​The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including an inclusive tennis club in Lincolnshire; a children’s bereavement charity in London; a support group for those living with dementia and their carers in North Yorkshire; a volunteer minibus service in Cumbria; a group supporting young people in Belfast; a community radio station in Inverness and a mountain rescue team in Powys.
 
Representatives of Reading Family Aid will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mr James Puxley, Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire later this summer. Furthermore, two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time).

Ruth Perkins, Chair says: “When we heard that we were to receive the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service we were so excited, astonished and humbled. It was a huge honour to be nominated for it but to actually receive it is overwhelming. I'd like to thank Cllr Paul Woodward, Reading's Mayor at the time, for nominating us as well as Homestart Reading for supporting his nomination.
 
It is fantastic that the work that the charity has been doing in the Reading area for so many years has been so publicly recognised in this way. It is thanks to all those who work tirelessly on the RFA Committee but also to all those hundreds of volunteers who have come year after year to help with the Toys and Teens Appeal, to all those who have organised toy collections, raised funds and helped in a myriad of other ways.

​This award is for all of you. Every one of you has helped to put so many smiles on so many children's faces and each of you deserves this recognition. Brilliant!”

​The community has been showing its support, with groups like Reading Matins Rotary Club, schools and nurseries and companies including Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, The Fence Club, Roc Search and Collaborate + Create and Logicalis organising collections.

Elaine Kelly said “Logicalis are proud to have supported Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens appeal for the last 6 years. They do incredible work and really make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children in our community”. 
​
First Days is an organisation that distributes the toys purchased as part of Reading Family Aid’s fundraiser.  Their CEO, Emma Cantrall highlighted the importance of this appeal saying “It’s heartbreaking to think that parents already know that basics like gifts for their children are unaffordable”. First Days has had hundreds of requests for Christmas stockings and gifts and is expecting many more.  

Sallie Wall, a volunteer at Reading Family Aid, has first hand experience of the effect the campaign can have. She said: “We were clearing up after Christmas and we got a call from a social worker saying 'I have a family who have just moved into a council house and have nothing, can you help?” "We went round there right away with some presents. The woman was in tears. It was a good feeling."

Reading Family Aid are extremely grateful for all of your generous donations.  The fundraiser closes on 4th December so there is still time to donate if you haven’t already done so. Once the fundraiser closes, the money will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading.

We would also like to thank our sponsors: The Reading Chronicle, Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow and Caversham Vehicle Hire.

Thank you.

It’s the penultimate week of Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal. The charity is raising funds to buy presents for underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas at Christmas time.  So far over £11,000 has been raised by generous donors, but the charity hope to reach their target of £15,000 in order to help as many children as possible this Christmas.
​
MPs from Reading have kindly lent their support to the appeal. MP for Reading West Alok Sharma said:

“I am delighted to support the Toys and Teens Appeal again this year. The Appeal raises funds to buy Christmas presents for children in need in the local Reading area. Christmas is a time to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves and I think it is testament to the excellent community spirit we have in Reading that, even in these incredibly difficult times, local people continue to be so generous.”

​One of the Toys and Teens volunteers knows only too well how important an appeal like this can be.  

David* said “Growing up I had six siblings and my father was a chronic alcoholic.  We never had any money and were always desperate for food and clothes. We relied on the generosity of the local church and school. It was incredibly hard relying on other people. Kids at school took the mickey and you grew up real tough. But thanks to the generosity of appeals like this Christmas was great. We were given fruit and games as presents from the church, and I could go back to school and say I got something.  I knew kids that didn’t get anything for Christmas”. 

“In Reading today there is still true poverty, with families sleeping in one room with all of their children and single mums having to do desperate things to feed their kids.  Children can’t control their circumstances, which is why Reading Family Aid’s Christmas appeal tugs at my heartstrings more than anything else. I’ve been there and I hope people donate to help this cause”. 

The charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts. The fundraising page will remain open until December 4 after which the funds will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading.

