Charity secures funding to help Reading's most vulnerable

A Reading-based charity that helps support vulnerable people in the town has secured funding from the University of Reading to enhance its food distribution and digital access services.

Faith Christian Group has been helping people in poverty since the 1980s, offering food, dignity, and hope to those in need. The charity has secured funding from the University of Reading's Community Engagement Fund to enhance three of its core programmes:

• Bed for a Night: provides emergency accommodation and support to those experiencing homelessness in Reading.
• Readistreet: provides food to the homeless and those in need.
• Churches in Reading Drop-In Centre (CIRDIC): provides a range of services for people aged 18+ who are homeless or without secure accommodation.

The Community Engagement Fund enables University staff who volunteer in the local community to apply for financial support from the University to enhance their charitable work.

The partnership with Faith Christian Group has been driven by Professor Katie Sampeck, Professor of Archaeology at the University, who volunteers weekly at both Readistreet and CIRDIC. Her ongoing commitment has helped shape this initiative and deepen the University's connection to the community. 

Professor Katie Sampeck, from the University of Reading, said: "Volunteering at Faith has shown me how powerful small acts of kindness can be. This partnership is a way for the University to stand alongside those who are doing the hard work every day to support our neighbours in need."

Support from this partnership begins this autumn, with Readistreet receiving repurposed food-serving supplies to improve safe and hygienic food distribution, while CIRDIC will benefit from reusable dining wares and two new laptops to help guests access housing, employment, and other vital services.

Starting in January 2026, the University's Campus Commerce team will prepare hot meals for 40 guests every Monday evening for eight weeks, as part of the Bed for a Night initiative.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "Supporting our local community is at the heart of our mission as a civic university. I am proud of our staff members who give their time and expertise to support a wide variety of local charities and community organisations across Reading and the Thames Valley, helping those who need it most.”

Andy Dickens, Chief Executive Officer of Faith Christian Group, said: "This partnership is a beautiful example of what can happen when institutions and charities come together with compassion and purpose. It's not just about meals or laptops - it's about restoring dignity, building relationships, and creating pathways to a better future."

Faith Christian Group is calling on other organisations, businesses, and institutions across Reading to join this effort. Further support, whether through donations, volunteering, or resource sharing, will help sustain and expand these vital services.