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Wed05Nov202509:45 - 13:00Conference Hall - RISC
35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS
Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of trustees as well as providing a networking opportunity with your fellow trustees from the area.
Outcomes of this training are:
- To better understand your role and legal responsibilities as a trustee
- To understand how this role fits with other roles in the charity
- To understand your reporting responsibilities
- To know where to go for help and support
- To feel confident in being an active member of your Board/Committee and helping to achieve your charities purposes
To achieve this we will cover:
- Introduction: ‘Trustee’, ‘members’ and others.
- Trustee responsibilities: 6 Main Legal Duties
- Limiting liability and legal structures
- Effective board leadership and trustee roles
- Essential resources and links to help you on your way
The training is suitable for new and existing trustees. In some small community groups you may refer to yourselves as the Committee. If you have overall responsibility for your community group, then this course is for you.
This training will be delivered by Reading Voluntary Action’s Advice Service Manager, Herjeet Vass. Herjeet has a background in Law and charity management and also helps groups to attain the Safe and Sound Quality Award for good governance in charities.
Practicalities: Registration and refreshments from 09:30. Cost £10.
NEW Venue: Conference Hall, Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC). Come to the ‘event space’ entrance as marked on this map.
Please book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk.
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Tue11Nov202514:00 - 15:00Online event
This is an online funder event hosted by the National Lottery Community Fund in partnership with Reading Voluntary Action and others.
The National Lottery has recently updated its funding priorities and related grants. One of these funding priorities related to the environment and they will be holding an online session to explore the outcomes they want to see from projects that protect nature, reduce environmental harm, and help communities respond to climate change. There will be a short presentation and then an opportunity for Q&As.
The term ‘environment’ is quite broad – please see the links below for types of projects they will fund under the different grants.
They currently have two different grants related to the environment:
- Awards for All – Environment Fund – see here with a deadline of 16 December 2025.
- Reaching Communities – see here with no specific deadline – this is a rolling funding opportunity.
You can read their full missions framework here.
Who should attend: If you are an organisation in the Berkshire area that is currently working in the area related to the environment. (See links above)
Please contact advice@rva.org.uk to register your interest. Please specify:
- Name of the charity or community group.
- Name of person wishing to attend and email contact.
- A short paragraph on the type of project that relates to this funding stream ‘environment’.
The event will take place online and the link will be sent to you after registration.
If you are unsure and would like to clarify your project, you are also welcome to email Reading Voluntary Action (advice@rva.org.uk).
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Wed19Nov202511:30 - 13:00Quakers Meeting House
2 Church Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2SB
You are warmly invited to our 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 19 November 25 at the Quakers Meeting House.
The AGM is a great opportunity to hear about our activities and celebrate our achievements over the past 12 months. We’d also like to hear your views on our work as we plan for the year ahead. If you have any questions which you would like to ask the board at the AGM, please email your questions in advance of the board meeting to Aisha Malik on aishamalik@rclc.org.uk.
Members of Reading Community Learning Centre will be able to vote in the Trustee elections and other formal business. Membership, which is free, is open to everyone. If you’re interested in becoming a member, please contact Hema Sundhararajan on rclcinfo@yahoo.co.uk. She will be able to email you a membership form.
Please confirm your attendance at the AGM by Friday 7 November 2025. You can reserve your place by contacting Hema Sundhararajan, Centre Administrator on:
- Email: rclcinfo@yahoo.co.uk
- Call: 07923 138681 or 01189 595455 (Mon-Thu 09:00-15:30)
Once you have confirmed your booking Hema will email you the board profiles, agenda, minutes from last year’s meeting, RCLC signed accounts, the annual report and dietary requirements form for the buffet lunch after the meeting.
We are really looking forward to seeing you there.
Your sincerely,
Fatima Habib (Chair of Trustees) -
Wed26Nov202512:00 - 13:00Online via Zoom
RVA is pleased to introduce this NEW training for charity trustees/committee members and managers. This training has been gratefully funded by Berkshire Community Foundation, which means we can offer charge free spaces to local groups. We will be repeating this training later in the year.
The aim is to help charities and community groups in Reading to become financially resilient. This introduction session is to help you understand the basics of charity finance so you can more easily understand financial information in your trustee or committee meetings and therefore feel more confident to ask questions where needed and most importantly make good financial decisions for your charity.
This 1 hour online lunchtime session is aimed at non-finance professionals, who either work in a management role in a charity or volunteer as a trustee. You do not need to be a treasurer to attend this training.
RVA consultant trainer, Rachel Eden of Holybrook Associates will deliver this training. Rachel is a chartered accountant with many years’ experience of charity finances and accounts.
This session will be delivered online via Zoom and a booking link will be sent out to you in advance, usually a few days before the session.
Free event, but please register online at www.eventbrite.co.uk to confirm your place.
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Wed03Dec202509:45 - 13:00Reading Voluntary Action
RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS
Part 2: Heritage, Identity and Belonging – inclusion in support for people facing loneliness
Our September Befriending Forum focussed on how local community groups connect people through an activity from a shared identity or cultural heritage. Feedback was so positive we’re running a second Forum on inclusive social connection.
In this Forum event, a number of local community organisations will be sharing how they offer inclusive social activities for a range of communities facing loneliness and social isolation, including:
- Thames Valley Gay Chorus
- Change Grow Live
- Reading Community Learning Centre
It will be an opportunity for people to find out more about supporting clients and their carers, who are experiencing loneliness.
The programme will include more time for informal networking and an opportunity to share news, promote your service and find out about funding, events and training. Refreshments provided.
Please register at www.eventbrite.co.uk to book your place.
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Thu04Dec202513:00 - 14:30TBC
The Volunteer Coordinators’ Network meeting provides a space for those who oversee the work of volunteers to seek peer support in a confidential space from others in a similar role. It is an opportunity to share best practice and to learn from the rich experiences of colleagues working across our diverse sector.
The Network is open to those overseeing the work of volunteers in organisations big and small and involving volunteers in a variety of ways.
Please register via the button below and further details and joining instructions will be sent in due course. The plan is to hold this meeting in person, but this will be confirmed closer to the event.