There will be no donation points this year and the charity is unable to accept any gifts to limit the spread of Covid-19.

As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event.

You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.
 
*Name changed to protect anonymity ​

The Labour MP of Reading East, Matt Rhodda, and the Conservative MP of Maidenhead, Twyford and Hurst, Rt Hon Theresa May have expressed their support for a local charity’s Christmas Toy fundraiser. They are urging the Berkshire community to donate to the cause.  
 
Matt Rhodda said: “I believe the toys and teens appeal is one of the most important at this time of year. I fully support it, and ask the community to offer all their help to make it the best one ever this Christmas. Due to Covid-19 it has been a difficult year for families and I believe this is an incredibly important initiative to help families at this difficult time”.  
 
With over 28,000 children living below the breadline in Reading, this equates to more than one in three children who live in poverty[1].  After paying for housing and utilities these families have just £19 a day to live on[2], which has to cover food, clothes, transport, birthdays and everything else they might need.  Reading Family Aid are fundraising to provide presents for these underprivileged children living in Reading and the surrounding areas.  Without your help, these children may not get a Christmas present this year. 
 
Mrs May said: “I am urging as many people as possible to come forward and donate to Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal initiative. This fantastic local initiative raises money to ensure those most disadvantaged children locally receive presents this Christmas time. Christmas is a special time of year, but this year will be particularly difficult. That is why schemes such as this are more important than ever and Reading Family Aid do an excellent job bringing joy to many children throughout the festive period”.

​The Mayor of Reading, Councillor David Stevens, is supporting a local charity’s Christmas Toy appeal this year.  Reading Family Aid are fundraising to buy presents for underprivileged 0-16 year olds living in Reading and the surrounding areas.
 
Cllr. Stevens said “Covid has had quite a dramatic effect.  In Reading we know that people are struggling. They’re losing jobs and unable to work. We’re seeing people more reliant on food banks, needing support from council services.  Families are those people who are suffering most and that’s why we need to help them in any way we can. We really do need your help this year. It’s a bigger ask than every other year. Anything you can give is much appreciated. Please do donate, thank you very much”.   
 
The Christmas Toys and Teens Appeal, organised by Reading Family Aid, will be slightly different this year due to the pandemic.  In order to protect volunteers, and supporters, the charity has decided not to open up donation points this year. In its place, the charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts.  This money will then be used to buy new Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in Reading, which will be delivered directly to the organisations that help them. 

Charlotte Morgan is Head of Campus at Reading College.  The College helps to distribute toys from the charity’s Christmas appeal to children in need.  She said “Some of our students who receive presents live in supported living and may be alone on Christmas Day. We have had a number of students that look forward to this present all year round, as this is their one opportunity to feel treated”. 
 
When asked about the impact of Covid-19 on her students, Charlotte said “There has been a huge increase in financial hardship and homelessness this year [due to Corona virus] which has increased levels of worry in students. Many students often feel lonely and isolated at Christmas and the current situation has exacerbated this in many cases. This year’s gift appeal will be more important than ever for this reason”. 
 
“Something small to you, such as the price of a coffee or two in a café, can have such a huge impact on somebody and how they feel in themselves. The pandemic has reminded us all of the importance of looking out for one another and being supportive where we can, and this project embodies that completely”.

Given the significant financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many, we are expecting more children than ever before to need your help. As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event.You could organise a ‘dress up day’ at school or the office, dust off your black tie and party frocks, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you.
 
We’d also like to say a big thank you to all of our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow and Caversham Vehicle Hire.

Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

“30% of children in the U.K. are currently living in poverty”[1] – a shocking statistic that highlights the increasing plight of thousands of children in this country. In our town, the figures are equally astonishing with 28.6% and 27.3% of children classified as living in poverty in Reading West and Reading East respectively. This equates to over 15,000 locally affected children.

