Greenham Trust and Volunteer Centre West Berkshire join forces to help community groups across the district

TWO leading charities in West Berkshire have joined together to offer even more help and support for the district’s community and voluntary groups.

Greenham Trust and Volunteer Centre West Berkshire announced the “strategic alliance” on Tuesday.

With decades of experience in the voluntary sector between them, the two organisations have been working closely throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and now plan to continue the relationship going forward.

Chris Boulton, chief executive of Greenham Trust, said: “Often groups don’t know where to look for help. For instance, they may not understand the intricacies and legal obligations around setting up various charity models. We are now able, through the Volunteer Centre, to get them the right help quickly.”

Garry Poulson, director of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, added: “With funding needs sometimes being quite complex we now have direct access to the expert knowledge of Greenham Trust and the team at The Good Exchange.

“We are able to advise people on how best to use The Good Exchange as a platform and how to access the myriad of other funding organisations, both local and national.”

In a joint statement the two organisations said they both recognised “that there are many local charities and community groups that seek advice, guidance and training as well as funding although many would not always be aware of the services and help that are available”.

The aim of the alliance is to provide local organisations with the best help, advice, guidance and funding “quickly and efficiently”.

Greenham Trust provides grants of around £3.5million a year, predominantly through matched funding, to organisations in West Berkshire and North Hampshire, while the Volunteer Centre offers volunteer recruitment, expert advice and guidance to charities and voluntary groups, along with training and advocacy support to the local community.

The partnership will see learning, training and networking opportunities designed to “help, educate and generate a sense of community togetherness”.

Earlier this year Volunteer Centre West Berkshire moved into a suite of offices within the Trust’s Broadway House, where it will host drop-in sessions to give charities a one stop shop for support.

The two groups also plan to continue hosting online events, as well as a series of sessions on other topics of interests.

For more information you can email info@vcwb.org.uk or visit www.volunteerwestberks.org.uk or www.greenhamtrust.com