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.
Nominate a local hero for a Census 2021 Purple Plaque
28 December 2020
Do you know someone in your area who is a community hero? To mark Census 2021 in March next year, a competition has launched to find the nation’s unsung community heroes. 22 people across England and Wales, one for each census that has taken place, will have their community spirit and efforts commemorated with a unique purple plaque.
New Family Carers Card
12 December 2020
Many people are family carers and support someone who relies on them to collect shopping, prescriptions and other essential items. Reading Mencap have produced “The Reading Family Carers Card” which is available to carers for FREE and it will identify you as a family carer in order to help shorten the time you might have to spend queueing for a shop, a pharmacy or even a health appointment. It is supported by Reading Borough Council.
Oxford Road stories project – deadline 8 January 2021
11 December 2020
Reading is one of 68 areas of England to receive a share of a £95 million government fund having secured High Street Heritage Action Zone status for three conservation areas in the centre of the town. As a result, Reading will receive up to £806,500 for the implementation of a four-year programme agreed with Historic England. In advance of the wider cultural programme, Historic England offered several pilot grants to initiate and test projects to engage communities.
Friends of the Elderly Grants for older people in financial need
7 December 2020
Friends of the Elderly provide grants of up to £400 to older people living on low incomes. These grants can only be accessed via a third-party Referral Agent who knows you in a professional or community capacity. They currently have four grant streams open Home essentials, Digital Connection, Financial support and Essential living cost. For further information and how to apply: https://www.fote.org.uk/our-charity-work/grants-2/
Energy vouchers available from Citizens Advice Reading – by referral
30 November 2020
Organisations in Berkshire who work with people who may be struggling with their energy bills, for all sorts of reasons – debts, loss of job, because they are vulnerable or elderly or living in cold homes – can make a referral to Citizens Advice Reading for energy vouchers. Citizens Advice Reading is reaching out through Berkshire Community Foundation to extend their reach to all organisations who have frontline teams, working with eligible clients, who can be referred through to them.
Mental Health Community Grants – open until 9 December 2020
24 November 2020
RVA are pleased to announce this new funding to deliver early help and wellbeing support for Black and Asian Minority Ethnic and Refugee communities within Berkshire West. The programme aims to identify voluntary sector organisations that can deliver and support BAMER groups in our communities accessing early help, support with navigating the system to access the right level of support they need to prevent mental ill health, reduce mental health stigma and promote good wellbeing.
RVA launches expanded Social Prescribing service
14 November 2020RVA is extending its existing Social Prescribing service to work with Primary Care Networks across Reading. This month RVA welcomes four new Social Prescribing Link Workers: Sharon Fitton, Louise Keane, Helen Murphy and Charlotte Netherton-Sinclair. They join longstanding Social Prescribers Amber Holdway and Sarah Martin, and Social Prescribing Coordinator Liz Morrison at RVA, and Age UK Berkshire’s Social Prescriber Jodie Burrage.
Reading Rotary Virtual Santa Run 2020
13 November 2020The Seventh Reading Rotary Santa Run is now open for entries. Due to the uncertainty caused by coronavirus it will not be possible for us to all run together. Participants will complete a safe Virtual Run at any time either in the park, around town, up and down their stairs, or even on a treadmill, between 1 December and 31 December 2020. Reading Rotary organises the event and this year’s race will be in aid of various Rotary charities.
Veg4Reading update
12 November 2020
The Veg4Reading project started in June 2020 in response to the number of residents needing additional food parcels or hot meals in order to get by. The project has recruited 71 volunteers to date, who have been working at four Food4families sites, Whitley GrowAllot, Southcote GrowAllot, Lavender Place and Katesgrove Community Allotment, to extend the food growing capacity and grow additional fruit and veg.
Council launches winter wellbeing campaign
12 November 2020
Working alongside the local NHS, Royal Berkshire Hospital and partners in the voluntary sector, Reading Borough Council has launched a seven-week campaign to ‘Stay Well in Reading this Winter.’ With the cold winter nights now drawing in, the campaign aims to address some of the challenges we will all face over the coming weeks and how we can help ourselves, help others and be resilient to the pressures of the pandemic and the second national lockdown.