Reading Family Aid AGM 2026

Committee members at the AGM

Reading Family Aid celebrated another successful year (2025/26) at its AGM on 2 July.

"It has been a fantastic year for the charity, with many successful outings, some significant donations and our first-ever runners taking part in the London Marathon. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of all our supporters," reported Anna Gilbert, Chair.
 
Strong year for donations
This has been one of our strongest years for major donations. In July 2025, we received a £3,000 donation from Procter & Gamble. Long-term supporters, Enterprise Mobility surprised us not once but twice in the year, donating £2,500 in July and a further £3,500 in December. BDO, a local accountancy and business services firm, has supported us for many years by providing volunteers for Toy Week and a £2,490 donation in the year. Other donations included £1,940 from St Andrew’s Church in Caversham, two donations of £500 from anonymous donors via LocalGiving and one of our long-standing supporters, Lorraine Wheeler, donated £1,000.
 
Other highlights of the year 2025/26

• Memorable outings to Beale Park, Camp Mohawk, Bournemouth, Odds Farm Park and the Reading panto.
• A successful Toys and Teens Christmas Gift Appeal, providing gifts to over 2,600 disadvantaged children.
• Donations of Easter eggs to several local charities and Eid-al-Fitr gifts for almost 20 children.
• Stalls at Woodley Carnival, Winnersh Fete and Earley Green Fair, increased awareness of the RFA and raised more than £1,000.
• Our two dedicated London Marathon runners, George Kelleher and Conal McLean exceeded their fundraising targets, raising almost £4,500 (£3,247 in 2025/26 financial year).

 
Sue Marson, Treasurer, reported that we had another good year of fundraising with an income of over £33,500. We spent just over £37,000, mainly on toys and outings. We finished the year with a balance of over £44,000, which sets us up well to continue our activities for next year.
 
Goodbye and hello
At the AGM, we celebrated the work of four of our longest-serving committee members who have stood down this year: Jill Barker, Ruth Perkins, Val Sansom and Sallie Wall. Sue Marson handed over the role of Treasurer to Carolyn Cheney. Four new committee members have been welcomed in the year: Kathy Davis, Katie Jones, Annie Oakey and Nathan Windisch.
 
Annual Report
For more details of our activities in the financial year ending 30 April 2026, you can find our Annual Report here.

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