Reading Borough Council has teamed up with voluntary groups and community organisations to tackle poverty and inequality in the town.

Nearly £1 million has been invested into these organisations as part of the council’s ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative, which changed its commissioning approach to allow volunteer organisations to bid for funding to provide services for the poor and those suffering inequality.

Groups bid for funding based on three parameters: building independence, well-being and connecting people; supporting people to get out and stay out of poverty; and investing in volunteer and community group infrastructure.

READ MORE: Reading call for help to tackle anti social behaviour using innovative app

Of the near £1 million council fund, a total of £794,416 has been spent to support successful community and voluntary organisations.

On the objective of Building resilience, independence and well-being, connecting people to support and focusing on individual and community strengths,  £517,416 will be awarded to eight organisations:

  1. Reading Voluntary Action
  2. Age UK Partnership
  3. Berkshire Vision Partnership
  4. Thames Valley Positive Support
  5. Together for Mental Health
  6. ACRE
  7. Refugee Support Group
  8. Parents and Children’s Trust

£174,000 will be given to Communicare to help people out of poverty, and £158,000 will be given to Reading Voluntary Action to invest in voluntary sector infrastructure.

Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), lead councillor for corporate services and resources, said: “While the Council’s programme of support for the voluntary and community sector is well-established and generous in comparison to most local authorities, following direct feedback from the voluntary sector we designed a new commissioning process this year.

“This gave groups a platform to showcase their experience and expertise and the flexibility to tailor bids either as individual organisations or as partnerships, against a set criteria aimed at helping people in some of Reading’s most disadvantaged communities.

“As always, they have risen to the challenge.

“The quality of the bids has been fantastic, showcasing lots of innovation, new partnerships, and new organisations submitting bids.

“There is clearly so much knowledge, experience and expertise among our voluntary organisations, and we would love to fund them all if that was possible.

“We thank every single organisation which took part in the bidding process and look forward to working with those who were successful, which ultimately means making a difference to people’s lives in these challenging times.”

READ MORE: How Reading council is spending £4.5 million of developer contributions

The successful charities have been informed and after a 10 day standstill period, will be offered three-year contracts to assist their work and maintain them.

Although nearly £800k has been allocated, there remains £205,584 of unallocated funding.

The council is engaging in a second round of commissioning with groups to address unmet needs such as:

  • Provision of general debt, budgeting and money management advice
  • A specialist support service for those with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs
  • A Home from Hospital service that includes transport, re-orientation advice and befriending
  • Support and advice for those with hearing impairment

Bidding for funding to deliver these services will open in August.