We love having Low Carbon Workspaces as a part of our Connect Reading community. Tom Macdonald, Project Officer, took some time to answer some questions and tell us a bit more about the organisation. Low Carbon Workspaces As a grant scheme, we offer grants to SMEs looking to reduce their carbon emissions through upgrades or […]
Bespoke Team Days
Connect Reading Bespoke Team Days Are you looking for a bespoke team day where you can have a positive social impact in your locality?We would love to chat with you about our bespoke Connect Reading team days*! For more info on our team days check out our brochure below. Connect Reading Bespoke Team Days Brochure […]
Spotlight On: Reading Advice Network
We love having Reading Advice Network as a part of our Connect Reading community. Their Chair, Richard Harrison, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the organisation. Reading Advice Network We are an umbrella organisation that brings together and supports charities to give quality information and advice to […]
Spotlight On: Reading Biscuit Factory
We love having Reading Biscuit Factory as part of our Connect Reading community! Matthew Lacey, General Manager, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the business. Reading Biscuit Factory We are a brand-new, three-screen independent cinema and community cultural hub, with a bar, café, shared workspaces and room to […]
Case Study: Graft Thames Valley & ABC to Read
Case Study: Graft Thames Valley & ABC to Read AT A GLANCE The Survival Guide Course, from Graft Thames Valley, supports those who have been long-term unemployed for whatever reason. The course enables participants to grow in confidence and helps them to develop practical skills. Connect Reading connected Graft Thames Valley with ABC to Read […]
Case Study: Visa and Brookfields School
Case Study: Visa and Brookfields School AT A GLANCE Connect Reading connected Visa and Brookfields School and a long-term partnership has been created! As part of Visa’s global volunteering month in June 2021, Visa organised a virtual event with Brookfields School. Visa have also have donated £1,500 to Brookfield’s Market Garden project and committed to […]
Spotlight On: Me2 Club
We love having Me2 Club as part of our Connect Reading family! Shaun Polley, Chief Executive Officer, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the charity. Me2 Club Me2 Club tackles the isolation felt by marginalised children (aged 5 to 19 years) with wide ranging additional needs and disabilities, […]
Spotlight On: CommuniCare
We love having CommuniCare as part of our Connect Reading community! Francesca Yates, Communicare Manager, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the charity. CommuniCare We are a charity providing information, advice and support to anyone in need. We aim to support people in understanding and navigating everyday […]
Spotlight On: Shift Youth + Community
We love having Shift Youth + Community as part of our Connect Reading family! Aneta Banas, Executive Assistant and Administrator, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about the charity. Shift Youth + Community We are a Christian new monastic and missional movement. We base ourselves in local communities […]
Local company Sorce launches Juggl Desks to enable a safe return to the workplace
Cloud-based desk booking solution facilitates hybrid working On the 7th July 2021, Berkshire intranet software provider, Sorce, launched Juggl Desks. Juggl is a cloud-based desk booking solution that helps organisations to manage a safe return to the workplace. Ideal for supporting hybrid working, Juggl is free to all organisations until 2022. “Organisations of all sizes […]
Spotlight On: de la Haye Coaching
We love having de la Haye Coaching as part of our Connect Reading community! Tristan, Founder of de la Haye Coaching, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about his business. de la Haye Coaching With over 25 years’ experience in grassroots business management, I can help to develop […]
Connect Reading AGM
Connect Reading AGM 2020-2021 It was great to have you with us if you joined us at our Connect Reading 2020-2021 AGM this morning. If you weren’t able to join us then you can still watch the slides, which were presented by Lorraine and Annie, in the video below ↓ https://connectreading.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AGM-2020-2021.mp4 What a year! In […]
Spotlight On: Chapter2
We love having Chapter2 as part of our Connect Reading community! Andrea Smith, Operations Manager at Chapter2, took some time to answer our questions and tell us a bit more about Chapter2. Chapter2 Chapter2 is a mentoring charity based in Reading. We train male mentors from churches and the community and pair them with boys […]
Spotlight On: Berkshire Youth
We love having the brilliant Berkshire Youth as part of our Connect Reading family. Julie MacLean, Marketing Manager at Berkshire Youth, took some time to tell us a bit more about the charity and the work they do. Berkshire Youth Berkshire Youth is a local charity which has been supporting the county’s young people for […]
Connect Reading Annual Report 2020-2021
Connect Reading Annual Report 2020-2021 Our Annual Report is a round up of all things Connect Reading from last year. We hope you enjoy reading it! A note from our MD, Lorraine Briffitt:And a good day to you all. “What is this?” I hear you say. It is an Annual Report, but in July! We […]
