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Connect education across sectors

Getting to know member organisations helps us create bespoke connections across sectors. Whether you’re looking to find local businesses for work experience and support, or perhaps link to charities to support your students, our network can deliver those connections.

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Reach out locally!

We serve over 150 members from the business, nonprofit and charity, education and public services sectors and this unique, cross-sector model brings organisations together for mutual benefit.

We get to know our members really well, enabling us to ensure you will receive targeted support and enter into partnerships that are truly needed.

As a member, you’ll benefit from multiple opportunities to make local connections. You’ll also have access to projects, events and resources as well as opportunities to increase your profile locally.

Our events
1
hours of skills and training
1
connections made
1
worth of given items

Why become a member?

Bi-monthly member networking

Access free learning opportunities for staff (and students over 18)

Promote your work & make cross-sector connections

Donate & receive redundant resources, reducing carbon landfill

Participate in The Giving Tree, Summer Appeal & RESCUE

Host a Business Team Challenge day with Project support from us

Access updates & resources in our newsletter

Connect with local businesses

Unique partnerships for your benefit

Deals and discounts…

Social value measurement platform

Free first staff wellbeing questionnaire through the KAYA platform.

20% discount on room bookings (6 person meeting room & 12 person board room)

10% discount on music workshops for team building activities

Special discount on event bookings and meals for your team.

Find out about unused materials in our member spaces.

We collate ingo about unused materials for our members.

Ad hoc training about non-executive director roles & inclusive recruitment

Connect with their L&D platform to grow your team’s skills

Your questions answered

As a school, college or university you may be looking to connect with locally based businesses for resources or work experience opportunities. We work to connect our education members with other sectors to fulfil those needs. Our sliding fee scale makes membership accessible to everyone.

Whether you are looking to update school furniture, or repaint railings we can connect you with businesses who may be giving away items to fulfil this. We can also facilitate and help to project manage team challenge days for local businesses or charities who want to boost their social impact. You can also give away your redundant resources to others from the nonprofit sector, boosting your own social value impact and reputation.

Our annual projects can directly impact your students. For example, students experiencing hardship and poverty, they may receive a Giving Tree gift. In addition, Reading RESCUE (Rivers & Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event) is a great opportunity to get students and staff out of the classroom, directly impacting the environment through a litter pick.

ESG is Environment, Social & Governance; formerly known as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). ESG refers to the 3 key factors when measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of an organisation. Many choose to report in these areas. Councils are required to report on social value as per Procurement Policy Note 06/20.

Which membership is right for us?

Memberships are charged annually and last 12 months.

State school / Academy

£50 p/a

Private primary school

£200 p/a

Private secondary school

£500 p/a

College

£1500 p/a

University

£3500 p/a

Your first step to becoming a member…

Sign up to become part of a community who are passionate about building a better Reading, for everyone.

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Our connections…

Connect Reading has become an invaluable way for the University to build relationships and collaborate with the local community. Membership has helped us be more accessible and visible, connecting us to new organisations that we’ve previously not engaged with. Connect Reading are a living example of how to walk the walk of your vision. When you’re in a room with such a breadth of organisations you can really see that a better Reading is being created for everyone.

Molli Cleaver
Community Relations Manager, University of Reading