care Board ICB to pilot outreach activities to reduce health inequalities for our most vulnerable communities. The programme is open to all, but people at risk of developing cardiovascular conditions are a priority. Continue reading Community Wellness Outreach: free health checks available→

The Mayor of Reading’s annual choir competition is expanding to also welcome applications from local soloists, duets, and singing groups as it returns for 2024. The contest is divided into three age categories and a panel of judges, including Reading Mayor, Cllr Tony Page, will select up to 6 entrants from each category. Successful finalists will be part of the grand Let’s Sing final, performing live on The Hexagon stage on Tuesday 26 March. Continue reading Let’s Sing Reading now open to all vocalists as it returns for 2024!→

If your organisation has any volunteers over the age of 65, we would love to invite you to take part in the Senior Changemakers: Volunteering Champions project. Following the launch of the Unifying Generations initiative last year, which aimed to change the perceptions of the older population and emphasize their positive contribution to society, Edwards Lifesciences are proud to present the Senior Changemakers project, which aims to highlight and reward those at the heart of volunteering. Continue reading Senior Changemakers – nominate for the chance of a £2,000 donation→

Together UK Reading are thrilled to share that they have been shortlisted for not just one, but two prestigious awards in the Thames Valley Business & Community Awards 2024 – Outstanding Contribution to The Community and The Charity of The Year. With over 1100 overall nominations for the awards, being shortlisted is a huge achievement for this small but mighty charity. Continue reading Together UK Reading nominated for two awards→

Reading Community Energy Society has just opened a new share offer to raise additional capital to extend its portfolio of solar PV systems and increase the positive impact it is having in the Reading area. Building on the success of the previous two share offers, this new share offer seeks to raise £97,000 to refinance the installation of a new solar PV system at the newly-redeveloped School of Art building at University of Reading. Continue reading New Reading Community Energy Society share offer open→

Residents are urged to stay safe as the countdown to Christmas begins and avoid buying fake or dangerous goods or falling prey to illegal lenders. The council is again supporting the annual national anti-loan shark campaign, #ShopSmartNotShark. Loan sharks are targeting vulnerable people seeking credit and trapping them into a cycle of debt with exorbitant interest rates and threats of violence especially over the festive period and afterwards. Continue reading Residents urged to be scam-smart this Christmas→

Season’s Greetings from the RVA team – At the end of another year, as our thoughts turn to the holidays and the New Year, we give thanks as ever to the amazing voluntary and community sector in Reading. RVA will be closed from 4 pm Thursday 21 December 2023 until Tuesday 2 January 2024. The Social Prescribing service will also be closed from Thursday 21 December 2023 until Tuesday 2 January 2024. Continue reading Season’s Greetings from RVA→