Community Information Ambassadors October newsletter

Thank you for being a South Reading Community Information Ambassador.

You are a South Reading Community Information Ambassador, helping to improve life outcomes for our residents. In this first edition, we have included key information you can use and share with other residents. We’ve also included exciting upcoming events, and initiatives from Reading Borough Council, and our partners, we hope will be of interest.

Speaking with residents, across South Reading, many of you asked for more guidance on where information on services, events, and other activities can be located. The role of a South Reading Community Information Ambassador is to act as an informal ambassador, spreading key messages to your social and professional networks via word of mouth, your communication channels, or through community groups or organisations you represent.

We want to help ensure everyone across South Reading has access to good quality information, particularly support, services, and events on offer from Reading Borough Council, Central Government, and importantly, yourselves, our crucial community partners. We want all residents in South Reading to be included in everything we do.

Information sources

Reading Directory

Please visit the Reading Directory for a comprehensive guide to local information. It includes adult & carer support, run by Reading Borough Council, information on services delivered by our independently run children’s services company, Brighter Futures for Children, and an overview of other services from our community partner organisations.

If you are providing any services, or running any events, of interest to adults, carers, or children, and you would like them to be shared on our Reading Directory, please create an account and subject to approval, your initiative will be uploaded.

What’s On Reading

Please visit What’s On Reading for the ultimate guide to arts, culture, and heritage events in Reading.

If you are hosting any cultural events, you would like to be shared on What’s On Reading, please visit Become a What’s On Reading Partner where you can see all the criteria and sign-up via the online form – then someone will be in touch to discuss next steps.

Reading Borough Council News

Please visit Reading Borough Council News to stay up to date with news directly from the council.

New Directions College

New Directions College offers a complete range of formal and informal education programmes that include; Apprenticeships, Sector Based Work Programmes and work experience. Please visit New Directions webpage for further information.

Advice, information, and support services

For free, impartial and confidential specialist advice to help with a wide range of problems including benefits, debt and money, cost of living, and online support, please contact Citizens Advice Reading or CommuniCare.

If you would prefer an in-person informal chat, or assistance with online applications, please visit the Whitley CDA Community Café, in the South Reading Community Hub, on a Monday, Wednesday, or the first Saturday of every month to speak with the organisations.

Other useful information

Whitley CDA Community Café

In addition to weekdays, Whitley CDA’s community cafe will reopen its doors on Saturday mornings. From 9am to 12pm, they will be offering affordable breakfasts in a family friendly environment. Look out for what’s going on each Saturday on the Whitley CDA Facebook page.

Household Support Fund open for applications

Residents on low incomes and those who are struggling to meet the rising cost of living, are eligible to apply for a £125 one-off payment (per household). Please see the press release for further details, and the application portal to start your application.

John Rabson’s Rec new Skatepark consultation

We are building a new Skatepark on John Rabson’s Rec. We are asking local riders to help shape the designs by completing this short survey on what’s important to you in a skatepark. Please visit the consultation webpage to take part.

Million Hours Fund open for applications

This National Lottery Community Fund are funding organisations to give extra support to young people in areas where they may be at risk of anti-social behaviour. They want to fund extra hours of youth work for additional activities that give these young people more places to go and positive things to do. Please visit the Community Fund webpage for further details, and to start your application.

Other spotlight events

Whitley CDA Showcase Event (Wednesday 18 October)

On Wednesday 18 October, from 10am to 1pm, the Whitley CDA will be hosting a showcase. They will be joined by the NHS ‘Meet Peet’ team offering free health checks. The Whitley Community Museum will be hosting ‘Way Back When’ a history of Whitley, and CommuniCare will be available to help with benefits, debt and money, cost of living, and online support.

Music Creation Workshop (Monday 23 October)

On Monday 23 October, in partnership with The Rock Academy, Whitley CDA have six places are available for a music creation workshop. Details on booking available on the Rock Academy Facebook page.

Whitley CDA Family Halloween Arts and Crafts Session (Wednesday 25 October)

On Wednesday 25 October from 11am to 12pm Whitley CDA are holding a family Halloween Arts and crafts session, followed at 1pm by family Halloween Bingo.

Whitley CDA Halloween Spooktacular (Friday 27 October)

On Friday 27 October from 1pm to 3:30pm, Whitley CDA will be hosting a Halloween Spooktacular, tickets are priced at £3 and are bookable in advance from the community cafe. Immerse yourselves into everything Halloween. Apple bobbing, spooky games and ‘best dressed’ Halloween fancy dress.

Whitley Networking Meeting (TBC)

The Whitley Networking Meetings are a chance for all organisations working in the Whitley and Church Wards to come together, share the projects they’re involved in, and provide peer support. To find out more, and to be invited to the next meeting, please email Rob Stirling, Community Development Officer – robert.stirling@reading.gov.uk.

If you have any information you would like to include in the next newsletter or wish to unsubscribe and opt out of being a South Reading Community Information Ambassador, please email Ollie Cassells, Community Project Officer – oliver.cassells@reading.gov.uk – with your request.