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Ready Friends News
Hi all, I hope you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and well. Welcome to your regular Ready Friends update.
Befriending Forum on 3 December
The Psychology of Loneliness
Ready Friends is delighted to announce that Dr Kalpa Kharicha, Head of Innovation, Policy and Research from the Campaign to End Loneliness will be our keynote speaker, presenting groundbreaking new research into the psychology of loneliness and the new CTEL training programme.
Winter Festive Programme
We will also hear about the 2020/21 Winter Festive Programme which provides essential information on what support, events and activities are available in Reading for people facing loneliness or needing a range of other kinds of help with shopping, advice, prescriptions, transport and household essentials.
Plus the regular updates and networking opportunities.  Please click on this link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ready-friends-befriending-forum-tickets-126403364867

RVA AGM & members meeting 10 November, 10-11.30
Are you ready for winter 2020?
RVA would be delighted if you can join us for our Members’ Meeting and AGM – via Zoom, of course. We’ll be sharing RVA’s plans for the winter and hearing from members and partners about the support you need over the coming months. We look forward to welcoming you.  Please click on this link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rva-members-meeting-and-agm-2020-tickets-126035634977 

Calling all East Enders! 12 November, 10.30-12
Preparing for Winter 2020 and Emergency Planning - RVA is hosting this event in partnership with Ethical Reading as part of the Reading Climate Change Festival and we hope you can join us.
We will celebrate the community response during the Covid-19 lockdown and consider how we might work together through Winter 2020 and other disaster scenarios.
This event is for anyone who lives, works, delivers services, has a business or is otherwise interested in emergency planning in East Reading.  What could you do and what support or resources will you need?  Click on this link to book: 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-reading-emergency-planning-tickets-125959178293
Take care support for ourselves and others

Volunteers' thank you cards and social event 
We still have some free ‘Thank You’ cards left for volunteers taking action on loneliness but they’re going fast!  If your group includes volunteers who have helped with befriending, buddying, community driving or checking-in calls (or in any other ways that reduce loneliness and social isolation) please get in touch with Rhiannon soon to request a pack, at ready.friends@rva.org.uk

PLUS!
There are still spaces left for our Social and Celebration Party on 2 November, 6-7.30 pm, for volunteers taking action on loneliness and social isolation, via Zoom. Volunteers are invited to join us to meet other volunteers and join in a variety of activities including:

A wellbeing session
A quiz
Seated Pilates
Chatty rooms
A discussion room
Click here for the invitation to send out to your volunteers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qQs-Fg4QMLuSqYGFaH3U95wootx-2aLG/view?usp=sharing

Funding

Here are a couple of examples of current funding opportunities, but there are many more on RVA’s Funding page: http://rva.org.uk/funding/
The Vital for Berkshire Coronavirus fund is now open for applications until 5pm on Friday 30 October.  Funds allocated to Berkshire through the National Emergencies Trust Appeal for Coronavirus, together with the support they have received for their Vital for Berkshire – Coronavirus Appeal, are available for grants to be allocated to local charities, community and voluntary groups working to help people affected by the crisis in Berkshire.  Click here for more info: 
http://rva.org.uk/article/berkshire-community-foundation-vital-for-berkshire-coronavirus-fund-open-for-applications-until-30-october/

The Charites Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched a £20 million fund aimed at both registered and unregistered charitable organisations, including community interest companies and social enterprises, with an income of between £50,000 and £10 million and who were established on or before 31 August 2019.  Click here for more info: 
http://rva.org.uk/article/charities-aid-foundation-resilience-fund-applications-open-until-10-november-2020/

Training and Best Practice Updates
A new RVA web resource to keep an eye on: Social Action and Volunteering Training Hub
You’ll find a range of resources that may be of interest to those active in their local communities, through both formal and informal volunteering, as well as more general information about opportunities for personal development and employability skills. 