Spotlight On: Reading Family Aid
We love having Reading Family Aid as part of our Connect Reading community. Ruth Perkins, Chair of Reading Family Aid, took some time to tell us a bit more about the charity and their passion for bringing joy to children in Reading. Reading Family Aid A little about Reading Family Aid and the amazing work […]
Connect Reading Membership Brochures
Connect Reading Membership Brochures Are you looking to make connections and improve your local environment and community? We would love to chat with you about Connect Reading membership! We believe that each of our members has a unique and valuable contribution to make and we love getting to know them so we can help make meaningful […]
Spotlight On: Visa
We love having Visa as part of our Connect Reading community. The wonderful, Jacquie Daley, Director of Clearing and Settlement at Visa in Reading, took some time to tell us a bit more about the company and their passion for giving back to their local community. Visa Visa are a global payments technology company working to enable […]
Spotlight On: B Radio
We are really excited to welcome B Radio to the Connect Reading community. Gavin Harris, Director, told us a bit more about B Radio, what they’re passionate about and how you can connect with them. B Radio We are a local not-for-profit radio station broadcasting across Berkshire from our studios in Reading. We play a mix of […]
Spotlight On: Chemogiftbags
We love having Chemogiftbags as part of our Connect Reading community. Lynne Shipton, Founder of Chemogiftbags, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about the organisation and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Chemogiftbags Chemogiftbags provide free care packages for breast cancer patients and for those undergoing chemo in the […]
Grow Your Own Talent – UTC Reading
Grow your own talent UTC Reading are looking to connect with local employers. Do connect with them if you’d like to know more! UTC Reading is calling for local employers in the digital, science and technology field to work with us to bring industry knowledge into the classrooms and get our teachers into industry, and in […]
Employment Advice Webinar for Women
Free employment advice webinar for female job seekers We love sharing what our Connect Reading members are doing and next week two of our members, Smart Works Reading and Pepsico are teaming up to offer a fantastic free webinar! Award-winning charity Smart Works Reading has partnered with major local employer PepsiCo to run a free employment advice […]
Spotlight On: Reading Interfaith Group
We are so delighted to have welcomed Reading Interfaith Group to Connect Reading! Sarah Griffin, Chair of Reading Interfaith Group, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about the organisation and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Reading Interfaith Group Throughout history religion can be used for good or […]
Spotlight On: Reading University Student’s Union (RUSU)
We are so delighted to have welcomed Reading University Student’s Union (RUSU) to Connect Reading! Ryan Bird, Chief Executive at RUSU, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about the organisation and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Reading University Student’s Union (RUSU) RUSU is a democratic, student-led organisation, […]
Spotlight On: Education Business Partnership
We are so delighted to have welcomed Education Business Partnership to Connect Reading! Michelle Smith, CEO at Education Business Partnership, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about the organisation and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Education Business Partnership We are Education Business Partnership (EBP), a not-for-profit company […]
Spotlight On: Berkshire Maestros
We are so delighted to have welcomed Berkshire Maestros Connect Reading! Dawn Wren, CEO at Berkshire Maestros, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about the organisation and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Berkshire Maestros We are Berkshire’s largest music charity, offering instrumental and vocal tuition in schools and music centres […]
Spotlight On: Activate Learning
We are so delighted to have welcomed the wonderful Activate Learning to Connect Reading! Holly Perrett, Partnership Engagement Manager, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about Activate Learning and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Spotlight On: Activate Learning – Reading College & Institute of Technology The Activate […]
Spotlight On: Sport In Mind
We are so delighted to have welcomed the wonderful Sport In Mind to Connect Reading! Calum Pettitt, Sport In Mind’s Service Coordinator, took some time to answer some questions and tell us all about Sport in Mind and how we can connect with all they’re doing. Spotlight On: Sport In Mind Sport in Mind is […]
Reading Rescue May 2021
We can’t go out in big groups for Reading RESCUE in May, but we can still have a BIG IMPACT! We’re really looking forward to heading out during the week of Monday 3rd – Sunday 9th May 2021 in groups of up to six or two households. To sign up, fill in our RESCUE form here […]
