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Hi all, I hope you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and well. Welcome to your regular Ready Friends update.
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Ready Friends Befriending Forum
Next Forum - 24 June “A Warm Welcome”
Click here to book
RVA Volunteering survey
Reading Voluntary Action would like to capture the experiences of anyone who has been engaged in any form of unpaid voluntary work in the last 24 months. We have created the survey linked to below to help capture the extent, nature and basis of volunteering that has happened in the town. We would also like to capture changing perspectives on volunteering and the emotional component of involvement.
We would be grateful if you could share the link to this survey with both your volunteers and others connected to your service. We want to capture the widest possible range of respondents and experiences and your help will allow us to connect with those whose insights may not otherwise be captured.
Click here for the survey.
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Take care – support for ourselves and others
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11 May Hempen Community Wellbeing Day
Throughout the day there will be yoga, pilates, herbal workshop, painting and an interactive workshop on mental health (specifically aimed at parents and carers but depending on who comes, it can be adapted to be relevant for everyone!)
Click here for the programme.
Reading Gardening for Health and Wellbeing Network
As this is the time of year when you or someone you know might like to find a group to get outside with, check out this leaflet with the details of all the members of the Reading Gardening for Health and Wellbeing Network,
Click here for the flyer.
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Lloyds Bank Foundation supports charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £1 million with a strong track record of helping people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities overcome complex social issues. They offer a two-year unrestricted grant of £50,000 alongside development support to help your charity navigate change.
Click here for more information.
The National Survivor User Network Side by Side Fund is open for applications.
The Fund will award grants of up to £500 to peer support, mutual aid or self-help groups in England and Wales to connect remotely, prepare to move their activities to face-to-face, or make their group more sustainable. The peer support, mutual aid or self-help group must benefit people or communities who live with mental ill-health, trauma and distress.
Click here for more information.
The Empowering Women Fund, part of the Labyrinth Project, is a Tampon Tax funded grant scheme, led by Solace. It will provide funding to support small women’s groups and organisations to develop innovative ways of empowering women in their local area and build the capacity of small organisations. The fund is divided into two strands and grants can run for up to 12 months.
Click here for more information.
And there's lots more on our Funding Page. Just a click away!
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Resources for groups and practitioners
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Eden Communities
The Big Lunch is all about celebrating community connections and getting to know one another a little better - and this year, there are more reasons than ever to get together as The Big Lunch kicks off the Month of Community.
Click here for more information and a free resource pack.
The Jo Cox Foundation
What better way to kickstart your summer than by bringing your neighbourhood together for a Great Get Together? Over 18-20 June, join the UK-wide movement of the Great Get Together: bringing people together to celebrate new connections and Jo Cox's #MoreInCommon message - now more important than ever.
Click here for more information.
What Works Wellbeing
Community wellbeing: using case studies to build the evidence base. Helpful guides to creating and making the most of case studies.
Click here for more information.
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Training, Webinars and Best Practice Updates
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11 and 12 May The Media Trust
As part of the Headlining Mental Health programme, The Media Trust will be running two mornings of free masterclasses during Mental Health Awareness Week to help mental health & wellbeing organisations make the most of social media.
Click here for more information.
11 May The next Thriving Communities webinar which will explore how social prescribing can help tackle loneliness ahead of Loneliness Awareness Week 14-18 June.
Click here for more information.
27 May Reopening Your Premises
Does your charity have a building or premises and are you wondering how to approach re-opening your premises?
RVA is hosting another re-opening your premises session via Zoom. We will cover:
Governance update from our Advice Service Manager, Herjeet Randhawa on: government guidance, top tips for risk assessments, and best practice approach to Covid testing and vaccinations for staff and volunteers
Hear from other local groups on how they have delivered services during the pandemic, their plans going forward and the precautions they are taking for further re-opening. Simone Prendiville, Community Learning and Development Manager from The Weller Centre and Martin Mikhail, Centre Coordinator from RISC will share steps their organisations have taken.
Break-out groups to discuss what you have heard and your own ideas with other trustees and managers.
Q&A and further resources
Click here for more information.
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Reports, consultations and surveys
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Socially Connected Communities: Solutions for Social Isolation
Social isolation is not a personal choice or individual problem, but one that is rooted in community design, social norms, and systemic injustices. Socially Connected Communities: Solutions for Social Isolation offers five recommendations for creating socially connected communities, starting with public spaces, transportation, and housing.
Click here for more information.
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How Architects can save us from loneliness
In the wake of COVID-19, Make Architect’s initiative (from Australia) to encourage innovative architectural solutions for combating loneliness is needed now more than ever.
Click here for the article.
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Take care, everyone, Rhiannon
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