There is a mixture of online courses, training and webinars from national providers as well as information on what is on offer locally.  Click here to find out more: 
 http://rva.org.uk/social-action-and-volunteer-training-hub/

 
Research & Surveys

Stepping up and helping out: grassroots volunteering in response to COVID-19
This report from Sheffield Hallam University offers insights into what volunteering is taking place, who is getting involved, how it is organised, whether new forms of volunteering are emerging as a result of the pandemic, and whether volunteers’ energy can be sustained as it continues.  Click here for the report: 
https://localtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Briefing-6-FINAL-1.pdf

How the Built Environment Can Foster Social Health
A report from the USA on how the physical environment is an important factor underlying our health ecosystem, influencing how we think, feel and behave.  Click here for the report: 
https://www.hksinc.com/how-we-think/research/connecting-irl-how-the-built-environment-can-foster-social-health/

Levelling Up Our Communities - a call to action
Danny Kruger MP published the Levelling Up Our Communities report on 24th September. The report sets out his vision for a new social covenant, focused on building a more local, human, less bureaucratic, less centralised society in which people are supported and empowered to play an active role in their neighbourhoods. 

The report addresses concerns raised around the need for increased funding and improved social and digital infrastructure. It also recommends a new Community Power Act, to give local people power over the design and delivery of public services, and the creation of a ‘Neighbour Day’ bank holiday to celebrate communities and volunteering. You can read the full report here:  https://www.dannykruger.org.uk/communities-report

North Ayrshire: A case study on kindness
Carnegie UK Trust has worked in partnership with North Ayrshire Council to explore what it would mean to embed kindness across a local authority, and what that might achieve.
https://d1ssu070pg2v9i.cloudfront.net/pex/carnegie_uk_trust/2020/09/30114442/North-Ayrshire-A-case-study-on-kindness-FINAL.pdf
 

Resources and ideas for befrienders and their befriendees

There’s just over a week to go before Befriending Week 2020. Make sure you are prepared, check out the Befriending Week Resource Pack which has lots of tools, ideas and inspiration to help your organisation get involved in Befriending Week.  Click here for the pack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ds4Zaic4R0jiIzDqVcIelhPVSw2cY92W/view?usp=sharing
 

Digital Inclusion

Get Online! 
RVA’s Get Online support is still open for business, just operating remotely. Our team of Get Online volunteers can offer help over the phone to get started, then we can help set up Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp so we can talk over video as well. We can also help with finding reasonably priced laptops, tablets and smartphones and getting better broadband and mobile deals.
http://rva.org.uk/article/we-can-still-help-you-get-online/
 
Take care, everyone, Rhiannon
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Ready Friends News
Hi all, I hope you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and well. Welcome to your regular Ready Friends update.
December 3 Befriending Forum

The Psychology of Loneliness

Ready Friends is delighted to announce that Dr Kalpa Kharicha, Head of Innovation, Policy and Research from the Campaign to End Loneliness will be our keynote speaker, presenting groundbreaking new research into the psychology of loneliness and the new CTEL training programme.
Winter Festive Programme
We will also hear about the 2020/21 Winter Festive Programme which provides essential information on what support, events and activities are available in Reading for people facing loneliness or needing a range of other kinds of help with shopping, advice, prescriptions, transport and household essentials.
Please click on this link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ready-friends-befriending-forum-tickets-126403364867

RVA AGM & members meeting 10 November, 10-11.30
Are you ready for winter 2020?
RVA would be delighted if you can join us for our Members’ Meeting and AGM – via Zoom, of course. We’ll be sharing RVA’s plans for the winter and hearing from members and partners about the support you need over the coming months. We look forward to welcoming you.  Please click on this link to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rva-members-meeting-and-agm-2020-tickets-126035634977 



Social and Celebration Party
On 2 November, we are hosting a Social and Celebration Party for volunteers taking action on loneliness and social isolation, via Zoom. Volunteers are invited to join us to meet other volunteers and join in a variety of activities including:
  • A wellbeing session
  • A quiz
  • Seated Pilates
  • Chatty rooms
  • A discussion room

If you would like to send invitations to your volunteers, please contact Rhiannon (ready.friends@rva.org.uk) who will email you the e-invite for you to forward on.  Spaces are limited at the event, so please get in touch with Rhiannon to request the e-invite and ask your volunteers to book early!

