News

Our news is collected from our network of members, and is updated regularly. We also present information and articles from other sources that might be relevant to your kind of group.

  • Get involved at your community allotment

    27 August 2021Get involved at your community allotment

    Food4Families helps organise community allotments all over Reading. At your local allotment you can help grow organic fruit and vegetables, get the health benefits of gardening and learn all about growing. Gardens are now open to the public, but please get in touch and book before you visit. This way we can be aware of numbers. Let’s all stay safe!

  • Consultation: help the council improve Reading’s libraries

    27 August 2021Consultation: help the council improve Reading’s libraries

    RBC is developing a ‘vision’ for its library service to ensure it is forward looking, innovative and provides an excellent experience for everyone. A draft idea has been set out of what the service hopes to achieve and what it thinks its priorities should be. The council now wants to know more about how you use the library service, what you think of it, where you think our priorities should lie and what should be its future goals.

  • Starting your own business? Free workshops available

    26 August 2021Starting your own business? Free workshops available

    This is a 10-week online workshop series based on the increasingly popular Start Your Own Business Workshop Series. If you want to start your own business – start right here! These are practical accessible workshops for people starting up businesses (including being sole traders) to do or make all kinds of things and for people who have all kinds of backgrounds.

  • Tell us what you think about Reading town centre – what can be done to make it more sustainable, inclusive and liveable?

    26 August 2021Tell us what you think about Reading town centre – what can be done to make it more sustainable, inclusive and liveable?

    RVA is working with the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE) and the University of Reading’s Participation Lab on a research project exploring community perceptions of Reading town centre. We are interested in what you think about the town centre and what could be done to make it more sustainable, inclusive and liveable. The online survey is open until Sunday 5 September 2021 and can be found here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/readingtowncentre.

  • Empower people with us, become an RVA Trustee!

    25 August 2021Empower people with us, become an RVA Trustee!

    Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) supports and helps voluntary and community groups to start up and thrive, matches volunteers to great opportunities and works together with organisations across Reading to improve the lives of local people. Are you interested in supporting the local voluntary and community sector to thrive and would you like to share your skills, knowledge and experiences on our Trustee Board?

  • Street parties are back in September!

    25 July 2021Street parties are back in September!

    Great news for anyone planning to hold a street party this year – Reading Borough Council has confirmed that it will waive its road closure fees for any weekend in September 2021. So if you are planning to hold a small street party and can arrange it for September you can close your road and it won’t cost you a penny! A small street party means one held in only one or two streets and for neighbours only.

  • Berkshire Community Foundation supports local reading catch-up

    24 July 2021

    BCF has awarded local reading charity ABC to Read a grant of £5,000 to address the education gap caused by Covid-19. This is in addition to numerous previous grants awarded by the Foundation in ongoing support of the charity. On average, 500 children are encouraged and mentored by an ABC to Read volunteer every year, with 12,000 hours invested into improving not only their reading ability but their enjoyment of the pastime as well as their general attitudes and confidence.

  • Formal bidding process for Caversham Court lease

    24 July 2021Formal bidding process for Caversham Court lease

    This is advance notice to the voluntary and community sector that the formal bidding process through the open market and also through the third sector process for the Caversham Court long leasehold or short-term lease will open on 21 July. Local voluntary organisations are invited to submit their proposals by 12:00 on 17 September 2021. For information and advice on the third sector bidding process please contact RVA’s Advice Service Manager, Herjeet Randhawa by emailing herjeet.randhawa@rva.org.uk.

  • Holiday activities for children, families and adults

    23 July 2021Holiday activities for children, families and adults

    Here are a number of activities and events taking place over the summer holidays, for young people, families and adults. -Youth Team Activities -Holiday Activity Fund -Yoga and Pilates with Compass (6 weekly sessions, starting Wednesday 7 July) -Reading For Health with Compass and MERL (6 weekly sessions, from Wednesday 21 July). In many cases, see the attached fliers for full details but links are also provided below.

  • Ecclesiastical – Movement for Good Awards, phase 2 – deadline 6 August 2021

    22 July 2021

    Ecclesiastical are delighted to be launching their Movement for Good awards for the third successive year – giving back to the communities they serve and championing the issues that really matter to them. They are awarding 30 charities a share of £500,000. Through their second phase of giving, they are actively championing innovation, giving charities the backing they need to propel their plans forward and turn creative ideas into practical solutions that benefit society.