Meet our Trustees: Paul Buckley
We love our Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. We were delighted to welcome Paul to our Trustee Board earlier this year. After qualifying as a solicitor in 1999, Paul joined Heathrow Airport. During his 20 year career, at Heathrow, he has held leadership […]
Meet our Trustees: Tony Pettitt
We love our Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. We asked Tony, our Treasurer, a few questions to get to know him better and find out a bit more about why he decided to join us at Connect Reading. Hi Tony! Can you tell […]
Meet our Trustees: John Pickford
We love our Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. We were delighted to welcome John to our Trustee Board earlier this year. John has over 25 years’ experience in a variety of commercially focussed roles, and has enjoyed working in a range of different […]
Meet our Trustees: Vicky Poole
We love our Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. Vicky Poole is a coach who helps people reconcile their past and deal with their hang-ups so they can create a future of their wildest dreams. After 15 years in corporate and strategic sales in […]
Meet our Trustees: Darren Campbell
We love our Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. Darren Campbell is one of our newest Trustees and we were very excited to welcome him to the team earlier this year. Darren has spent the last 6 years leading & transforming business units within […]
Meet our Trustees: Tracey Rawling Church
We have an excellent team of Connect Reading Trustees and we wanted to give you a chance to get to know them too. Up first, Tracey Rawling Church, who is our Chair. Tracey is a principal consultant at Acclaro Advisory and has spent more than 20 years supporting businesses to minimise their environmental impact and maximise their […]
Spotlight On: University of Reading
We are so delighted to have welcomed the wonderful University of Reading to Connect Reading! Sarah Gardner, Community Relations Manager, shared with us a bit about what their last year has been like, what they’re looking forward to, and how you can connect with them. The University are really passionate about local community and they’d […]
What is Ethical Angel?
We love creating connections and we’re proud to be working with Ethical Angel to help our members receive free virtual support through their platform. Watch this video from Natu Hadish, Head of Causes at Ethical Angel, to learn a little more about the benefits of becoming part of their network. As a charity or CIC, […]
The Giving Tree 2020
Over 1,500 gifts bought for disadvantaged children and young people in Reading. Over £5,500 raised by you online. Over £5,600 donated by local businesses. And over £4,400 underwritten by us at Connect Reading because we believe in the cause so much. “The generosity of The Giving Tree gave us an opportunity to identify children, young […]
Minutes of Connect Reading AGM 2019/20
We had our 2019/20 AGM on Friday 4th December 12.15pm on Zoom. Thank you to those of you who joined us. If you’d like to read the minutes you can find them below to download in PDF or HTML format. Our annual report can also be found below. If you have any questions then please […]
Connect Reading AGM & Annual Report
Come join us for our AGM on Friday 4th December 12.15pm. Click here to pre-register on Eventbrite. We’ll be approving last year’s minutes and sharing info from our impact report, both of which you can download below.
The Giving Tree Colouring Sheets
Calling all parents, carers, childminders and schools! We know how much you love being able to choose gifts for The Giving Tree with your children. We know it’s not the same but on our donation page you’ll find some example images of the gifts your money will buy. We’ve also created some colouring sheets with […]
The Giving Tree 2020
THE GIVING TREE It’s November. It’s 49 days until Christmas. And, The Giving Tree is live! Much like many things this year it looks a little different to normal but we are delighted that you are still able to be a Secret Santa for a child or young person in Reading this year! Head to our campaign page […]
CSR, Covid and Climate Change
CSR, Covid and Climate Change – a chance to Build Back Better CSR – or Corporate Social Responsibility – has its origins in the philanthropy practised by wealthy industrialists who funded the construction of public buildings not only for the benefit of society but as a way of leaving their mark as a person of influence […]
Reading RESCUE Autumn 2020
Reading RESCUE – Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean-Up Event – our bi-annual environmental clean-up event looked a little different this year! Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, sadly we made the decision not to go ahead with the event in the usual format. However, our local environment and community are our first priority and we were […]
What is Reading RESCUE?
Reading RESCUE – Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean-Up Event – is our bi-annual environmental clean-up event. Clean up teams are made up of people from community groups, local businesses and other local volunteers. The event is supported by Reading Borough Council through rubbish pick-ups, and sponsored by Thames Water. When did it begin? The event […]