Take care support for ourselves and others

Small Silence 
Small Silence soundwalks employ a range of listening exercises to explore our relationship with everyday sounds. They also provide an opportunity for participants to respond to the soundscape through mapping, photography, sketching, knitting, creative writing and a host of other activities. The soundwalks are both informative and aim to cultivate a calm presence, not only beneficial for creative responses but providing the foundation for a clearer understanding of the impact of sounds on wellbeing.  https://www.smallsilence.org/wellbeingsoundwalks 


 

Funding

Checkout the RVA funding pages to see time-limited and rolling funding rounds. http://rva.org.uk/funding/
 

Training and Best Practice Updates
RVA's Social Action and Volunteer Training Hub
Checkout RVA’s new Social Action and Volunteer Training Hub. We have gathered together a range of resources that may be of interest to those active in their local communities, through both formal and informal volunteering, as well as more general information about opportunities for personal development and employability skills.  RVA is keen to hear from volunteers and VCOs on what other training they would like to see on offer. http://rva.org.uk/social-action-and-volunteer-training-hub/

Befriending Networks
Befriending Networks’ Topical Training covers a range of topics designed to support volunteers and managers in a variety of roles and is available for members and non-members. They are on subjects that are offered online and face-to-face multiple times each year.  Click here for their current programme: 
http://www.befriending.co.uk/training-events/topical 
 
Research & Surveys

Berkshire Vision - How Lockdown Affected Their Members
Berkshire Vision has produced a short episode of their podcast where members discuss how lockdown affected them. Following the announcement of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 23, 2020, face-to-face support from all agencies was indefinitely suspended across Berkshire and social activities and opportunities to meet in person with individuals outside their own households ended overnight.

As most Berkshire Vision members live alone, this left them without anyone they could meet. Key services such as supermarkets and banks changed how they operated almost overnight, which disproportionately affected Berkshire Vision’s members. They included two-meter markers they could not see, signs limiting numbers of purchases they could not read, and staff unable to come close enough to assist.  Find out more from here: https://berkshirevision.org.uk/general/our-members-experience-of-lockdown/

No5 Young Ambassadors report – the impact of Covid-19 on local young people
Following many reports from national organisations about the impact of Covid-19 on young people, No5 wanted to give their Young Ambassadors the opportunity to share their experiences of the pandemic and how the lockdown impacted their lives, relationships and their mental health.  Read the report here:
https://no5.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Impact-of-COVID-19-Report-FINAL.pdf
 

Resources and ideas for befrienders and their befriendees

Art by Post from the Southbank Centre - deadline is 11 October
Art by Post booklets are designed by artists and inspired by our art collection and artistic programme at London’s Southbank Centre. The activities are designed for adults living with one or more long-term health conditions, who through Covid-19 restrictions are at further risk of isolation. They are especially interested in giving people living with dementia, and their supporters, access to creative resources.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/creative-learning/arts-wellbeing/art-by-post

Digital Inclusion

Get Online! 
RVA’s Get Online support is still open for business, just operating remotely. Our team of Get Online volunteers can offer help over the phone to get started, then we can help set up Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp so we can talk over video as well. We can also help with finding reasonably priced laptops, tablets and smartphones and getting better broadband and mobile deals.
http://rva.org.uk/article/we-can-still-help-you-get-online/

Digital inclusion: Connecting Scotland
Tens of thousands of families across Scotland are set to receive a technology boost.  Around 23,000 low income households without proper internet access will be helped to get online with the assistance of £15 million of Scottish Government funding.
http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/15m-to-help-families-get-online
 

Articles, Webinars, Blogs & Podcasts

Campaign to End Loneliness blog - the challenge of volunteering during Covid-19
The fourth webinar of CTEL’s series on Loneliness in the time of Covid-19 focused on volunteers. 50 participants from charities, local government, academia, and health and care came together to share experiences, challenges and ideas. In this blog, Dan Jones reflects on what they heard.

“Even under “normal” circumstances, telephone befriending can be more intense – there are no natural breaks, like getting up to make a cup of tea. You can’t smile to lift the mood, nod to demonstrate understanding or sympathy, or read the other person’s expression to spot when they need more help or a change of pace.”
https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/blog/the-challenges-of-volunteering-during-the-pandemic/ 

 
Take care, everyone, Rhiannon
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