Connect Reading

How the recession affected Reading

2010-02-23

'Preparing for the upturn - How the recession affected Reading' Sponsored by Hilton Reading (Followed by Connect Reading's AGM) was held on Friday 13 November 2009 Hilton Reading

Reading Dance Showcase

2009-06-04

Reading Dance Showcase This will be an extravaganza of over 30 different dance styles taught in Reading. Entrance costs will be GBP2 and all profits will go to Reading Area Charities Together (RACT).

Life chances through technology

2009-06-03

In partnership with Reading Borough Council and the Digital Inclusion Team of Central Government over 60 organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors came together to discuss how technology could play a role in assisting and preventing NEET (Not in Education, Employment and Training) young people in Reading.

Creating Profit Through Community Involvement

2009-03-20

This first full day conference from Connect Reading focused on enhancing business performance, profitability and reputation by working in your local community and featured workshops including Strategy with Measuring and Reporting, Employees and Customers.

Environmental Forum in association with Kyocera

2008-12-16

The Green Card Conference discussed the Energy Debate and speakers included Tris Denton of the Nuclear Industry Association, who talked about the place of nuclear in a low-carbon energy policy. Daniel Curtis of Oxford University talked about implementing Power Management at Oxford University.

Celebrating 5 years of Connect Reading and GBP500,000 of Community Investment

2008-11-11

Over the past 5 years Connect Reading members have donated in excess of 8,200 hours equivalent to 4 years full time work for local community initiatives, this and much more was talked about at Connect Reading's 5th Birthday and AGM which was kindly hosted by Regus at Davidson House and catered by The White Hart at Henley courtesy of Charlton House Catering.

Babcock at the MAPP Centre

2008-08-18

Employees from Babcock Infrastructure Services spent a day volunteering at the MAPP Community Centre clearing up their garden and making it safe for the adults and children that use the centre including cutting back overgrown brambles and weeding.

Microsoft at Amersham Road Youth and Community Centre

2008-07-22

Amersham Road Youth and Community Centre benefitted from the painting and decorating skills of a team of Microsoft employees for a day as part of Microsoft's volunteering in the community programme. The new colour scheme at the centre was chosen by the young people that use the Reading Borough Council-run Youth and Community centre.

Interserve Investments at Thrive

2008-07-01

A team of 37 from Interserve Investments spent the day at Thrive assisting with vital tasks for maintenance of the grounds. Tasks include, fixing a handrail on the bridge over their pond which contains Great Crested Newts, one of the UK's largest newt species and is specially protected by law, installing water butts in the secret garden, clearing a stream and setting posts.

Microsoft at Caversham Park Primary School

2008-07-01

A team of technical account managers from Microsoft worked through rain and shine to complete their team challenge at Caversham Park Primary School. They did a fine job of cutting back overgrown shrubbery, laying down bark, weeding and brightening up areas with the new plants. They also managed to re-establish a path in the wildlife garden to make it more accessible for the children who can once again use it as part of their outdoor learning activities, which will be a benefit for many years to come.

Thames Water at Berkshire County Blind Society

2008-07-01

A team from Thames Water gave Berkshire County Blind Society a helping hand by spending a day re-painting at their offices. The team of 5 from Research and Development at Thames Water decided they would like to help in the community for a day as part of Thames Water's employee volunteering project and decided on local charity Berkshire County Blind Society.

Microsoft and Thames Water at Beale Park

2008-07-01

Teams from Microsoft and Thames Water went head to head to clear an overgrown space, battling muddy soil and overgrown foliage at Beale Park. The cleared space allows visitors easy access to the Park entrance from the riverside drop-off point a popular route for visitors travelling to the Park by river cruise.

A team at George Palmer Primary School

2008-07-22

A team worked for three days at George Palmer Primary School helping them put up a fence around their quiet garden and spreading woodchip.

Your People, Your Profits

2008-05-22

This forum looked at absenteeism management and employee productivity including a case study of a local initiative that addresses a UK wide problem, a participating company's view on the business benefits for them being involved, green commuting and carers in the workplace.

Business Skills Volunteering

2008-04-22

Voluntary sector organisations are often not in a position to send their staff and volunteers on training courses. This can result in the organisation not being able to fully equip their staff with the most up to date knowledge or develop their skills to their full potential. Connect Reading is calling on local businesses to provide assistance and support to the voluntary sector through staff volunteering. Whether you work in Sales, HR or Finance you could have a skill that a charity could benefit from. Through our business skills brokerage service you would be able to train a member of staff or volunteer in your specific skill to enable them to apply it in their organisation. Opportunities could range from a short 2 hour session to a couple of days over a period of a few months.

Reading Chronicle Business Review (March 2008)

2008-04-16

It's time to say a big 'thank you' to all the organisations that Connect Reading works with - as the 'in kind' value of their hard work and dedication in our community now totals over GBP400,000.

Reading Chronicle Business Review (April 2008)

2008-04-16

A team from, Babcock Infrastructure Services, spent a day helping their elderly neighbours at Albert Road Day Centre in Caversham. The team of 12 volunteers went to work on stripping the wallpaper and painting. ROK recently donated office furniture that has been redistributed across the voluntary sector. The furniture donated included desks, chairs, sofa, filing cabinets, telephones, and storage cupboards.

Reading Chronicle Business Review (February 2008)

2008-04-16

On Wednesday 13 February more than 60 delegates participated in the latest Forum Event hosted by Connect Reading. On this occasion we wanted to inform our members and guests on the new developments coming to Reading that will bring significant changes and benefits to the town.

Reading Chronicle Business Review (Dec 2007)

2008-04-16

Increasingly businesses are now expected to have an environmental policy and be able to answer questions about what actions they are taking to safeguard the environment. In response to this need, Connect Reading recently launched its easy to use Go4Green guide to reducing your greenhouse gases by taking simple effective steps at a pace that works for your business.

Babcock help their elderly neighbours

2008-02-29

A team from Babcock Infrastructure Services spent the day helping their elderly neighbours at Albert Road Day Centre.