Training

Third Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BQ

Have you thought about volunteering but are not sure if it is right for you? Or, are you keen to get involved but not sure where to start? This free session will provide you with an opportunity to explore how volunteering can fit into your life and help you identify opportunities that work for you.

Session will cover:

• What is volunteering
• How volunteering can help you develop employability and life skills
• Volunteering for wellbeing
• How to find and secure a role
• The volunteering experience, what you should expect and how to make the most out of it
• Accessing further free training to help you get “Volunteering Ready”

Sessions will be run by our experienced Volunteering Development Manager Steven Hendry and are open to anyone interested in volunteering in Reading regardless of previous experience.

Register to attend by completing the form found HERE or call 01189 372273 to book your place.

When Reading Voluntary Action’s Social Prescribers or Community Wellness Outreach team signpost clients to local services, they use an online platform called Joy.

Members of the public can also search Joy Marketplace for services to support their health and wellbeing, or to make recommendations to family and friends.

Find out:

• Why list your organisation on Joy Marketplace?
• How does it connect services to local people?
• How does it help us address health inequalities?
• How do we find out more or sign up?

Free event, but please book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk to confirm your place.

Please email rhiannon.stocking-williams@rva.org.uk to get your organisation listed or if you have any further questions.

RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS

First Steps towards Safe and Sound is a free tool available to all voluntary and community groups offering services in Reading, who wish to take the first steps towards having good governance in place. Come along to our September 2025 introduction session and find out how to get started and what the benefits are for your group.

This session should be attended by either a manager or trustee of your group. More than one person from your group is welcome to attend but we would suggest a maximum of three so that there are enough spaces for all.

This short 1 hour session will include:

1. An overview of First Steps towards Safe and Sound, what it is, the benefits, resources & support from RVA, how to get started and what you receive after completing this.
2. Introduction to First Steps towards engaging Volunteers.
3. Introduction to First Steps towards Inclusion.
4. Further resources and support.

Book your free space online at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Please note that this session will take place in-person, if you prefer to attend an online session instead, please take a look at alternative dates on our training page.

We look forward to seeing you then.

The RVA Team

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.

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.