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.
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.
Berkshire weekly Covid-19 briefings
9 November 2020Public Health for Berkshire are producing a weekly briefing to share the latest local Covid-19 information with a wider audience. It includes: -Current information and surveillance -Key messages from the Strategic Director of Public Health for Berkshire and the six local authorities Download the briefings here: www.berkshirepublichealth.co.uk/information-centre/berkshire-covid-19-weekly-briefing.
Shop to let – 34 Coronation Square
29 October 2020
TO LET: Vacant shop at 34 Coronation Square, Southcote, Reading, RG30 3QN. The property has a central front entrance with 2 display windows. There is a further private staff entrance at the rear of the property opening through to a service area and car park. Internally the property provides an open retail area, partitioned room, kitchenette, utility space and a WC. A lease for up to 10 years from the lease completion date is offered.
Covid-secure meeting rooms open at RISC
27 October 2020
While the ‘rule of six’ means that many leisure and recreational groups are unable to meet at the moment, some groups are still able to meet. If you teach yoga, pilates, tai chi or similar and are looking for a central location to hold your classes why not consider the hall at RISC? The hall has skylights for good ventilation, a sprung maple floor and room for up to 10 people on yoga mats.
RBC consultation on draft Affordable Housing SPD
16 October 2020
Reading Borough Council has published a draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document for consultation – the deadline for responding is 17:00 on Friday 13 November 2020. The Affordable Housing SPD provides detailed guidance on how the Council will secure contributions towards affordable housing from new developments. It gives detail on meeting policies H3 (Affordable Housing) and H4 (Build to Rent Schemes) of the Reading Borough Local Plan, adopted in November 2019.
Roger Williams 1943-2020
12 October 2020
We are sad to hear of the passing of one of Reading’s great community champions. Roger Williams was a well-loved figure in Reading’s voluntary sector, and a tireless campaigner for tenant participation and neighbourhood involvement. Roger’s energy and willingness to help always seemed to be boundless, at times even when he was unwell, and we have lost count of the number of organisations that he helped over the years – as a trustee and making use of his career in accountancy ...