Financial support provision
Money Matters https://www.reading.gov.uk/housing/money-matters/
Touchdown website for any residents of Reading who are struggling with their finances, from difficulties in paying their rent to putting food on the table. This website will help them to find the right advice and support they need from local services:
- Money, advice
- Debt options
- Benefits
- Rent arrears and evictions
- Redundancy
- Food parcels
- Loan sharks
- Fraud
Free training and mentoring starting September 2022
Are you unemployed and living in Thames Valley Berkshire?
A training offer extended to Reading residents funded by the European Social Fund and Education & Skills Funding Agency, topics covered are:
- Healthy living
- Mental health awareness
- Suicide Prevention
- Equality Diversity & Inclusion
- Group mentoring
Application to join the programme can be done by clicking on the link below
Community Health Pathways: Initial Application (Page 1 of 4) (office.com)
For further information, contact info@thejengroup.com
Grace Church and Abbey Renew Wellbeing Cafes
A safe and welcoming space for people to come and connect with others. Offering a variety of hobbies and activities. Anyone is welcome to share a hobby or skill or to join for a workshop or activity. Anyone is also welcome to come and relax and chat. Free to join.
When: Wednesdays, 7:30pm-9pm
Where: Grace Church Caversham, 119 Peppard Road, RG4 8TR
For more information, email: lightonthehillcafe@gmail.com
Visit: www.gracechurchcaversham.org.uk
When: Every Wednesday, 10:30am-12:00pm
Where: Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, Reading RG1 3BE
For more information, please contact Rev Julia Binney:
Tel: 07533 555 656 or email: juliabinney@outlook.com
Visit: www.abbeybaptistchurch.org.uk
Walk-in Covid-19 Vaccinations
Everyone welcome for a 1st, 2nd and booster doses, age 12 and over
No ID or GP registration required
Where: ACRE, 344 Oxford Road Community Centre, RG30 1AF
- When: Tuesday 21st June - 10:30am-3:30pm
Where: Kennet Island, The Meeting Point, Whale Avenue, RG2 0GY
When:
- Thursday 23rd June-2.00pm-7.00pm
- Friday 24th June - 2:00pm-7:00pm
- Saturday 25th June, 10:00am-4:00pm
- Sunday 26th June, 10:00am-4:00pm
Where: Palmer Park, East Reading Festival, RG1 3PE
- When: Sunday 26th June, 12:00pm-6:00pm
Where: Reading Golders Expo Day, Methodist Church Hall, 84 Queens Road, RG1 4BW
When:
- Tuesday 19th July, 10:00am-4:00pm
Where: Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square, RG30
- When: Tuesday 26th July 11am-6.00pm
Where: The Weller Centre, Amersham Road,
When: Wednesday 27th July 10am-4.00pm
Where: Kennet Island, The Meeting Point, Whale Avenue, RG2 0GY
When:
- Thursday 28th July-2.00pm-7.00pm
- Friday 29th July - 2:00pm-7:00pm
- Saturday 30th July, 10:00am-4:00pm
- Sunday 31st July, 10:00am-4:00pm
For more information, call RVA vaccine support helpline on 0118 334 1091
Compass Recovery College
Compass are offering a light schedule of FREE mental health and wellbeing workshops throuhout the summber months.
On Wednesdays in July and August, at Reading Central Library or in the Forbury Gardens (weather permitting) for:
- Improving Resilience and Motivation
- Improving Self-Esteem
- A Good Night’s Sleep
- Yoga
- Pilates
Regular drop-in Social Sessions will continue to run during this time:
- Coffee and Chat, Tuesdays at the Biscuit Factory (Broad Street Mall, RG1 7QE) 10:30am-11:30am
- Walk-Talk-Walk, Fridays in Palmer Park 10:30am-11:30am
Gardening for Wellbeing will also be drop-in on Thursday afternoons from 2:00pm-4:00pm.
To register and to find out about the range of free sessions that Compass offer:
Tel: 0118 937 3945 or Email: compass.opportunities@reading.gov.uk
Keeping your home cool during the hot weather
Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped
Close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun, however, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in‑between them and the window space
Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/
Holy Brook Nook - close to nature activities
Holy Brook Nook is located across the Holy Brook from Brook Street West, RG1 6BA. A community space for people and nature in the heart of Coley, allowing people to reconnect with nature and get away from it all in an oasis in the urban jungle. It’s always available for people to use (for example, to walk the dog), but there are a couple of pre-planned sessions:
- On the first Tuesday of the month, from 10am, informal conservation sessions are held. A drop in session (no need to book or stay for the whole day) designed to continually improve the Nook and the support nature.
- On the first Saturday of the month, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, pop up and play sessions will be held in the Nook, led by Nature Nurture and Green Tree’s Education. It is free but spaces are limited so places need to be booked using this link, and is focussed primarily on families in the Coley area of town. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
For further information, you can follow the facebook page here or you can email Nature Nurture at hello@nature-nurture.co.uk.
Litter picking at Coley Park
On the first Saturday of every month between 10 am and 12. Meet outside the Coley Park Community Centre, 140 Wensley Road, RG1 6DW. For further information contact robert.stirling@reading.gov.uk.
Freewheelers led rides from Avanti cycling
- Weneddays, 5:00pm-7:00pm. Meet at Coley Park Community Centre, RG1 6DW
- Thursdays, 5:00pm-7:00pm. Meet at Coronation Square, Southcote, RG30 3QP
Grass Rootz youth club
- Coley Park Community Centre every Friday 5:00pm-9:00pm
Southcote Growallot Florian Gardens
- Wednesdays 2:00-:004pm sessions - fpr older adults
- “Open sessions” Saturdays 10:am-12:30pm & Sundays 2:00pm-4:00pm
Get Berkshire Active Wellbeing Sessions
Chair-based sessions led by qualified instructors. Perfect for gently rebuilding strength, suppleness. skill and stamina. More importantly, provide an opportunity to reconnect and socialise with others.
Where: Wesley Methodist Church, Queen's Road, RG1 4BW
- When: Tuesdays at 11:30am
Where: Cornerstones Extra Care Housing, Halcyon Terrace, Tilehurst RG30 4XR
- When: Tuesday at 2:15pm
Where: All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Avenue, RG1 6JE
- When: Wednesdays at 12:30pm
Where: Chimney Court, Shilling Close, Tilehurst, RG30 4EN
- When: Thursdays at 10:00am
Where: Milestone Centre, Northbrook Road, Caversham, RG4 6PF
- When: Thursdays at 11:00am
For further details, please contact Kate Wiggins at kate.wiggins@getberkshireactive.org or call 07706357801