Reading Voluntary Action (RVA)
There are plenty of other ways you can volunteer in the local community. Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) is the best place to find loads of opportunities in the local area. They provide information and access to resources for volunteers, as well as working to recruit and train the people who work with charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations in Reading. They work with a wide range of projects such as community development, befriending schemes and technological help. With many more areas to volunteer in, RVA is the best place to start looking.
Royal Berkshire Hospital
There are chances for you to volunteer at the local Royal Berkshire Hospital. Many of the roles require no previous medical training and there are many opportunities to get involved. These include being a welcomer, organising activities for children in waiting areas or even driving a hospital buggy. These are incredible ways to help make the hospital process just a little bit easier.
Reading Festival
If you are planning to be in Reading at any point over the summer then applying to volunteer at the world famous Reading Festival is a must. You can either be a campsite and area volunteer, helping maximise every festival-goers experience, or as a Green Messenger and help keep the festival as clean and green as possible. Along with an incredible volunteering experience, you will receive a free ticket and have loads of time to enjoy some of the best acts in the world.
Local museums
If you're interested in getting into the heritage sector or just want to gain some useful employability skills or new experiences, there are several museums on your doorstep that offer volunteer opportunities. The University itself has three museums; the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, the Cole Museum of Zoology and the Museum of English Rural Life. There's also Reading Museum in the town centre. Opportunities range from working in the archives to using your social media skills.
RED Award
Don’t forget, any voluntary work you do will count toward the total number of hours required to achieve the Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award.