The negative impacts of poverty on children are wide reaching and indicate that this is an issue that affects every aspect of their lives. These children are at a greater risk of mental and physical health problems. They more frequently express a sense of hopelessness about their future. At school, they are more likely to go hungry or be punished for missing items of school uniform that their parents are simply unable to afford. They are more likely to be victims of bullying and to feel as though they are unsafe.[2]

Christmas for many families is a time for celebration, giving and happiness but for those living in poverty, it is often a time of worry, stress and guilt.
 
Jeanie Herbert is a Manager at Alana House.  The organisation helps to distribute toys from the charity’s Christmas appeal to families in need. She said “The additional cost of Christmas looms large and some parents see in advance that they will struggle to provide for their children. Families are suffering behind closed doors. Some are struggling to feed their children.  Parents have faced ongoing stress and children will have also felt the impact of this. For people to help with the toy project and bring some normality to families this Christmas in a very strange year, would be a huge blessing to many”.

In 2019 Reading Family Aid delivered presents to over 2,000 children, an increase of 300 on the previous year. Given the significant financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on many, we are expecting more children than ever before to need your help. As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event. You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a pyjama day for your ‘Zoom’ meetings, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you.  

Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

​References:
[1] www.endchildpoverty.org
[2] www.childrenssociety.org.uk

The Toys and Teens Appeal continues!

The Christmas Toys and Teens Appeal, organised by Reading Family Aid, will be slightly different this year due to the pandemic.  In order to protect volunteers, and supporters, the charity has decided not to open up donation points this year. In its place the charity has set up a fundraising page and is asking you to donate money instead of gifts.  This money will then be used to buy new Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in Reading, which will be delivered directly to the organisations that help them.

The appeal hopes to be back to normal in future years so if you can hold onto those new and nearly new gifts they will be greatly appreciated then, but for this year the need for your support is as great (if not greater) than ever.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on families across the UK.  The IPPR predicts the virus will plunge 1.1 million more people in the UK below the poverty line by the end of the year, including a further 200,000 children. [1]  In the last two weeks of March, the number of households with children helped by the Trussell Trust’s food banks increased by 122% in the UK.[2]  Devastatingly, Covid-19 has plunged many more Reading families into poverty.  
 
A woman who received toys for her children from the project last year wrote to the charity recently to say:
 
“This year has been a difficult year for everyone with many ups and downs. I started the year positive with a job (and happy).   But then lockdown hit and I was yet again left unemployed. Depression settled in as I have struggled to find money to feed my three children, which is even harder than normal as I have been benefit capped and am £600 a month worse off than before. I'm taking one day at a time at the minute. I am hoping that Reading Family Aid will be able to help me again this year. Without the charity’s help, I would really struggle to make Christmas special for my children. Each year they continue to help less fortunate families, so thank you and please continue to give hope”. 
 
But the Toys and Teens Appeal is here to help.  Sponsored by The Reading Chronicle and organised by Reading Family Aid, the charity is raising funds this year to buy new presents to give to disadvantaged Reading families at Christmas time. 
 
Your generosity has helped us to get gifts to families in need for 50 years and still has the power to make such a big impact on the Christmases of those we can reach.  Last year the Office Manager of a local school, after receiving a delivery of toys for families in need, said: 
 
“We were completely overwhelmed when the parcels were dropped off. Seeing the generosity of people and knowing the impact the gifts will make and the burden lifted off our families at this time of year brought tears to our eyes.  
 
The looks of surprise, relief and thankfulness on the parents’ faces when they collected the toys for their children were overwhelming. Thank you.” 
 
As well as donating, the charity would be incredibly grateful if you considered holding a fundraising event. You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, a heroes and heroines day at your child’s nursery, print out our poster and stick it in your window or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you. 
 
Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, at which point the fund will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to underprivileged children across Reading. We’d also like to give a big thank you to our sponsors: Berkshire Freemasons, Big Yellow, Caversham Vehicle Hire.
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page. 

You can also print out a poster here.

