B&Q Reading

Community development activities including community cafe, we take part in the holiday hunger campaign feeding low income families who are entitled to free school meals during term time, there is currently no such provision during holidays. We also make packages up for families in the local area who have no access to food banks, referrals are not necessary as we feel this is a more relaxed approach for the families. The community cafe has people from ages ranging from newborn to 90 years of age attending, on a monthly basis we hold a community museum for the old and new members of the public to attend, they can share they stories of Whitley to others. This helps combat isolation in the elderly and connects the elderly and young together..At Whitley community development association we believe that we can help empower the community to have a voice and go out and do rather than it being done for us. The cafe is a a place to meet, a place to air concerns, a place to help others, a place to do what the community wants us to do. We have programs running that meet our communities needs. Wcda do not charge for any of their services, we do ask where possible for a small donation to help us carry on the work that we do. Our food surplus project is still growing as we continue to look for more parrtners daily to help with the growing needs of our community.WCDA work alonside a benefits agency twice a week to help those get easy access to services that they would not necessarily be able to. Wcda have recently been on BBC south today and local radio stations to talk about food poverty in our area. WCDA have also just won the Pride of Reading Awards as the charity of the year.

Hi, I set up a community Fridge and would love if you could donate food to our fridge, that would benefit the community. the food is free for anyone to come and collect.

Learning disability is life-long and affects a person’s ability to learn and function. Reading Mencap’s mission is to empower individuals with learning disabilities and their families in Reading to achieve what most of us take for granted; to be happy and healthy, have aspirations, and choose how we live our lives. We harness lived experience, passion and creativity to shape tailored support, resources, and services that enhance knowledge, skills and confidence. We’re also committed to informing and educating the wider community about learning disabilities to foster understanding, dispel myths and encourage empathy. Our aims are to deliver services and create opportunities for people with a learning disability and their family carers to: -Improve their health and personal wellbeing. -Increase their confidence and independence. -Improve their life skills. -Reduce the risk of loneliness and isolation. -Enjoy a better overall quality of life. -Increase their understanding of their options, rights and the services available to them. -Improve their access to statutory services. -Plan a fulfilling and secure future for their young person. -Cope better with their caring responsibilities. While we are affiliated to national Mencap, we are a separately governed charity and raise all our own funds. Reading Mencap has over 60 years’ experience in supporting the learning disability community across greater Reading, helping 250-300 people a year. Ethnic minorities make up 46.5% of Reading’s population and the town is ranked third in England for wealth inequality. We are therefore experienced at supporting people affected by multiple, complex disadvantages - as these affect most of our clients - including discrimination, poverty and unemployment levels of 95%. We’re the only learning disability organisation in Reading supporting people throughout life. In 2024, we supported 292 people across our range of holistic services, with most clients using more than one service. In this way, we really get to know many of the families we support, seeing them several times a week and building trusted relationships. 100% of adults with a learning disability said we had helped to make their lives better last year, with 67% saying it is a lot better. Our services: -Family Support: Free personalised 1:1 information, advice and casework, specialising in social care, housing, preparing for adulthood and health. -4ME Activities: Day service for unemployed adults with a learning disability running weekdays at our centre. -Clubs: Free and low-cost social and leisure groups for adults with a learning disability, such as discos and drama. -Carers Partnership: Free information, Carer’s Assessments and social events for family carers in partnership with 3 other local charities, AgeUKs Reading & Berkshire and CommuniCare. Our premises in central Reading includes offices, a meeting space and a large club room and garden.