Category Archives: News

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→

Tesco and easyfundraising have come together again to give a helping hand to organisations working tirelessly to keep up with spiralling costs and rising demand.  Easyfundraising turns the everyday online shopping of staff, members, volunteers, and supporters into funds for the organisation. Easyfundraising partners with over 8,000 brands who want to give back, transforming ordinary online shops into extraordinary rewards. Voluntary organisations, non-profit charities or CICs are eligible to apply. Continue reading Funding opportunity from Tesco and easyfundraising→

ReadiBus – Reading’s alternative door-to-door bus service for people with restricted mobility – unveiled a new bus livery on Wednesday 10 April 2024 in Broad Street, Reading. The ReadiBus has had a very distinctive burgundy and white livery since its inception. This is the first significant change to that bus livery in over 42 years. Continue reading ReadiBus unveils a new bus livery→

The Berkshire Community Foundation manages a number of funds which aim to support projects tackling issues affecting older people, such as isolation, health and well-being, and is now open for grant applications. Applications will be considered from not-for-profit, voluntary or community groups, social enterprises/CIC or registered charities, that are actively working in Berkshire. Grants up to a maximum of £5,000 will be considered, subject to funding availability. Continue reading Berkshire Community Foundation – Funds for Older People – deadline 2 May 2024→

RVA is looking to recruit a CWO Social Prescribing Manager to join the Community Wellness Outreach [CWO] project. The CWO Social Prescribing Manager will join a small and friendly project team providing the outreach sessions. The primary responsibility of the role is to enable participants at risk of poor cardio health to make changes to improve their health outcomes. The right person is likely to be motivated to overcome health inequalities and have some understanding of good cardio health. Continue reading Job vacancy: CWO Social Prescribing Manager – closing date 29 April 2024→

Reading Borough Council, together with Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality, are inviting local organisations who support Reading residents with their health and wellbeing to apply for this project grant. The grants are designed to support community-based organisations working with those at the greatest risk of experiencing poor health outcomes and health inequalities. Continue reading RBC/ACRE: Community Health Champions project grants – deadline extended to 5 April 2024→

A street party is a great way to bring your neighbours together and have fun, and as in previous years communities across Reading are invited to host street parties without having to pay the usual road closure fees. This year the council has announced that free road closures will be available for street parties that take place on any weekend in June or July. To apply to hold a street party, please use the online application form at www.reading.gov.uk/streetparties. Continue reading Thinking of holding a street party? Free road closures available this summer→

The local council and PCC elections will take place in Reading on Thursday 2 May 2024. If you’re not yet registered to vote, have moved address, or changed your name, you have until 23:59 on Tuesday 16 April 2024 to do so. The easiest and quickest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Residents can contact the Electoral Services Team if they need an application posted at elections@reading.gov.uk or 0118 937 3717. Continue reading Are you ready for May’s elections?→

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→