References:
​
[1] https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/1-1-million-more-people-face-poverty-at-end-of-2020-as-a-result-of-coronavirus-pandemic-finds-ippr

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/01/uk-food-banks-face-record-demand-in-coronavirus-crisis

The Annual Christmas Toys & Teens Appeal is back – but in a new guise!

In order to protect our volunteers due to Covid-19, we have decided not to run the toy project as usual this year. Instead of collecting presents, we are asking you, our generous supporters, to donate money instead of gifts.  This money will be used to buy new Christmas presents for deprived children in Reading, and delivered directly to the organisations that help them.   
 
In the first three weeks of UK ‘lockdown’ it’s estimated a quarter of all households in the UK had lost either a substantial part, or all of their earned income as a result of Covid-19.  Devastatingly, this has plunged many more Reading families into poverty.  Out of the organisations we support, nearly all are asking for more presents this year as families struggle to cope, relying on food banks and having to choose between heating or a gift for their children at Christmas.  
 
But the Toys and Teens Appeal is here to help.  Sponsored by The Reading Chronicle and organised by Reading Family Aid, we are raising funds this year to buy new presents suitable for ages 0 – 16, to give to disadvantaged Reading families at Christmas time. 

​In 2019, the Toys and Teens Appeal delivered gifts to over 2,000 disadvantaged children from 895 families in time for Christmas.  This year, please consider donating to our cause. You could organise a ‘mufti day’ at school or the office, or share our crowdfunding page on your social media.  Anything you can give, no matter how small will make a huge difference to these families at Christmas time.  Thank you. 

Our fundraising page will remain open until 4th December, after which the funds will be used to buy presents that will be sent directly to organisations and distributed to deprived children across Reading. There will be no donation points open this year as we are sadly unable to accept any gifts to limit the spread of Covid-19. 
 
To donate, please visit our Go Fund Me crowdfunding page.

You can also print out a poster here to help us promote our appeal.

Here at Reading Family Aid, we’re in touch with a large range of organisations and charities that help families in need in the Reading area. Over the last few months we’ve been working closely with five of them to plan a Summer Toy Project, which aims to give these families and children a reason to smile after a particularly stressful few months.

​The Summer Toy Project is a new initiative that we are launching on 13th July. In order to enable us to distribute toys to children in need, we have set up some Amazon Gift Lists which will provide toys to our partner charities.

​We were keen to find out more about how these organisations and charities help families in need and we spoke to a few of them.

With the ongoing stresses that COVID-19 is bringing to families, First Days explained that over the last few months, families have had the hard task of finding new ways to engage and entertain children at home, often with limited space.  A representative said:

'Being able to request new toys and games from Reading Family Aid has meant that we have been able to put together fantastic and varied toy packs for families referred to us at this difficult time - something to help keep children entertained and take the pressure off parents at a time of great stress. As the economic impact of the pandemic increases, we anticipate that even more children and families will need our help and it is great to have a head start with so many brand new items to give out to those who most need them.'

Among the toys that First Days recently received were packages for a family who are isolating due to illness and a little boy who had a birthday recently and whose mum was struggling financially. These gifts brought great joy to both families.
​
Donate to First Days here.

​Our fourth organisation, Alana House, is a community project providing a confidential, women-only, non-judgemental space for women who feel they need help. A holistic approach is used to support and empower women and enable them to make positive changes in their lives, thereby improving the outcomes for themselves and their families. ​
​
Donate to Alana House here.

The Reading Family Aid AGM was held on July 2nd - over Zoom of course!

The Chair, Ruth Perkins, gave a report of the year, contrasting the first very successful first half to the year followed by a challenging second half with Covid-19 putting a stop to many of our activities.

She also said how pleased she was at the way the committee had risen to the challenge of finding news ways to support the families.

The Treasurer, David Berry, reported that while income was slightly up, expenses had increased over the previous year but still funds were in reasonable shape for the coming months.

You can read the Annual Report here.