Meet the team

Reading Family Aid goes back a long way...

The original idea came from a group of people helping young mothers at Katesgrove House in Reading in the 1970s and 1980s. Click here to learn more about our early days. We became a registered charity in 1993.

RFA is staffed entirely by volunteers and run by a small committee. We don't employ any staff or maintain any premises, so we're able to keep our overheads to a minimum. We spend all the money that we raise on our programme of activities for the children and families we support.

The Reading Family Aid Management Committee

Ruth Perkins, Chair

I have lived in Reading since 1976. I worked in IT until my retirement in 2008 and I have been involved with RFA since Christmas 2001 when I volunteered to drive a van for the Toy Project. I was so amazed by what the group did I joined the committee in 2002. Over the years I have been Secretary, Treasurer and, for the last two years, Vice-Chair. I have also managed the Toy Project for the last 10 years or so. I never cease to be amazed that Reading seems such an affluent place to work and live and yet there is also sadly so much deprivation on our doorstep.
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Bongiwe Msimango, Secretary

I moved to Reading in 2016 from Wokingham, however I’m originally from South Africa.  I have always been involved and worked with families who find themselves in disadvantaged conditions, both in my career and on a volunteer basis. 
 
I was looking for an opportunity to get involved with an organisation close by that benefits the local community and Reading Family Aid felt like the right one to be a part of. 
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Sallie Wall

I first got involved with RFA when I retired in 2002, though I had done a little work with the group many years ago as a driver at Katesgrove House. I think what attracted me to RFA was the fact that it was a small, local charity and there were no ‘middle men’ so everything goes directly to the families.  I had worked in the NHS all of my working life as well as bringing up a family. Retirement is busy and I am involved with various other organisations. I help with a ‘Messy Play’ group for young mums and am also a volunteer with an organisation which goes into two local prisons to support prisoners. I enjoy being able to connect with different groups and hope that what we do may allow some people to have experiences that they otherwise may not have.
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Wendy Howell

I volunteered as a helper with RFA about 10 years ago when I first arrived in Reading. I was very impressed with the work that was going on. Over the years I had more time to spare and eventually joined the committee. I've seen the number of recipients grow, which is sad, but the enthusiasm of the committee (and some have been members for many years) and the people who return each year to volunteer spurs me on. I love looking for a  bargain so that our resources can go further, and I'm an enthusiastic fund-raiser, helping to boost our finances. Feel that way too? Why not come and help!
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David Berry, Treasurer

I am an accountant and retired in 2016, when I joined Reading Family Aid as treasurer. In 2017 I had my first experience of travelling around in the vans during the Toy Project, collecting and delivering toys donated by people across the Reading area. It was great to see such generosity and enthusiasm.

         Sallie with Reading Mayor 2012, Cllr Jenny Ryan

Committee members

​Jill Barker
Lorraine Bellinger
Vera Box
Paul Cooper
Roz Heinze
Ann Larkin
Charlie McLean - Publicity Manager
​Krista Novakova - Publicity 
May Smith
Valerie Sansom
Sheila Wright
Vivienne Simpson
Tracy Collins
Sravanthi Yellapragada
Laura Windisch